After their victory over Middle Tennessee last week, the Delaware Blue Hens get some extra rest ahead of their matchup with the Liberty Flames (who will have 17 days of rest themselves) in Week 10. Nick Minicucci will look to keep rolling on offense, while the Blue Hens defense will look to halt a Liberty offensive attack. How will this shake out? Let’s dive into our Delaware vs. Liberty 2025 preview and get started.
Delaware Blue Hens vs. Liberty Flames: Matchup History and Excerpts
This is the first time that these two teams will have faced each other in college football. Yet, with Delaware now in Conference USA, we are likely to see continued matchups between these two programs going forward.
Entering this Week 10 contest, Delaware head coach Ryan Carty is looking to keep his team rolling.
“I think they’re good in the backend,” Carty said about Liberty’s defense during his weekly press conference. “They’re certainly not going to give you balanced looks, easy looks to decipher pre-snap. I think that helps in the pass game … I think this team’s very balanced on defense both ways.”
Coach Carty when on to continue to praise the team’s ability to disguise coverage looks on defense, and credited the coaching staff. However, he will be looking for a victory on Saturday for his program.
For Liberty, head coach Jamey Chadwell spoke about the team trying to overcome the multitude of injuries to their starting players entering this matchup. He also discussed trying to avoid putting the offense in third-and-long situations to have better execution going forward.
Delaware vs. Liberty 2025 Preview
Key Players for Delaware
It’s no secret that Delaware wants to throw the football. However, with how many injuries Liberty has to their front seven, the Blue Hens need their rushing attack to strike fast. Jo Silver and Viron Ellison have not been able to put together consistent outings for the offense. They’re not making plays after contact, nor are they breaking out for big gains. Quarterback Nick Minicucci can’t have it all on his shoulders, so the running backs will need to step up against Liberty.
On defense, key players for Delaware will be Jack Hall and Gavin Moul. Hall, the team’s edge rusher, has been solid against the run, and effective as a pass-rusher this season. However, Hall (and the rest of the unit) needs to find a way to turn pressures into sacks against Liberty. Flames quarterback Ethan Vasko has been dealing with injuries, and pressuring him into making poor decisions will do well for Delaware.
Meanwhile, Moul, the team’s linebacker, needs to continue being the heart of the unit. No one on the team defends the run like Moul, as his 31 stops are 16 more than anyone else. And, the linebacker has been respectable in coverage this season. If he can continue to pummp life into the defense, Delaware will make things difficult for their opponent.
Key Players for Liberty
With quarterback Ethan Vasko expected to be healthy in this contest, he is Liberty’s key player on offense. Vasko has done a good job spreading the ball around this season, and has over 1100 passing yards in six games. He can also be explosive as a runner, with 268 yards and three touchdowns on the year. If Liberty wants to remain competitive, they need to keep their signal-caller upright. And, Vasko needs to deliver when asked. Whether that’s on the ground or through the air, he has to be decisive and make few errors. Delaware has had a propensity to turn the ball over. If Vasko and the offense can take advantage if that happens, Liberty could pull out the victory at home.
With Joseph Carter and Brylan Green out, expect Aidan Vaughan to be a key player on defense. Coach Chadwell told the media that Vaughan is expected to be given the first go as the green dot, meaning he will be the coach’s mind on the field. Unfortunately, Vaughan has not performed at an elite level this season. However, with opportunity comes expectation. If Liberty wants to have success, the linebacker will need to play well against the run, and contain Nick Minicucci when the quarterback escapes the pocket. He also needs to make sure he understands what Delaware’s offense is throwing at him. Otherwise, it could be a long day for this defense.
2025 Game Preview: How Delaware wins vs. Liberty in Week 10
For Delaware to win this contest, they need to limit turnovers. Turnovers have cost the program too many times to count this season, and has created loss out of games that the Blue Hens should have won. Fundamental football is key, and they can’t overlook their opponent in the process. Taking care of the football needs to be the emphasis for Delaware entering Week 10.
With so many defensive players out for Liberty, establishing the ground game will be key. At worst, it helps boost confidence to the room if they’re able to find success. However, if they can’t, this game becomes much closer than it needs to be. The running backs need to take pressure off of their quarterback and start making plays for their offense. As much as Delaware likes to throw the football, they need a rushing attack to keep defenses honest.
Defensively, the unit needs to get back to fundamentals. Defensive coordinator Manny Rojas has done a great job using disguise coverages, and against Liberty, they will need to be on point. The Flames like to spread the ball around; if Delaware can confuse Ethan Vasko, they could create turnovers and turn this game into a one-sided affair quickly.
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