DOYLESTOWN, Pa. — Delaware Valley University quarterback Dashawn Darden threw for 319 yards and accounted for four touchdowns while the Aggie defense intercepted four passes and had a score of its own as they advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals with a 37-15 victory over Husson University of Bangor.
DelVal (12-0) remained one of six undefeated teams in Division III, as it tied a school record for victories. The Aggies also extended their school-record winning streak to 16 games dating back to last season. They have reached the quarterfinals for the third time in program history and the first since 2005.
DelVal plays another undefeated team in The College at Brockport next Saturday.
Husson ended its best season in program history at 10-2.
Darden led an Aggie offense that racked up 502 yards (319 passing, 183 rushing). He completed 14 of 29 passes, including touchdown tosses of 13, 57 and 36 yards. He also rushed six times for 33 yards, including a 10-yard TD run.
The DelVal defense, which entered the game ranked sixth in the country with 21 interceptions, added four more to its total. One was returned for a touchdown and the Eagles managed just 241 yards.
DelVal scored on its second possession after 35-yard pass from Darden to Marquise Ellis. Darden hit tight end Dan Allen in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown. Colin Fasolka added the extra-point for a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.
Husson’s Quintarian Brown later recovered a muffed punt at the Eagles 43 but Jarren McBryde intercepted quarterback Cory Brandon at the 9-yard line.
The Aggies went ahead 13-0 in the first minute of the second quarter with a four-play, 84-yard drive that culminated in Khalil Roane’s 57-yard scoring reception from Darden.
DelVal expanded the lead late in the half when, after a pass interference call put the ball at the Husson 10, Darden scampered in for a score and a 19-0 lead.
The Eagles got on the board early in the third quarter as the nation’s leading rusher, John Smith, gained 58 of his team’s 71 yards including a 9-yard TD run. Devin Pickett’s extra point pulled the Eagles to within 19-7.
Smith finished the day with 32 carries for 161 yards, which pushed his career total to 7,205 yards — fourth all-time in Division III.
However, LaQuille Nesbitt took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 64 yards to the Husson 22. Nesbitt eventually capped the march with a 2-yard scoring run to make it 26-7.
A penalty on the kickoff put the Eagles back at their own 10-yard line. On the first play, Jalen Mayes picked off a Brandon pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown to give DelVal a 31-7 lead.
DelVal got its final score with 5:20 to go when Darden found Allen for a 36-yard TD pass. Husson’s remaining points came on the ensuing kickoff as Ty Bassett returned it 97 yards for a score. Bassett added the two-point conversion run.
Allen caught four passes for 100 yards and two scores for DelVal while Marquise Ellis had three catches for 74 yards and Roane had two grabs for 92 yards and a score. Devauntay Ellis led the ground attack with 100 yards on 18 rushes.
Nicholas DiGati led the Aggies with 11 tackles. Nick Wright (interception) and Shawn Miller added eight tackles apiece. McBryde finished with two interceptions and Vincent DiLeo had all three of the team’s sacks.
For Husson, Brandon was 10-for-20 passing for 97 yards and four interceptions. Frank Curran and Elin Suazo made seven tackles each while Quan Soyini notched five tackles and his ninth interception on the season, breaking the two-way tie with Adam Scott (8 in 2004) for the most interceptions in a single season.