Overmatched again, Delaware’s NCAA title bid ends at South Dakota State

For second time in three seasons, Delaware is dominated in FCS playoff matchup at South Dakota State as veteran protection has no solutions and offense struggles after dropping QB Henderson to harm

A briefly promising afternoon rapidly turned ominous as a substitute on Saturday, as Delaware as soon as once more realized it’s not but nationwide championship materials.

The Blue Hens struck first however then had been repeated recipients of South Dakota State’s offensive firepower within the NCAA Division I Soccer Championship Subdivision round-of-16 matchup.

The Jackrabbits then averaged greater than 11 yards per snap whereas scoring on three straight possessions, placing down a strong basis for a 42-6 victory at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in chilly Brookings, South Dakota.

Three third-quarter touchdowns offered extra emphasis.

It did not assist that Delaware quarterback Nolan Henderson, who set a college file for landing passes this season, didn’t return after injuring his left leg on a third-down run on the sport’s first possession. Brandon Ratcliffe’s 27-yard discipline objective then gave Delaware an early 3-0 edge.

Zach Gwynn relieved him for one sequence and accomplished all three of his passes earlier than red-shirt freshman Ryan O’Connor got here on. O’Connor performed the remainder of the sport and accomplished 10 of 21 passes for 104 yards.

However O’Connor took a tough hit leading to an pointless roughness infraction with 1:07 left, leading to a protracted delay as medical personnel tended to him and coaches from each groups joined the big group surrounding him. After he was carted off the sphere on a stretcher, coaches and sport officers agreed to finish the sport there.

O’Connor “was responsive and shifting all of his extremities upon leaving the sphere and is being examined additional,” Delaware football Twitter later reported.

Delaware was outgained 353-192 in whole yards. Main UD rusher Kyron Cumby carried 10 instances for 23 yards.

GAME STATS: South Dakota State 42, Delaware 6

It was all painfully acquainted.

Delaware had misplaced 33-3 at South Dakota State in a 2021 FCS spring semifinal sport that concerned lots of the similar gamers who took half within the rematch. Delaware had additionally kicked a discipline objective to take an early lead in that sport earlier than issues modified dramatically.

No. 1-ranked South Dakota State (11-1) has received 11 straight. The Missouri Valley Convention champions had been enjoying their first sport in three weeks after having a bye final week as the highest seed within the 24-team match. They transfer on to face No. 8-seed Holy Cross, a 35-19 winner Saturday over CAA co-champ New Hampshire.

No. 23-ranked Delaware completed its winningest season in 12 years with an 8-5 file beneath first-year coach Ryan Carty, who was not obtainable for postgame remark.

Delaware long-snapper Jake Reed, the Caravel Academy graduate, had recovered a fumbled punt return to arrange the Hens’ preliminary discipline objective.

LESSON LEARNED:Blue Hens should match Jackrabbits’ bodily model of soccer in FCS rematch

On South Dakota State’s second play, quarterback Mark Gronowski bolted up the center for a 51-yard achieve. Three performs later Isaiah Davis scored from the 1 because the Jackrabbits went up 7-3 with 4:55 left within the first quarter.

They had been simply as environment friendly and efficient on their subsequent two drives, going 75 yards on simply six performs and 77 yards on eight snaps to take command 21-3 with 4:22 to go within the first half.

Each play on these first three South Dakota State possessions was a primary or second down besides the final, a third-and-1 keeper for a landing by Gronowski. Davis had run 10 yards for a landing to shut the second sequence.

Ratcliffe had a 40-yard first-half miss earlier than making a 39-yarder as Delaware went into halftime inside 21-6 after forcing punts on South Dakota State’s final two possessions of the second quarter. That gave the Hens some hope.

BEST OF THE BLUE HENSRating the highest 100 College of Delaware male athletes of all time

However the hosts exerted their authority once more within the third quarter, Amar Johnson’ 2-yard TD run ending a 58-yard drive to begin the second half. The Jackrabbits rapidly prolonged their result in 42-6 earlier than the quarter ended once they recovered an errant snap on a Delaware punt for a landing and on Gronowski’s 4-yard strike to Jaxon Janke for his first TD go.

Gronowski completed 11-for-15 for 131 yards passing and ran for 73 yards. Davis had 104 yards on 14 carries.

Have an concept for a compelling native sports activities story or is there a problem that wants public scrutiny? Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and observe on Twitter @kevintresolini. Help native journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com