By James Parziale
The series of events was cataclysmic, and the result somewhat mystifying.
The hit came midway through the first quarter, knocking Bobby Seck out of the game, and abruptly halting the Pride starting quarterback’s season.
The hand, which unceremoniously met the helmet of a University of Delaware defender, belonged to back-up quarterback Anton Clarkson, who was ineffective in replacing Seck.
The penalty came with the Pride clinging to a five-point lead late in the fourth when James Glee was called for interference on a punt return, shortening the field for Delaware’s go-ahead scoring drive by 15 yards.
The drop was on a pass thrown behind receiver Isaac Irby, that had he caught, would have given the Pride a first down on its final possession.
The half-yard that Devale Ellis’ did not get on his 4th-and-2 catch with a minute remaining halted the Pride’s desperate last drive.
All the ingredients combined for a stunning 20-19 defeat at the hands of the No. 3 Delaware Blue Hens. The Homecoming crowd of 7,050 watched the Pride lead the defending national champions until the final 6:09, but a stagnant offense buried the Pride.
“We missed a lot of passes,” coach Joe Gardi said. “Our offense didn’t play well at all. They didn’t play good enough to win and we didn’t have quarterback play good enough to win.”
The offense, which entered the game seventh in the nation averaging 450 yards per game, mustered just four field goals and 221 total yards – a far cry from the two 61-point efforts against the University of Rhode Island and Stony Brook. The offense’s disappearing act coincided with Seck’s departure in the first quarter, and the sentiment after the game largely surrounded the Pride’s fallen quarterback.
“Bobby’s through for the year,” Gardi said Saturday after the game. “He’s probably going to need surgery…The trainers think it’s a tear.”
But yesterday, Gardi said Seck’s injury was not as severe as first imagined. Gardi said Seck might be able to come back in 2-to-3 weeks, but said that it might be pointless to have him return so late. Seck had an MRI yesterday and the results will determine his availability for the rest of the season.
If Seck can return, it puts a different spin on the remaining five games. The junior walk-on has proven he can master this offense, while Clarkson, who has shown flashes of brilliance, especially in a 61-21 win at Stony Brook Oct. 9, does not look as comfortable.
“Clarkson was hurt too,” Gardi said. “He hurt his hand and couldn’t grasp the ball the whole game. I don’t know how to coach that.”
Clarkson, who was 13 of 31 for just 88 yards Saturday, said he feels he can be an admirable substitute for Seck.
“I’m going to try and avoid situations like this [loss] and avoid this feeling,” Clarkson said. “Bobby is always level-headed. I just try to feed of that and now more than ever I’m going to look for his guidance.”
Clarkson, who could not grasp the ball because of his middle finger, played in six games last year – starting three of them – and is familiar with stepping into a situation like this.
“Last year I came late and was thrown into the fire,” he said. “This year, with spring practice, I feel like I’ve had a chance to grow. I think it’s like night and day.”
On Saturday, the momentum swinging drive came with Clarkson in the game and the Pride (3-3, 1-2) leading 6-0 in the second quarter after David Darby’s interception set up first-and-goal at the Delaware 8-yard line. Clarkson tried a quarterback keeper on first down and running back Terry Crenshaw was hit in the back field for a loss on second down. A reverse to Irby looked like it caught Delaware’s (5-1, 4-0) off guard, but when he ran into tackle Willie Colon the Pride was faced with fourth-and-goal from the 1. Gardi elected to send out Onorato, whose 18-yard field goal made it 9-0 with 5:32 left in the second.
“We are not a good short-yardage goal line team and we’re lucky if we are 5-for-30 in [my] 15 years here,” Gardi said. “There is never any decision on that; we are going to kick the field goal.”
After a Delaware cut the lead to 9-7, the Pride caught a break midway through the third quarter when Delaware punter Mike Weber dropped a snap in his own end zone. Justyn Davis recovered, giving the Pride a 16-7 lead.
After another Onorato field goal extended the lead to 19-7, the Pride defense allowed the Blue Hens to convert a third and 18 on the third play of the fourth quarter. The drive ended with Niquan Lee’s 1-yard touchdown run to make it 19-14.
The defense stymied Delaware’s next two possessions, but when James Glee was flagged 15 yards for interference on a punt, Delaware took over at the Pride’s 37-yard line and worked down to the 6, where the Pride’s defense faced a fourth-and-goal.
Delaware quarterback Sonny Riccio connected with Joe Bleymaier in the back of the end zone after Delware ran two unsuccessful fade routes.
“We didn’t do enough to win. We’ve got to hold them out of the end zone,” linebacker Gian Villante said. “Their defense held us out of the end zone. We didn’t make the most of our opportunities and they made the most of theirs.”
The Pride offense had its final chance with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter, but on third-and-two Irby dropped a pass that would’ve given the Pride a first down. On fourth down, Clarkson connected with Ellis, but the measurement revealed what everyone already knew. The Pride had come up short – on the play and in the game.
“We missed a lot of passes. Our offense didn’t play well at all,” Gardi said. “If this is a national championship team, I think we’re going to have a good team if we can get the quarterback play…They didn’t beat us we beat ourselves.”
Quarterback Anton Clarkson, who came in after Bobby Seck injured his knee, was unsuccessful in leading the Pride into the endzone in a 20-19 loss to the Blue Hens. (Staff Photo)