Football: Delaware Off Bye Week, Hosts Richmond
NEWARK, Del. (CBS) -- The last time we saw the Delaware Blue Hens, they were pulling off their biggest win of the season, going down to Towson and beating the CAA co-leading Tigers, 35-30 (see game story).
That was two weeks ago, and Delaware spent last weekend on the bye.
Now, the Blue Hens are getting ready for Homecoming this Saturday, as 3-6 Richmond comes to Newark.
Blue Hens head coach KC Keeler talked about the timing of the bye week, after such a big victory.
"You'd love to keep that momentum going, but the reality is, this late in the season, we are all a little worn down right now. We typically call this bye week the 'get better' week. This was definitely the 'get rested' week. We didn't get back on the field until (last) Thursday, (practiced) Thursday, Friday, gave them off on Saturday, and then we got a little head start on Richmond on Sunday. This late in the year, it really was good to have some time off our feet," he told KYW Newsradio.
Hear Matt Leon's full interview with Coach KC Keeler in this CBS Philly SportsPod...
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Richmond started the 2011 season 3-0, a record that included a win over Division I-A Duke. But it has been all downhill since then, as the Spiders have lost six straight. But three of those losses have come to the three teams at the top of the CAA standings (Towson, Maine, New Hampshire), by a total of six points.
"This is a team that could easily be a playoff team," Keeler says of Richmond. "They've been in so many close games, and that's the key to this league: in this league you have to win those close games."
Keeler says his defense has to contain Spiders' quarterback Aaron Corp in this one. A transfer from USC, Corp has 15 touchdown passes this season.
As for other keys to picking up a win, Keeler says, "A little bit of what we did against Towson. We have to play really good on special teams. Their special teams aren't great -- we have to play great on special teams. Ball control: don't turn the ball over. We've been pretty good when we haven't turned the ball over."
Kickoff in Newark, Delaware is set for 3:30pm.
Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060
