(Posted November 4, 2006)

Delaware Valley 21, Juniata 0 DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - The Juniata College football team\'s defense held the Delaware Valley College offense off the board for nearly an entire half, but in the end it was a strong effort from the Aggies\' defense that was the difference as Juniata dropped a 21-0 decision in Middle Atlantic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Robert Lipinski Field. Juniata is now 1-8 overall and 1-7 in the MAC while Delaware Valley is now 7-2 overall and 6-2 in the conference. Juniata forced three turnovers in the contest, and limited the Aggies to 314 total yards, but the Aggies\' Jake Sheffield gained 144 yards on the ground and accounted for two touchdowns to lead the home team\'s offensive attack. Juniata could not capitalize on good field position gained from the first half turnovers as Delaware Valley limited Juniata to 145 yards of total offense. Most of that yardage came through the air as Jay Leonard (Big Spring/Newville) passed for 113 yards. The teams combined for six turnovers in the first half, with several of them thwarting scoring chances. Josh Roy (Northern Lebanon/Fredericksburg) stripped Sheffield near the Juniata goal line to keep the Aggies off the scoreboard. Juniata also fumbled after moving into Delaware Valley territory in the first quarter. The sixth turnover was the biggest of the half Delaware Valley\'s Anthony Silver sacked and stripped Leonard inside Juniata\'s 10 yards line. The Aggies recovered, and two plays later Sheffield dove in from the two to give Delaware Valley a 6-0 lead. The point after made it 7-0 in favor of the home team, with 1:10 left in the first half. Delaware Valley found the end zone again on its second possession of the second half. A long pass from Mike Isgro to David Carmon picked up a third-and-15 and then Sheffield scored on a two-yard run to cap the 11-play, 61-yard drive. The successful point made it 14-0 Delaware Valley with twenty seconds left in the in the third quarter. Juniata put together its best drive of the game following Delaware Valley\'s second score. Leonard found Matthew Dunker (Shaler/Glenshaw) for a long completion, and then a roughing the passer penalty extended the drive inside the Aggies\' 15. But the home team\'s defense held, stopping Juniata on fourth down to keep the Eagles out of the end zone. Delaware Valley capitalized, taking the ball and moving 93 yards on 10 plays. A long run from Sheffield took the ball to the one and Steve Dorner took it in for his first career touchdown, making it 20-0 midway through the fourth quarter. Bill Miller hit his third extra point of the contest to take the lead to 21-0 which would be the deciding margin. Leonard was 9-26 on the day for his 113 yards. Dunker enjoyed another big game for the Eagles as he caught six passes for 84 yards. Defensively Brandon Spayd (Huntingdon/Huntingdon) paced the team with nine tackles, including one for a loss. Michael Panas (Walter Panas/Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) finished with eight tackles for the Eagles while Roy, Tyler Hall (Juniata Valley/Alexandria) and Andrew Knittle (Hamburg/Hamburg) all had seven tackles. Roy forced and recovered a fumble on the day, Knittle had three tackles for a loss, and Hall forced a fumble. For Delaware Valley Isgro was 15-of-28 passing for 115 yards. Sheffield gained his 145 yards on 24 carries for the Aggies. Carmon finished with a team-high 52 receiving yards. Defensively Travis Albanesius posted eight tackles, four for a loss and a pair of sacks. Joe Whitesell also had eight tackles for the home team. Juniata will complete its regular season at home Nov. 11 against FDU-Florham, while Delaware Valley will travel to play Widener in its final regular season game. ###

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