Delaware football on the road again at Hampton: How to follow Saturday's CAA game
In its last away football game Sept. 9, Delaware played at Penn State for the first time.
The Blue Hens’ latest maiden voyage is far less daunting.
Delaware makes its first visit to Armstrong Stadium, home of second-year Coastal Athletic Association member Hampton. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Hampton was drubbed 35-3 in its first trip to Delaware Stadium last year and the Blue Hens hope for a repeat.
It isn’t out of the question as Delaware (5-1 overall, 3-1 CAA) has won four straight, all at home, and climbed to No. 8 nationally in the FCS Top 25.
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Hampton (3-3, 1-2), which was last in the CAA preseason poll, has already equaled its 2022 league win total after a satisfying 31-14 conquest of nearby Richmond and also has a win over Grambling to its credit.
But the Pirates have lost to Campbell 30-27 and Monmouth 61-10 since the Richmond game and now face their stiffest challenge yet against Delaware.
How to follow
Delawareonline.com will have live coverage from the game, with frequent updates including photos and video, beginning before kickoff through to its conclusion with postgame reaction.
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How to watch
Hampton is, depending on traffic, a roughly 4 ½-hour drive from Newark via the Eastern Shore. Nearby Williamsburg and Virginia Beach certainly make a weekend trip more appealing.
Tickets are available at the stadium and on the Hampton website.Flosports.com will be streaming the game for a fee.
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How to listen
WDSD (94.7) is airing the game with Scott Klatzin calling the action, Bill Harman giving insight and analysis and Nick Alessandrini reporting from the sidelines. The broadcast begins an hour before kickoff at 1 p.m.
Student radio station WVUD (91.3) is also airing the game with Daniel Steenkamer and Ethan Fager providing details.
Why is this an important game for Delaware?
Delaware is on pace for a CAA title and FCS playoff berth and can’t afford a slip-up on the road against a seemingly inferior foe.
What’s an interesting fact?
Hampton is No. 2 in the CAA in rushing with 232.8 yards per game. It has two backs among the CAA’s top six rushers in Elijah Burris (94.5, 4th) and Darran Butts (83.8, 6th), but Burris missed the Monmouth game with an injury and his status is uncertain.
The Pirates offense is coordinated by Zack Patterson, who worked with Delaware coach Ryan Carty at Sam Houston.
Who is a player to watch for Hampton?
Linebacker Qwahsin Townsel was Hampton’s only preseason All-CAA pick after finishing third in the league in tackles last year. He’s third this year with 10.3 per game.
Townsel is in his second season at Hampton after transferring from Villanova, where he started 25 games.
Who is a player to watch for Delaware?
A steady performer on the Blue Hens’ defensive line for five years, Chase McGowan has been particularly effective this season in lending his experience and ability to Delaware’s rebuilt defense.
His 8½ tackles for lost yardage lead the Hens and are seventh in the CAA. He has 32½ in his career and is one away from his single-season best.
“He's really smooth, he's fast, he's explosive,” Carty said. “He's got a football savvy and a football IQ. And then he plays really, really freaking hard. Excited to see him continue to get better and better.”
What does Hampton coach Robert Prunty say?
“We can play with anybody. Monmouth was just better than us on Saturday. … We just gotta play better this week. Delaware is a good football team. Their coach does a great job with them. They’re sound in all phases of the game. It’s one of the celebrated teams as far as FCS goes.”
What does UD coach Ryan Carty say?
"The thing I would say about Coach Prunty's team is, just from only having played them two times in my career, they're very similar to what they were last year, just kind of better across the board on all phases. They're just a little bit better everywhere. I think they're similar. I know coach Patterson does a really nice job with those guys and they're detail-oriented and they're going to have their scheme and they're going to have some wrinkles for us because that's who they are. Same thing on defense. And so I think we just have to worry about us and know what the challenges are going to be, and then how do we continue to focus on our job?"
Have an idea for a compelling sports story or is there an issue that needs public scrutiny? Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Blue Hens at Hampton football: How to follow CAA game
