Minicucci Tosses Three TDs as Blue Hens Roll Past FIU, 38-16

Photo: Ben Hershey on Unsplash

Quarterback Nick Minicucci threw for three touchdowns as the University of Delaware’s football team earned its third win of the season Saturday, defeating Conference USA opponent Florida International Panthers 38-16.

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The Blue Hens trail by four points at the end of the first quarter.

Delaware received the ball first and put points on the board with the opening drive. UD had a long five-minute and 29-second, 12-play drive that stalled out after 68 yards, which was capped off by senior kicker Nate Reed, making a 24-yard field goal to give the Hens a 3-0 lead with 9:31 left in the first.

Florida International answered on their second drive of the first quarter, as quarterback Keyone Jenkins rushed in from two yards out to give the Panthers a 7-3 lead.

Delaware’s big second quarter puts them up by 17 at the end of the first half.

The tide started to turn in the Blue Hens’ favor when on FIU’s first possession of the second quarter, their quarterback Keyone Jenkins would get intercepted by Hens safety Mysonne Pollard on the third play. The interception would set UD’s offense up at their own 45-yard line.

Delaware did not waste that turnover as they went 55 yards in five plays to end with senior Jo Silver dashing 14 yards for the touchdown to give his team a 10-7 edge with 11:55 left in the first half.

Two drives later, the Blue Hens capped off a 77-yard, eight-play drive with junior quarterback Nick Minicucci finding senior wide receiver Nick Laboy for the two-yard touchdown to give their team a 17-7 advantage with 4:26 left in the second.

FIU would go three-and-out on its next possession and have to punt the ball away to the Hens.

Senior wide receiver Kyre Duplessis returned the punt for Delaware and took it 68 yards for the score to put his team up 24-7 at the end of the first half.

The Blue Hens score 14 more points in the second half to take home a 38-16 win!

Minicucci tossed touchdown passes in both the third and fourth quarters, helping to secure the decisive 38-16 victory over FIU. The junior quarterback finished the night with three touchdown passes and 218 passing yards, leading an efficient Blue Hens offense that now sits at 3-1 on the season.