Delaware runs all over Northeastern

By Greg Arent The Review

October 17, 2007

Newark, DE (CSTV U-WIRE) -- Senior running back Omar Cuff caught a screen pass for 25 yards and sprinted toward the end zone in the first drive of the fourth quarter Saturday. As he bounced out toward the sideline, it appeared he would come up short, but Cuff leapt through the air, spinning around and knocking into the pylon. The referees looked at each other before raising their hands to give the touchdown signal.

This play proved beneficial as the Hens won their Homecoming game 30-20 over Northeastern.

Delaware (6-1, 4-1 Colonial Athletic Association) dominated Northeastern in the fourth quarter. When the drive started, the game was tied and looked as if it could go either way, but the Hens marched 71 yards downfield and took the lead with Cuff's touchdown leap.

On the drive, 49 of the 71 yards were gained by Cuff. Even more impressive was that of the 127 yards gained in the fourth quarter, 102 were accumulated by Cuff.

"I grabbed [Cuff] and I said 'I think you're tiptoeing,' and I don't tell [No.] 28 a whole lot," head coach K.C. Keeler said. "But I said 'You have to run a little bit more reckless,' and he said 'Give me the rock.' So we gave him the rock and it all worked out pretty well."

In the fourth quarter, No. 15 Delaware gave Northeastern (1-5, 0-3 CAA) only two possessions in which the Huskies gained 33 yards and were kept out of the end zone. The Hens maintained possession for 9:56 in the fourth quarter and put 10 points on the board while holding Northeastern scoreless.

Keeler said he was not only impressed with the Hens' fourth quarter but the entire second half. Delaware went into halftime down 14-13 and Keeler said it was great to see his team's resilience and hard work in fighting back to win the battle in the second half.

Northeastern head coach Rocky Hager echoed a similar sentiment.

"We felt like we had pretty good control of things going through the first half," Hager said. "Second half, you have to give the Hens credit. They did a nice job executing with their no huddle system and down the stretch, they got into two tight ends and ran the football exceptionally well."

Keeler showed he had faith in Delaware's running game, going for a fourth-and-one play at a crucial point in the fourth quarter when the Hens were up by seven at the Northeastern 44-yard line. Keeler neglected to give the ball back to the Huskies for a potential game-tying drive and instead gave the ball to his running back. Cuff found the seam and busted through the right side of the line for a 4-yard gain and a Delaware first down.

"We went for it there on fourth-and-one and the offensive line was hollering at me to go for it, and I'm like 'I'm going for it, relax, we are getting a spot first,' " Keeler said. "I just had such belief and we ran it and popped it in there. It was a great drive. It was a defining moment kind of drive. You need to go 91 yards and chew up nine minutes of clock and you go do it."

After putting up similar numbers in the first half, Delaware dominated the second half, outscoring Northeastern 17-6. In the second half, the Hens won the first down battle 16-7, out rushed the Huskies 161-54 and out threw Northeastern 91-67.

Cuff had another outstanding game, rushing for 200 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 39 carries. He also added 33 receiving yards and another touchdown.

Hager mentioned how impressed he was not only with Cuff, but with Delaware's offensive line. He said the offensive line is the most improved aspect of the Hens' team from last year and was impressed by its power in the trenches.

Meanwhile, the frustration continues for Northeastern. The past two games have been against CAA powerhouses James Madison and Delaware and in each game, the Huskies were tied or winning going into halftime.

"Frustrating is an understatement - frustration for our players, our staff. Ultimately, it comes down to us making a play here or a play there," Hager said. "We have enough young guys where we are still experiencing some growing pains."

Keeler said with a young secondary that has gotten burned against New Hampshire and in the first half against Northeastern, it was nice to see everyone come out with some fire in the second half and take control of their season.

Delaware senior defensive tackle Jeremy Kametz praised the defense for its poise and improvement in the second half as it held the Huskies to 121 second-half yards.

"We came in at halftime and nobody panicked," Kametz said. "We kept calm and cool. We knew we could handle it. We were ready for a war and we played one snap at a time."