Salisbury State Captures South Atlantic Bowl, 15-9

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - The Salisbury University football team rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Delaware Valley, 15-9, in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Atlantic Bowl.

The game brought to an end the playing careers of two senior classes. For Salisbury, the senior class went 31-11 with a NCAA tournament appearance in 2004 and back-to-back ECAC Bowl championships in 2005 and 2006. Delaware Valley's seniors went 41-7 with an ECAC crown in 2003 and back-to-back Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championships and NCAA quarterfinals appearances in 2004 and 2005.

The game-winning drive for the Sea Gulls (6-5) began late in the third quarter and ended 11 plays later, early in the fourth quarter, as senior Anthony Johnson ran in from five yards out to give Salisbury its first and only lead of the game, 13-9, with 10:28 left in the game. The Sea Gull drive went 97 yards and was aided by three costly Delaware Valley (8-3) penalties.

 Salisburywent for two points after the touchdown and was stuffed by the Aggie defense, but a roughing the passer penalty by Delaware Valley gave the Sea Gulls another shot from the one-yard line. On the second try, freshman Valdase Morris ran it in to put the Gulls up six.

The Salisbury defense stood strong in the final 10 minutes of play as the Aggies were forced to punt once and turned the ball over on downs with 2:41 left in the game. Salisbury senior linebacker Billy Leinemann (six tackles) was named the game's MVP as his sack of Delaware Valley quarterback Mike Isgro on third down and two around midfield forced the Aggies to go for it. On fourth and four, Isgro's pass fell incomplete to give the ball back to Salisbury. The Sea Gulls then ran out the clock to cap the game.  

Delaware Valley struck first in the game as they went 85 yards on 11 plays that was capped by junior tailback's one-yard touchdown plunge. Bill Miller added the extra-point for a 7-0 lead with 6:51 to go in the first half.

The Sea Gulls answered right before halftime as sophomore Ronnie Curley threw for 50 yards in the seven-play drive that went 67 yards. On third-and-goal, Curley found junior Chris Newton in the end zone for a three-yard touchdown with 57 seconds left before the break. Brendan Kincaid tacked on the extra-point and the two teams went into the half knotted at seven apiece.

It was the first touchdown allowed by Delaware Valley in 240 minutes and 16 seconds and the first score of any kind in 219 minutes and 22 seconds as the Aggies entered the bowl game with a three-game shutout streak. 

The Sea Gulls had the ball first in the third quarter, but a bad snap over the head of freshman punter Andrew Geisert landed in the end zone and forced Geisert to boot the ball over the end line to give Delaware Valley the safety and a 9-7 score. It stayed the way until Johnson's run gave Salisbury the lead for good.

Curley ran for a game-high 131 yards on 30 carries and threw for 60 yards on 4-for-7 passing. Johnson had 48 yards and the one touchdown on 14 carries.

Isgro was 18-for-28 for 166 yards and two interceptions while also rushing for 51 yards on 14 attempts. David Carmon had seven catches for 56 yards. Senior defensive lineman paced the Aggie defense with 11 tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage.