Blue Hens dominate Morgan State, however on the potential value of Henderson

BY ALEXZANDER PHILIPPSEN
Affiliate Sports activities Editor

Coming off the heels of their first lack of the season, the Blue Hens didn’t take the Morgan State Bears’ questionable file (2-4) without any consideration as they powered by way of the primary half of their homecoming recreation.

Finally, nonetheless, the Blue Hens did certainly give you the win over the Bears by a rating of 38-7 after a dominant, shutout second half in entrance of 16,375 individuals at Delaware Stadium throughout a transparent and sunny Saturday afternoon.

At first, it was regarded as a Delaware blowout following two touchdowns on their first two drives. The primary landing was a handoff to vast receiver Jourdan Townsend that went for 17 yards. The second landing was when quarterback Nolan Henderson scrambled to his proper with stress at his face, however discovered operating again Marcus Yarns wide-open alongside the sidelines for the 72-yard big-play rating.

“It was a designed play,” Yarns stated about his landing after the sport. “However you recognize the scramble drill, we work on that continuously in observe. So when [Henderson] rolled out, I simply put the jets on and it labored out.”

This was not the primary time Yarns has been in a position to muster a big-play landing this season. He additionally scored an 82-yard landing run final September towards Delaware State.

“I simply really feel assured after I’m on the sphere, with the teaching and gamers, they’re believing in me,” Yarns stated. “So I really feel as if it’s straightforward to make a giant play when it’s open and everyone seems to be doing their job. So I wouldn’t put that on me, I say the crew does that.”

It definitely didn’t assist Morgan State that their beginning quarterback Carson Baker needed to go away the sport halfway by way of the second quarter with a shoulder damage.

Nevertheless, Bears operating again Alfonzo Graham would lastly get his crew on the board with a two-yard landing run and make it a 14-7 ballgame on the half.

After the primary half, it was a 24-point unanswered second half for the Blue Hens that sealed the convincing victory.

The win, nonetheless, got here at an enormous value.

That value was quarterback Nolan Henderson after he was pressured to depart the sport as a result of a shoulder damage sustained on a late hit by Bears defensive lineman Brandon King. Henderson can be seen with a sling over his left shoulder.

Head coach Ryan Carty was requested for any extra particulars following the sport.

“We are going to discover that out as we go,” Carty stated. “I’m undecided what sort of time he’ll miss or gained’t miss, I truthfully don’t know that. They’re gonna need to run extra assessments on him.”

Carty echoed related sentiments throughout his Monday media availability, not confirming whether or not Henderson’s standing leaned come what may.

Earlier than his damage, Henderson accomplished 13 of 29 of his throws for 206 yards and threw every a landing and an interception. He additionally ran for a 7-yard landing keeper and led the crew in dashing with 65 yards.

Throughout the identical drive as Henderson’s damage prevalence, operating again Khory Spruill scored a two-yard landing run.

Backup quarterback Ryan O’Connor additionally made his presence recognized to the crew together with his first profession landing cross to vast receiver Brett Buckman — which was additionally his first landing of his profession.

Defensively, the Blue Hens’ veteran protection was as soon as once more dominant by solely permitting a landing all through the entire recreation.

Each Noah Plack and Johnny Buchanan led the crew with 8 complete tackles. Liam Coach, Nic Ware and Drew Nickles every got here away with an interception.

Regardless of the win, nonetheless, the Blue Hens left some factors off the board. One occasion was a fourth and 5 on the Bears’ 25-yard line. As an alternative of kicking the sphere objective, they went for it and did not convert. 

One other got here through the remaining seconds of the primary half with a primary and objective on the Bears’ 1-yard line. As an alternative of kicking the simple chip shot, they went with a quarterback keeper with Anthony Paoletti and failed as soon as once more as time expired.

Carty was requested after the sport about what his mindset was on going for the landing on fourth down, regardless of being in discipline objective vary.

“After I go for it, it’s in all probability analytically the sound transfer, but it surely’s based mostly on the arrogance of the kicker as nicely,” Carty stated.

Hens kicker, Andrew MacMillan, got here in clutch towards the top of the sport. MacMillan would go on to make his first discipline objective of the season — on simply his second try — from 39 yards out.

“Proper now, we have been actually excited to see MacMillan hit that kick ultimately there,” Carty stated. “I believe he has lots of that leg expertise, however he’s nonetheless younger and I believe he wanted that for a confidence enhance.”

The 6-1 Blue Hens’ subsequent matchup is a street recreation towards the 5-3 Elon Phoenix this Saturday at 3:30 p.m.