Delaware Surprises Navy, 16-13 : Division I-AA Power Slows Down McCallum in 2nd Half and Wins

NEWARK, Del. — Rich Gannon completed 15 of 19 passes for 138 yards and ran for two touchdowns as Delaware, a perennial Division I-AA power, stunned Navy, 16-13, Saturday.

An interception by Phil Atwell at the Delaware 23, with 2:26 remaining, clinched the victory for the Blue Hens (2-0), who are 5-2 against Division I-A opponents.

Napoleon McCallum rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns in 27 carries for Navy (0-2), but was held to 46 yards in the second half. He broke Eddie Meyers’ all-time Navy career rushing mark of 2,935 yards on his first carry of the game and finished with 3,082 career rushing yards.

McCallum opened the scoring with a 10-yard run in the first quarter. But Delaware came back to take a 9-7 halftime lead on a four-yard touchdown run by Gannon and a 24-yard field goal by Neil Roberts.

McCallum’s second touchdown, a two-yard run, put the Midshipmen ahead, 13-9, with 10:34 left in the third quarter before Delaware started the winning drive after a two-point conversion tried failed.

Gannon, who also rushed for 33 yards while confusing Navy with the wing-T, completed three passes for 29 yards to set up his three-yard touchdown run.

Navy drove 80 yards on its first possession for a 7-0 lead on McCallum’s 10-yard run, but Delaware moved ahead, 9-7, on Gannon’s four-yard run on the first play of the second quarter and a 24-yard field goal by Neil Roberts.

Tony Tolbert gained 114 yards in 23 carries for Delaware, his third consecutive game over the 100-yard mark. Fred Singleton rushed for 62 yards and caught five passes for the Blue Hens.