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2022 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
- 9/3 vs. Westminster............... 12 p.m.
- 9/10 @ Montclair State.......... 12 p.m.
- 9/17 @ King's*..................... 1 p.m.
- 9/24 vs. Misericordia*........... 1 p.m.
- 10/1 @ Stevenson*............... 12 p.m.
- 10/8 vs. Lycoming*............... 12 p.m.
- 10/15 @ Lebanon Valley*....... 1 p.m.
- 10/22 vs. Wilkes*.................. 1 p.m.
- 10/29 BYE WEEK
- 11/5 vs. FDU-Florham*.......... 12 p.m.
- 11/12 @ Widener*................ 12 p.m.
*Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Game
AMONG THE RANKS
The Aggies enter the 2022 season ranked 15th in D3football.com preseason top-25, and slated 5th according to Lindy's preseason poll. The Aggies are the lone Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) team in the preseason top 25 as they enter this year in search of their fifth consecutive conference title. DelVal has won a MAC record 36 conference games in a row dating back over five years to October 22, 2016.
2021 Defense
"Best Defense In The Country"
The best defensive unit in the country in allowed less than a TD per game a year ago (6.75 ppg.). The Aggies led the nation in nine different categories all together including total defense (126.8), rush defense (30.1) and pass defense (96.7). Nine of 11 starters earned all-MAC honors, eight were All-Region, and four earned All-America. Defensive Coordinator Nick Brady was named the Nation's Coordinator of the Year.
2021 Offense
The Aggies offense led the MAC with 36.9 points per game, 397.1 yards per game, and 208.7 ypg. rushing , while posting 184.4 ypg. through the air. DelVal will look to replace RB Dontae Simmons who was named MAC Offensive Player Of The Year and led the conference in rushing yards with 1,078. His 15 touchdowns ranked second. The offense 36.9 points per game led the MAC Conference while also leading conference in yards per game with 397.1.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Specialist Thamir Barksdale, a junior, is a two-time all-region and all-MAC honoree, and was an All-American in 2019. He is the program's all-time leader in career return yards (869) and return touchdowns (4). Last year he set another record with 471 return yards in the season to lead the MAC. Barksdale returns this year, but the Aggies will have to replace all-conference punter Bobby Miller who averaged 38.8 yards per boot last year and pinned opponents inside the 20 15 times.
HEAD COACH DUKE GRECO '03
2021 marked Greco's eighth year at the helm of his alma mater's football program. He holds an astounding 70-12 record with postseason berths each year, including five NCAA appearances, two trips to the NCAA quarterfinals, four consecutive (2017-18-19-21) Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championships, two Centennial-MAC Bowl Series championships, and two MAC Coach of the Year honors.
Last season, Greco became the programs all-time wins leader with his 67th victory, a 31-3 win over Lycoming on homecoming weekend.
Prior to becoming head coach, Greco had an 11-year stint as assistant coach with DelVal, including eight as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.
DELVAL FOOTBALL DEPTH CHART
WESTMINSTER FOOTBALL DEPTH CHART
GAME NOTES
- DelVal is coming into the 2022 season searching for its 5th straight MAC championship and NCAA tournament bid.
- Four Delaware Valley University football senior student-athletes were named to the D3football.com Preseason All-America teams.
- Three defensive linemen, Michael Nobile (first team), Anthony Nobile (second team), and Yusuf Aladinov (third team) were tabbed, along with safety Blaine Netterman (second team).
The Aggies are 8-2 in their last 10 season openers with their last lost coming in 2018. DelVal looks for it's third straight season opener victory this week against the Titans.
DE, #10 YUSUF ALADINOV
- 2021 Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year.
- D3football.com Preseason All-America third team.
- Ranked second in all of Division III with 23.5 tackles for loss in 2021.
- Ranked 11th in the nation with 11.5 sacks.
- Second on the team with 56 total tackles.
WR, #4 Tahmir Barksdale
- Named D3Football.com first team all-Region 1 in 2021.
- One of the most electric players in the country, Barksdale recorded 471 punt return yards ranking 3rd best in the country and most in a season in DelVal history.
- Also caught 47 passes for 534 yards (both team-highs) and four touchdowns and earned all-MAC honors as a WR.
The Trenches
- DelVal returns three seniors on the offensive line in tackle #75 Bam Bannavti, who will move from the right side to the left this season, center #78 Kieran Saunders, and#74 Ron Goodwin who returns at RG.
- Sophomore Guard, #71 Justin Roman is Bam's right hand man at LG while Junior, #77 Shane Newell slides out to RT.
DL, #9 Anthony Nobile
- Named all-Region 1 first team and all-MAC first team in 2021.
- D3football.com Preseason All-America second team.
- Finished third on the team in tackles a year ago with 51 in 12 games and 4.5 sacks on the year.
- Had a career-high 3.5 sacks against Wilkes.
S, #6 BLAINE NETTERMAN
- A three-time first team all-MAC honoree looking to become the first player in program history to earn four first team nods.
- Second team all-Region 1 in 2021.
- D3football.com Preseason All-America Second team.
- Recorded three interceptions last year, second most on the team.
- Recorded four pass breakups with 33 tackles and six tackles for loss.
THIS IS THE FIRST EVER MEETING BETWEEN THE AGGIES AND THE TITANS
Credits:
aggiesaction.com