College football fans who stayed up late into Wednesday night were rewarded with some late drama in the 68 Ventures Bowl. It was a game featuring a Louisiana team that made plenty of mistakes. But Delaware wasn’t able to fully capitalize on. With the back door left open, the Ragin’ Cajuns tried to storm back in the fourth quarter. But one last stand by Delaware secured the first-ever bowl victory in program history by a score of 20-13.
Delaware Closes Out FBS Inaugural Season With First-Ever Bowl Victory
Slow Start For Both Teams
The start of the 68 Ventures Bowl was not one to encourage people to watch all bowl games. Coming into the game, both teams wanted their offenses to dictate the tempo. It was a slow start for a Delaware passing attack that averaged 302.8 yards per game in 2025. The Blue Hens only had 50 yards through the air in the first half. The only success they found was on one play in the first quarter, where running back Jo Silver scampered for a 61-yard touchdown run. Silver would add a 27-yard run in the second half, and he would finish with 116 yards on 14 carries.
Despite not having any sustained success offensively in the first half. Delaware found themselves with a 10-3 lead heading into the locker room. That’s because Louisiana couldn’t close out early offensive drives. Their opening drive was a nine-play, 53-yard drive that ended with a missed field goal. The ensuing possession, they marched 48 yards in 12 plays before throwing an interception in the endzone. Louisiana struggled to find any offensive rhythm in the first three quarters of the game. Michael Desormeaux’s offense only had 231 yards and six points through the first three quarters.
One Offense Came To Life To Start The Second Half
In the second half, the Delaware offense came to life. Quarterback Nick Minicucci led the Blue Hens to three consecutive scoring drives to extend the lead to 20-3. Minicucci would finish the game with 19-for-30 with just 176 yards and one touchdown. But he did not turn the ball over. As the game shifted to the fourth quarter, Delaware’s first-ever bowl victory seemed within grasp. However, a blocked field goal at the 13-minute mark in the fourth quarter by Louisiana changed the game completely. It led to a 10-play touchdown drive with 7:49 remaining in regulation. Suddenly, Delaware Head Coach Ryan Carty found his team trying to sit on the ball to hold onto the lead. The Blue Hens began to bleed the clock behind a methodical and effective rushing attack.
First-Ever Bowl Victory Included Best Defensive Effort
But the Ragin’ Cajuns held on fourth down before taking over on offense from their own 42-yard line. The stand by Louisiana was quickly stomped out by the Delaware defense, who recovered a fumble on fourth down. Still, Louisiana forced one more stop and got the ball back with 1:41 left and 93 yards to go. Quarterback D’wayne “Lunch” Winfield came up with some clutch plays to give his team a chance to force overtime.
It came down to one final play from Delaware’s seven-yard line. But Winfield’s pass fell harmlessly onto the Mobile turf. The 13 points the Blue Hens limited the Ragin’ Cajuns to were their best of the season. Their previous lowest point total allowed in 2025 was 16 to FIU. In a game in which the teams were only separated by one yard in total offense, the three turnovers forced by Delaware were the ultimate difference in earning their first-ever bowl victory.
Main Image: 68 Ventures Bowl
