Wilmer Paces Delaware Valley to ECAC Bowl Win
Allentown, Pa. – Aaron Wilmer ran for one touchdown, threw for another and made the game-clinching run as the Delaware Valley football team defeated Muhlenberg, 24-21, in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl. Both teams finish the season at 8-3.
Wilmer rushed for 138 yards on only 14 carries and passed for 106 yards, earning Most Outstanding Player honors. He ran 38 yards for a score on the Aggies' third play from scrimmage to give the visiting team a 7-0 lead, and he passed 5 yards to Danny Fierro on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it 24-14.
After the Mules closed to within a touchdown on Isaiah Vaughn's third touchdown of the game, a 40-yard reception, they recovered an onside kick near midfield. On the first play from scrimmage, however, Joe Carlucci was intercepted by Terrance Osborne, who was jostling with Vaughn for positioning near the goal line.
Delaware Valley took over at its own 4 with 3:09 left and faced a second-and-9 after a Muhlenberg timeout when Wilmer ran right on a keeper and broke into the clear for a 72-yard run to the Mule 23. The Aggies ran twice for a first down, then ran out the clock.
Vaughn had a sensational day for Muhlenberg, totaling 218 all-purpose yards on only five touches. He followed Wilmer's early touchdown by returning the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a score. It was the second play of at least 95 yards of his career. Vaughn also caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from Carlucci with 8:07 left in the first half, giving the Mules their first lead at 14-10.
Delaware Valley went ahead for good on a 12-yard run by Kyle Schuberth with 7:07 left in the third. Fierro's touchdown reception, which provided what proved to be the winning points, came on an 11-play, 30-yard drive that followed a failed fake punt and included two fourth-down conversions.
The Aggies outgained the Mules, 431-229, and had an overwhelming advantage in time of possession, holding the ball for 40:26. In the second half, Delaware Valley held the ball for more than 23 of the 30 minutes; Muhlenberg's only three second-half first downs came on its final touchdown drive.
Schuberth rushed for 126 yards to go over 1,000 for his career. Alquann Jones added 64 to the Aggies' total of 325 rushing yards. Dwayne Shaw led the DelVal defense with seven tackles, including a sack, and a pass breakup.
For Muhlenberg, Carlucci finished 10-of-24 for 180 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Ian Gimbar made a game-high 13 tackles, including three for loss and 1½ sacks, finishing the season with a school-record total of 14½ sacks.
