MISSOULA, Montana — The last time Delaware came to Missoula, the Griz were in the infancy of what would become one of the dominant runs in college football history.
The University of Montana football team made the playoffs for the first time in 1982 and not again until 1988, losing to rival Idaho in the first round both times. UM raced to the semifinals of the 1989 Division I-AA playoffs but didn’t make the postseason again until 1993.
That season, a precocious young quarterback burst into the lineup, stealing the starting quarterback job from Bert Wilberger before guiding an epic comeback against South Dakota State. The following week, Dave Dickenson nearly led Montana to an upset of Oregon before losing 35-30 in Autzen Stadium.
The Griz didn’t lose again for more than two months, ripping off nine straight wins and going undefeated in the Big Sky Conference. That conference crown was the first of 15 between 1993 and 2009, a stretch that also included a subdivision record 17 straight playoff apperarances.
UM’s 7-0 league mark in 1993 helped the Griz earn the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and a first round matchup against the 18th-ranked Blue Hens of Delaware.
On November 26, 1993, Dickenson completed 37 of 44 passes for 409 yards and four touchdowns against the Blue Hens. He led Montana on touchdown drives on three consecutive possessions to close the first half up 28-21. And he completed 15 straight passes in the second half as the shootout continued.
But UD quarterback Leo Hamlett hit Keita Malloy on a 32-yard scoring pass with 55 seconds left to lift Delaware to a wild 49-48 victory.
The Griz raced to the semifinals of the 1994 playoffs and won the first national title in program history in 1995. Many members of that 1995 title referenced the loss to Delaware as a launch point for Dickenson and the Griz.
Now, 30 years and a week later, Delaware returns to Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The Blue Hens, ranked No. 11 in the FCS entering the playoffs, moved to 9-3 this season with a thrilling 36-34 win over Lafayette in the first round on Saturday.
Delaware lost 63-7 in Week 2 at Penn State, then didn’t lose again for six weeks straight. UD lost 33-27 to Elon the first Saturday of November and then fell 35-7 to Villanova. That helped sew up the No. 8 seed for the Wildcats and dropped Delaware, one of four teams from the Colonial Athletic Association to make the 24-team FCS Playoff field. UAlbany is the No. 5 seed while Richmond is into the second round after cruising past N.C. Central 49-27 on Saturday.
QUICK HITS
Nickname: Blue Hens
Location: Newark, Delaware, population 30,601
Founded: 1743….33 years before the founding of the United States
Enrollment: 24,252
Endowment – $1.78 billion
Stadium: Delaware Stadium is a 18,500-seat multi-purpose stadium that is nicknamed “The Tub”. Coincidentally, Delaware opened the stadium in November of 1952 with a 13-12 win over Lafayette, the same team UD just defeated in the first round of the FCS playoffs. For a typical Blue Hen home game, Delaware Stadium becomes the fourth-largest city in the state, behind Wilmington, Dover and Newark itself. The Blue Hends averaged 13,917 fans per game, a number hindered by the fact that 4,039 showed up last week. The week before against Villanova, Delaware drew 17,718.
Famous alumni: President of the United States Joe Biden & first lady Jill Biden; NFL quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Rich Gannon; New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Last meeting: In the first round of the 1993 playoffs, No. 18 Delaware came to No. 3 Montana, the second seed in the Division I-AA Playoffs, and stunned the Griz, emerging with a 49-48 win thanks to Leo Hamlett hitting Keita Malloy on a 32-yard scoring pass with 55 seconds left.
THE COACH
Ryan Carty, second season at Delaware (16-8 overall)
The 40-year-old was a backup quarterback on Delaware’s last national championship team in 2003. That squad is part of rich history of success that includes six national titles, including five at the Division II level. UD has also won 17 conference titles and is in the midst of its 23 playoff season.
Carty exhausted his playing eligibility in 2006 and dove into coaching right away. He was hired as the running backs coach at New Hampshire by former UNH offensive coordinator Chip Kelly before Kelly took Oregon’s OC job ahead of the 2008 season. Carty coached running backs in 2008 and 2009, wide receivers in 2010 and 2011 before taking over as UNH OC in 2012.
Carty spent 2018 until 2021 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Sam Houston, helping the Bearkats to the 2021 spring season national title. He was named the Football Scoop Coordinator of the Year that season.
The Blue Hens beat St. Francis (PA) in the first round of the playoffs last season before getting rolled 42-6 by top-ranked and eventual national champion South Dakota State.
This season, the Hens have nine wins and a shot at the quarters with the Griz standing in the way.
PLAYERS TO WATCH – OFFENSE
QB Nick Minicucci (6-2, 210, Fr.) — When Minicucci first signed with Delaware, quarterbacks coach Sean Goldrich sounded like a typical QB coach while praising the Midlands, New Jersey product.
“Nick can do it all. A true dual threat that can make every throw and extend plays with his feet. He will be a great addition to the Blue Hen Family.”
Miniucci got his shot to prove those words a lot earlier than expected. He was thrown into action against Villanova after throwing just 23 passes all season prior to that rivalry test. He finished 9-of-21 for 55 yards, a touchdown and a pick in UD’s 35-7 loss.
Last week, Minicucci rode the roller coaster, but came out on the winning side. The rookie completed 16-of-25 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns to (sort of) off-set three interceptions. He also was part of a Blue Hen rushing attack that notched 203 yards on the ground, including 46 yards on 10 carries by Minicucci.
Saturday, Minicucci will go against one of the outstanding defenses in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Griz have given up six points per game over the last four contests and just 14.4 points per game this season. Montana is +9 in turnover margin thanks to 14 interceptions (8th nationally) and have forced 19 turnovers overall. The Griz have 26 sacks and 66 tackles for loss.
TE Braden Brose (6-3-250, Sr.) — Braden and his twin brother Fintan were each third-team All-CAA selections this season. Fintan is 54 pounds heavier and an offensive tackle.
Braden is second on the Blue Hens with five touchdown catches. He has 26 catches for 358 yards overall, giving him 49 catches for 637 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career.
RB Marcus Yarns (5-11, 183, Sr.) — Yarns has rushed for more than 100 yards in four different games this season and almost got to five with a 97-yard effort in Delaware’s loss to Villanova in the regular-season finale.
Last week, he mustered just 25 yards on 10 carries, but he did score a touchdown, his 15th of the season. He was a second-team All-CAA selection and has rushed for 871 yards so far this season. The Blue Hens average 164 yards per game on the ground.
Montana is one of nine teams in the country that’s allowing less than 100 yards per game. The Griz led the Big Sky and rank eighth nationally by allowing 96.5 yards per game.
WR/PR Jourdain Townsend (5-11, 193, Sr.) – Townsend was a second-team all-conference pick as a punt returner and a third-team selection at wide receiver, giving him three straight all-conference nods offensively.
This season, he leads the Blue Hens with 41 catches for 586 yards and three touchdowns. Joshua Youngblood leads Delaware with seven touchdown catches.
He only got eight punt return chances this season but still averaged 14.5 yards per return, including an 82-yard return for a score against Hampton.
In his career, Townsend has 132 catches for 1,587 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Townsend has also taken over as the team’s primary kick returner. He had four returns for 149 yards, including an 88-yarder that did not result in a touchdown against Lafayette.
PLAYERS TO WATCH – DEFENSE
LB Jackson Taylor (6-1, 239, GR.) – The former West Chester (Division II) transfer has been one of the best graduate transfer additions in the country.
He was the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference player of the year in 2021 and 2022, earning first-team all-conference and Division II All-American honors three years in a row.
The burly, explosive linebacker has kept rolling since joining the Blue Hens. He earned first-team All-CAA honors after rolling up 11.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks among his 105 total tackles. He had double-digit tackles in wins over New Hampshire, Duquesne, N.C. A&T and Elon.
DE Chase McGowan (6-1, 264, Sr.) – After earning second-team All-CAA honors earlier this month, McGowan now sports four all-league nods during his standout career.
He has had his best season in his last one. The Stafford, Virginia native leads the Blue Hens with seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss. He’s had a tackle behind the line of scrimmage in all but one game this season, including multiple TFLS in three games, including the last two. He had two sacks on Saturday against Lafayette.
In his career, McGowan has 22 sacks and 40 tackles for loss.
S Ty Davis (6-3, 200, Jr.) – The third-year player has had a breakout season, earning third-team All-CAA honors in his first season as a full time starter.
The Mount Laurel, New Jersey product is third on the Blue Hens with 45 total tackles, including four for loss. He also has a pair of interceptions, he’s recovered three fumbles and he has 15 quarterback hurries.
