Delaware kicker Nate Reed didn’t waver after he missed a 47-yard game-tying field goal midway through the fourth quarter in Saturday’s win over UConn.
Just under seven minutes later, Reed had another opportunity to tie the score. This time, he drained it from 43 yards out as time expired to send the game into overtime.
The Blue Hens held the Huskies to a field goal on the first possession of OT, and quarterback Nick Minicucci ran in for a touchdown four plays later to give Delaware the 44-41 victory. It was UD’s first win over an FBS program since joining Conference USA.
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For UConn, it was the second week in a row it suffered an overtime defeat. Two weeks ago, the Huskies were leading Syracuse 17-6 in the fourth quarter before falling 27-20.
The Blue Hens were 8.5-point underdogs against UConn, but I think they were a little undervalued considering how great UD has been at home under head coach Ryan Carty. Since Carty took over the program in 2022, the Blue Hens are now 20-3 on Tubby Raymond Field and haven’t lost at home since Nov. 18 2023.
In the victory, we caught a glimpse of Delaware’s offensive potential. Minicucci finished with 265 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and three rushing scores while Jo Silver rushed for 179 yards and two scores. The senior running back finally broke out after being held to a combined 81 yards in the Blue Hens’ first two games.
The Blue Hens got a boost on the offensive line with the return of center Steven Demboski, who missed the first two games of the season with an injury.
Delaware also put up 512 yards of total offense without their top pass catcher, Jake Thaw. In Thaw’s absence, though, Kyre Duplessis stepped up by catching nine passes for 161 yards and one TD. Duplessis has been a nice surprise this season and already has 17 catches for 263 yards and two scores.
Through three games, he is second in the league with 87.7 receiving yards per game, trailing only Thaw, who is averaging 88.5 YPG.
I think Delaware has the talent and potential to put up this type of offensive production almost every week. In its two wins, UD has scored 35 and 44 points. In its loss to Colorado, the Blue Hens only scored seven points.
However, they had the ball deep in CU territory three times. One of those drives ended in a turnover on downs on the 6-yard line, another drive ended in a fumble, and the third resulted in a missed 28-yard field goal.
The Blue Hens just struggled to finish drives in that loss, but they quickly brushed that off as it wasn’t a factor against UConn.
Next for UD is a trip to FIU where the Blue Hens will play their first CUSA game. FIU is coming off a 38-28 win over Florida Atlantic.
Delaware is currently a 4.5-point underdog, but this is a game the Blue Hens could very well go on the road and win. It seems like a good gauge to determine where they rank within the conference.
It’s a chance for UD to prove that it’ll be competitive in this league and that it has the ability to pull off a couple of upsets, potentially spoiling chances at a CUSA title run for another program.
Delaware vs. FIU Prediction
I predict Delaware will cover the 4.5-point spread but FIU will win a close, high-scoring game. I think the Panthers might be riding high after last week’s win in the Shula Bowl and underestimate the Blue Hens.
Limiting FIU running back Kejon Owens will be key for Delaware. Owens is second in the conference with 107.3 rushing YPG.
This will be a great matchup between two explosive RBs.
