Copyright Wilmington News Journal
A sold-out Delaware Stadium homecoming audience may see just how stiff the challenge is for the Blue Hens at the FBS-level on Nov. 8. Delaware (4-4 overall, 2-3 Conference USA) and Louisiana Tech (5-2, 3-2) kick off at 3 p.m. in what will be their first – and last -- Conference USA football collision. This is Delaware’s first CUSA season but the Bulldogs will move to the Sun Belt Conference next year. They’ve already beaten one of the Sun Belt’s top teams in Southern Mississippi and gave LSU some trouble in a 23-7 defeat. But losses to Kennesaw State and Western Kentucky have undermined the Bulldogs’ CUSA hopes, though they bounced back with a 55-14 rout of Sam Houston last week. Delaware seeks to rebound after a 59-30 drubbing at Liberty last week and welcomes the challenge, as potentially daunting as it may be. “It's what we came into this conference for, to play a high level of football, more of a national stage, and get an opportunity to have that game here,” Delaware coach Ryan Carty said. “This is a game that, if we were an FCS team, we would have had to go travel to Louisiana to do and now we get a chance to have a homecoming crowd against a perennially great team. It's gonna be fun to watch. It's gonna be fun for us to play in.” MAJOR SETBACK AT LIBERTY: Delaware not up to FBS, Conference USA standards How to follow Louisiana Tech at Delaware? Delawareonline.com will provide live reports on the game beginning three hours before kickoff with photos, videos and frequent updates through to the game’s conclusion and with postgame reaction. How to attend Louisiana Tech at Delaware ? The game is sold out but tickets are available on secondary markets and check at https://bluehens.evenue.net/list/FB. How to listen to Louisiana Tech at Delaware ? Nick Alessandrini will be calling the game on WDSD 94.7 FM with Bill Harman providing analysis. They come on the air at 2 p.m. Student-radio station WVUD (91.3) is airing the game with Scott Mendelsohn and James Gallagher. How to watch Louisiana Tech at Delaware ? The game is being streamed on ESPN+, which requires a fee, with Scott Klatzkin on play-by-play and former Delaware quarterback Pat Devlin providing analysis. What’s the point spread? Louisiana Tech is favored by 6½, according to ESPN. DONOVAN LEWIS CARVES OWN NICHE: Walk-on is son of ex-Blue Hen How do the teams rate nationally? Louisiana Tech is 82nd and Delaware 122nd in the ESPN College Football Power Index of the 136 teams in FBS.. What’s the weather forecast? Mostly sunny with temperatures in the 60s. Why is this game important for Delaware? Delaware is coming off its worst game of the year in a 59-30 loss at Liberty and will hope to regain the offensive and defensive polish that characterized several other previous games. Why is this game important for Louisiana Tech? The Bulldogs are bowl eligible with a win. What’s the series record? Delaware won the lone previous meeting between the schools in the 1982 NCAA Division I-AA semifinals 17-0 in the rain and mud in Ruston. Danny Reeder rushed for 114 yards, Lou Reda’s blocked punt set up QB Rick Scully’s 1-yard TD keeper and Delaware had three interceptions. What will be interesting to see for Delaware? Can Delaware’s periodically prolific offense move the football and limit mistakes against a defense that is best in CUSA against the run and takes the football away. What will be interesting to see for Louisiana Tech? The Bulldogs have intercepted 13 passes and returned four for touchdowns this year. Do more takeaways pave their path to victory? Who is a player to watch for Delaware? Quarterback Nick Minicucci’s 301.8 passing yards per game are best in CUSA and sixth in FBS and he has also run for 8 TDs. Who is a player to watch for Louisiana Tech? Senior cornerback Jakari Foster has three interceptions this season including one he returned for a TD. What does Delaware coach Ryan Carty say? “If we get a chance to win this game it's going to be because we played really, really clean, we put it all together out there. Because they're going to come in here and play clean on offense, really well on special teams and violently on defense.” What does Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie say? “Our kids are looking forward to the challenge. Their quarterback, Nick Minicucci, is tops in the country throwing the football. He's one of the best quarterbacks, not only in our league, but in the country. He makes plays with his feet. He's very accurate, quick release. I think their offensive line, in terms of the offensive lines that our guys have gone against in a game, is probably one of the best. They're very well coached.”
