DOYLESTOWN -- Everything looked like it was going to work out for the Susquehanna University football team in its first trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 18 years.
A decided underdog against Delaware Valley, Jim Cavanaugh recovered an Aggies' fumble on the opening kickoff and Rich Palazzi followed with a 29-yard TD pass on the first offensive play of the game, giving the Crusaders a lead just 13 seconds into the game.
That turned out to the be the lone bright spot for Susquehanna, however. Six turnovers and a potent Delaware Valley offense turned out to be too much for the Crusaders as the Aggies rolled to a 66-7 victory over Susquehanna at James Work Memorial Stadium in the opening round of the Division III playoffs.
"The stat of the year is we had 12 turnovers on offense coming into the game and we had six in three quarters (Saturday)," Susquehanna coach Steve Briggs said. "It's a cliché, but I don't think you can turn the ball over against a jayvee team and expect to win, let alone in the Division III playoffs."
Delaware Valley (10-1) will host Middle Atlantic Conference-foe Albright (10-1), a 35-25 winner over Alfred, in the second round of the playoffs next Saturday. The Aggies beat Albright 45-16 back on Nov. 7.
Susquehanna, which won its most games since 1992, finished the season at 8-3.
"This season was incredible. We went from 2-8 to 8-2, 8-3 now, and conference champs. We didn't have a lot of seniors," Briggs said. "I'm excited. We've turned the tide. It's back to where it should be: winning championships and getting into the national playoffs. I think our young kids will learn from this. We had a young football team playing a senior-laden football team and we'll learn from that."
Susquehanna had no answer for Delaware Valley tailback Matt Cook, a Selinsgrove High graduate. Cook set the Delaware Valley record with his 29th and 30th career touchdowns, both in the first half. Cook finished the game with 156 yards on two touchdowns.
"It was really exciting. I was really hyped up for this game," Cook said. "I was overhyped at times. I took myself out just to calm down. As soon as I calmed down, I was myself and I was running the ball hard.
Four-year starter at quarterback, Mike Isgro was 17-of-22 for 259 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 49 yards and two more scores. The Aggies rolled up 642 yards and a school-record 66 points.
After the Crusaders' touchdown, the Delaware Valley offense took over. The Aggies scored on six of their next seven possessions and the only drive that didn't lead to points consumed 8:17 off the clock and covered 65 yards.
A Jake Sobchak field goal and Isgro 15-yard keeper gave the Aggies a 10-7 lead with 4:37 left in the first quarter. The Crusaders gave themselves a chance to answer, driving to the Delaware Valley 16, but Keith Howell juggled a pass and Mike Jaskowski made the interception while falling down to end the Crusaders' chance at the score. After its touchdown, Susquehanna's final 12 possession ended in a turnover or punt.
The Aggies secondary was key to the effort, picking off Palazzi four times, or one more pick than the sophomore had thrown in his eight starts this season.
"I was watching film all week and they did some things today that they didn't do on film, that I wasn't expecting," Palazzi said. "I didn't adjust well. It hurt us in the end."
After Isgro's touchdown in the first quarter, Cook took care of the next two Delaware Valley scores. He accounted for all 43 yards on a four-play drive that ended with a 17-yard TD run with 4:45 left in the second quarter. Cook needed two yards on a third-and-two play from the 17. He barreled forward to the nine, appeared to be going down, but caught his balance with his hand and dragged four Susquehanna defenders into the end zone.
"I lost my balance when I hit the free safety and I put my hand down for balance," Cook said. "I felt somebody jump on my back and that actually let me catch my balance. Somebody just rode me into the end zone. You just have to want to score and smell the end zone, you know."
Troy Green then picked off Palazzi to give the Aggies the ball on their own 35 with 2:13 left in the second quarter. Isgro hit Brandon Fox for 48 yards down to the SU 2 to set up Cook's record-setting TD run with 1:10 left in the first half.
The Aggies weren't done, though, getting the ball back with 39 seconds left after a Susquehanna punt. Isgro found Fox again behind the SU coverage, this time for a 52-yard scoring strike and a 31-7 lead at halftime.
"The first one, I probably should have thrown it away. The (Susquehanna) kid just misplayed it," Isgro said. "The second one, we were trying to get the safety to bite on the post and he did. Brandon did a great job of getting by the corner."
Isgro added another TD run and TD pass in the third quarter as the Aggies extended their lead to 45-7.
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