Gagliano finds Clifton late as Middle Tennessee edges Delaware, 33-30

Roman Gagliano connected with Neo Clifton for a 14-yard touchdown with 3:06 remaining, and Bryce Williams intercepted Delaware's next possession as Middle Tennessee won 33-30 on Tuesday at Floyd Stadium.

The Blue Raiders drove 93 yards in 10 plays for the winning score after Delaware had taken a 30-26 fourth-quarter lead. It was Clifton's second touchdown catch of the night and Gagliano's fourth touchdown accounted for, including a first-half rushing score.

Conference USA shared the game highlights from Tuesday’s meeting.

Middle Tennessee improved to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in Conference USA. Delaware fell to 2-4 and 0-2 despite a productive start from freshman quarterback Tyler Bell, who threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns while starter Nick Minicucci remained out.

The late response

Bell's 23-yard touchdown pass to Kaderris Roberts put Delaware ahead with 9:57 left. The Blue Hens then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, giving them another chance to extend the lead from Middle Tennessee's 26-yard line.

That possession went backward. A sack, a short run and an incompletion left Delaware punting, and Middle Tennessee took over at its own 7 with 8:05 remaining.

Gagliano's offense worked out of that field position with a 12-yard pass to Koraun Perdue and a 15-yard completion to Clifton among the early gains. Terrence Brown added a 28-yard run, and a later Delaware unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty moved the ball to the 14. Gagliano found Clifton two plays later for the lead.

Cecil Joyce's Daily News Journal report described the penalty as being assessed against Delaware coach Ryan Carty. The official play-by-play confirms the 15-yard penalty and the scoring sequence.

Williams intercepted Bell with 1:51 left on Delaware's next drive. Middle Tennessee converted a third down on Antonio Martin's 13-yard run and finished with kneeldowns.

An evening of changing leads

Delaware led 16-12 at halftime after George Mullins intercepted Gagliano and Bryson Graves threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bell. Middle Tennessee answered on its first offensive play of the third quarter: an 80-yard Gagliano pass to Perdue that made it 19-16.

Bell found Josh Humes for a 33-yard score to put Delaware back ahead, and Gagliano answered with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Clifton before the third quarter ended. Roberts' fourth-quarter touchdown then required Middle Tennessee's final scoring drive.

Gagliano finished 22-for-32 for 291 yards, three passing touchdowns and one interception. Perdue caught four passes for 103 yards; Clifton had four catches for 64 yards and two scores. Bell completed 22 of 36 passes with one interception, and Donovan Lewis led Delaware with six catches for 83 yards.

Middle Tennessee finished with 396 total yards to Delaware's 391. The small statistical gap fit a game decided by the last scoring drive and a defensive stop, rather than a sustained advantage through the evening.

The Blue Raiders visit FIU next Tuesday. Delaware hosts Missouri State the same day.

Sources

ESPN: Delaware–Middle Tennessee final box score and plays · Cecil Joyce, Daily News Journal: Middle Tennessee’s late comeback · Gagliano leads Middle Tennessee past Delaware