ANNVILLE (PA) – Delaware Valley University junior tailback Devauntay Ellis ran 184 yards and two touchdowns in just three quarters of play while the defense pitched its first shutout of the year as the Aggies routed host Lebanon Valley College, 48-0, in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) game.
The win improved the Aggies to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the MAC as they will head into their bye week. The Flying Dutchmen fell to 1-4 and 1-3.
Ellis, a first-team all-MAC honoree last year, entered Saturday's contest with 171 yards on 43 carries this season while splitting time with senior Robert Cleveland (a second team all-MAC selection in 2015). He surpassed that season yardage total on just 12 carries against Lebanon Valley and he upped his touchdown total on the year to six.
DelVal's second drive of the game took place in Lebanon Valley territory thanks to a defensive stand, a short punt and a 16-yard punt return by Eric Shorter. The Aggies used six plays to move 30 yards down to the Flying Dutchmen 10-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Dashawn Darden threw a bullet to Shorter in the end zone for the touchdown. Nick Restaino added the extra-point for the 7-0 lead with 8:23 to go in the first quarter.
Lebanon Valley threatened early in the second quarter, but Aggie safety Jarren McBryde intercepted a pass in the end zone and the offense took over at its own 20. They moved the ball to the Flying Dutchmen 44 when Ellis then took a handoff, cut to the left and went untouched. Restaino's boot made it 14-0 halfway through the second quarter.
The Flying Dutchmen turned the ball over on downs at the Aggie 23 on their next drive and DelVal needed just eight plays to go 77 yards and reach the end one. Darden and Tyler Bing teamed up for the big play on the drive, a 39-yard pass down the left sideline to the Lebanon Valley 2. Darden then called his own number, bounced to the outside and scored for the 21-0 advantage with just 49 seconds left in the first half.
McBryde came up with another big defensive play for DelVal to start the second stanza as he forced a fumble and teammate TJ Waters recovered it at the Aggie 29-yard line. DelVal took advantage of the turnover by going 71 yards on seven plays and the drive was capped by Robert Cleveland's one-yard plunge into the end zone. One play earlier, Darden hit Marquis Ellis for a 43-yard pass to put the ball near the goal line
Twenty seconds later, it was the DelVal defense again and this time they also took care of the scoring as Sammy Mohr intercepted a Tyler Cottle pass and ran it back 41 yards for a touchdown. Restaino added the extra-point for a 34-0 lead with 10:12 left in the third quarter.
Devauntay Ellis capped his big day five minutes later as he raced down the left sideline for an 82-yard touchdown. It tied for the fifth-longest run in school history. Backup quarterback Vian Dolo capped the game's scoring in the fourth with his first collegiate touchdown run, a 13-yarder.
DelVal finished with 489 yards of total offense, including 307 on the ground. Cleveland had 47 yards and one score on nine carries while Darden added 23 yards and a touchdown on seven touches. In the air, Darden was 7-for-14 for 160 yards and one touchdown.
Meanwhile the Aggie defense held Lebanon Valley to 272 yards with just 105 yards coming from the passing game. The unit also forced three turnovers. Waters and Nicholas DiGati had eight tackles apiece with Waters adding a fumble recovery and DiGati registering a sack.
For the Flying Dutchmen, three quarterbacks were a combined 12-for-28 for 105 yards and two interceptions. Brendon Irving rushed 12 times for 65 yards. Kyle Murray had nine tackles to pace the defense.