DOYLESTOWN, PA – In a game where Wilkes University held advantages in a majority of team statistics including first downs (24), passing yards (220), total yards (298) and time of possession (39:14), host Delaware Valley came up with key plays in timely situations to escape with a 21-10 victory over the Colonels in both teams' Middle Atlantic Conference opener Saturday afternoon at James Work Memorial Stadium.
 
Wilkes fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in MAC games following the road defeat while DelVal improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in league games after securing the win.
 
Trailing 14-10 early in the fourth quarter, Wilkes began a drive with good field position after a short DelVal punt and unsportsmanlike conduct penalty setting the Colonels up at the DelVal 30. Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) found Nick Yanik (Edison, NJ/Edison Twp.) for 13 yards before three straight rushes moved the ball to the DelVal 5. Facing a fourth and two, the Colonels decided to take a shot at the end zone. Tabora rolled out of the pocket looking for an open receiver in the back of the end zone, but the pass sailed just over the outstretched arms of Yanik resulting in a turnover on downs.
 
The teams traded punts over the next four possessions as both defenses stiffened. With just under five minutes left in the game, DelVal used an eight play, 72-yard drive to use up most of the remaining clock before quarterback Dashawn Darden ran in from 15 yards out to seal the win for the hosts.
 
DelVal opened the scoring midway through the first quarter when Darden escaped on a designed run for a 69-yard touchdown run to put the Aggies up 7-0 with 8:44 on the clock.
 
Wilkes answered back early in the second quarter with a long drive that lasted over seven minutes spanning 14 plays and 89 yards. Tabora used two completions, one to Yanik for 18 yards on a fourth and four to keep the drive alive and another to Derek Nelson (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) for 12 yards to move the ball to within the DelVal five yard line. Tabora then connected with Nelson for a four yard pitch-and-catch tying the game at 7-7 following a Alexander DeSpirito (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Crestwood ) extra point.
 
The Wilkes defense continued to keep the Aggie offense off the field as DelVal did not enter Wilkes territory the next two drives.
 
The Colonels had a chance to take a lead in the game later in the quarter, but a DeSpirito 38-yard field goal attempted was blocked and recovered by DelVal setting up the Aggies for their final drive of the first half.
 
DelVal wasted little time taking advantage of the blocked kick as Darden completed a 27-yard pass to move into Wilkes territory before several short runs moved the Aggies down to the Wilkes 14. Darden completed another 12-yard pass before a two-run run finished off the drive giving DelVal a 14-7 lead heading into the break.
 
Wilkes began the second half with the ball and used another long possession to move deep into Aggie territory. Tabora came up big to keep the drive alive converting a fourth and five using his legs to scamper for 11 yards moving the chains and the ball down to the DelVal 19. After two incompletions and a loss of yardage on a run, Wilkes settled for a 25-yard field goal from DeSpirito to cut the Aggies lead to 14-10 with 7:19 left in the third quarter.
 
Tabora finished 21-of-37 passing for 214 yards and the one score through the air. He also ran 17 times for 50 yards. Yanik led all Colonel receivers hauling in nine passes for 90 yards while Nelson finished with six catches for 60 yards and the lone Wilkes touchdown.
 
Defensively Wilkes was stout throughout only allowing one or two big plays against a high-octane Aggie offense. Andrew Chang (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood ) topped the unit with 10 tackles while Bud Moyer (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua) followed with eight stops and Amari Peterson (Baltimore, MD/Dover) seven.
 
The Colonel defense did a fine job containing Darden all day as the senior signal-caller was limited to 89 passing on 12-of-18 attempts. Darden had more success with his legs including several long runs finishing with 145 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries.
 
Wilkes returns home Saturday hosting Misericordia University at 1:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium on Family Day.