Salisbury surprises Delaware Valley to win ECAC South Atlantic Bowl
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Salisbury University football team rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Delaware Valley 15-9 to win the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Atlantic Bowl before 1,500 at James Work Memorial Stadium.

The game-winning drive for the Sea Gulls (6-5) began late in the third quarter and ended 11 plays later, early in the fourth quarter, as senior Anthony Johnson ran in from 5-yards out to give SU its first and only lead of the game, 13-9, with 10:28 left in the game. The Salisbury drive went 97 yards and was aided by three costly Delaware Valley (8-3) penalties.

SU went for two-points after the touchdown and was stuffed by the Aggie defense but a roughing the passer penalty by Delaware Valley gave the Sea Gulls another shot from the one-yard line. On the second try freshman Valdase Morris ran in for to put the Gulls up six.

Salisbury wins its second straight ECAC Bowl championship game and concludes its 2006 campaign with the fifth straight winning season. The SU senior class went 31-11 in four seasons for the maroon and gold highlighted with a 10-0 regular season (2004), a NCAA tournament appearance (2004) and back-to-back ECAC Bowl championships (2005, ’06).

The Salisbury defense stood strong in the final 10 minutes of play as the Aggies were forced to punt once and turned the ball over on downs with 2:41 left in the game. Salisbury senior linebacker Billy Leinemann (six tackles) was named the game’s MVP as his tackle of Delaware Valley quarterback Mike Isgro (18-of-22 for 166 yards) on third down and two around midfield forced the Aggies to go for it. On fourth and four, Isgro’s pass fell incomplete as he threw behind his receiver to give the ball back to Salisbury.

SU then ran out the clock to cap the game. In the second half the Aggies were their own worst enemy as they committed nine penalties (six in the fourth quarter).

SU sophomore quarterback Ronnie Curley ran for a game-high 131 yards on 30 carries and threw for 60 yards (4-of-7).

Delaware Valley struck first in the game as they went 85 yards on 11 plays as junior running back Jake Sheffield ran into the end zone from a yard out. The Sea Gulls answered right before halftime as Curley threw for 50 yards in the seven play drive that went 67 yards. Curley found junior Chris Newton in the end zone for a three-yard touchdown with 57 seconds left before the break. Salisbury tacked on the extra-point and the two teams went into the half knotted at seven apiece.

The touchdown allowed by Delaware Valley was the first one in four games (240 minutes, 16 seconds) as the Aggies entered the bowl game with a three-game shutout streak. The SU score was also the first points allowed in 219 minutes and 22 seconds for the Aggie defense.

The Sea Gulls had the ball first in the third quarter but a bad snap over the head of freshman punter Andrew Geisert landed in the end zone and forced Geisert to boot the ball over the end line to give Delaware Valley the safety.

This was the first meeting between the two schools in nine years. Salisbury now holds a 2-1 series advantage over Delaware Valley.