By Jake DiBlasio
As summer closes and the leaves begin to fall off the trees, signaling Fall arrival, that can only mean one thing: DelVal football is back.
The Aggies have a rich history with a record of 90-18 over the past 10 seasons, the best in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) over that span. Delaware Valley found success in 2024 under first-year head coach Mike Isgro with a record of 8-3. However, this marked the first time since 2017 that the Aggies were not MAC champions.
Here’s a recap of last season. In 2024, the Aggies took a trip down south to Hampton-Sydney College to start off the season. The Aggies would go on to dominate the game, winning 41-21. The Aggies’ hot start would carry over into week two as they defeated the Alvernia Golden Wolves 42-7. However, in week three, Delaware Valley would suffer a heartbreaking 21-20 defeat to Stevenson University, ending their 54-game conference win streak.
After this, DelVal would go on a four-game winning streak, defeating Misericordia University, Lebanon Valley College, FDU-Florham, and Albright College. Unfortunately, the win streak would come to an end in a low-scoring battle against King’s College. King’s, the 2024 MAC champions, defeated the Aggies 14-6 in what would ultimately be the game that cost Delaware Valley their seventh consecutive MAC championship. The Aggies would finish out the regular season by winning their last two games but ultimately fell to Franklin and Marshall College by a score of 7-0 in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series.
Looking Forward
While last season may have been a down year for the Aggies, there were still plenty of positives. In 2024, DelVal held offenses to only 118 passing yards per game, which was the best in all of Division III football. On top of that, the Aggies had 16 players receive all-conference honors, including the Defensive Player of the Year, Jacquez Mabin. This is the sixth consecutive time a DelVal defenseman has taken home the award.
Aggies defensive end Jacquez Mabin
Every year collegiate programs lose some of their top players, and DelVal is no exception. On offense, the Aggies lost quarterback Louie Barrios IV, who served as the team’s starting quarterback each of the past three seasons and was named first team all-conference in 2022.
During his time with the program, Barrios IV registered over 4,000 total yards and 37 touchdowns. Along with Barrios IV, DelVal also lost all-first-team all-conference wide receiver Nahsir Morgan, who had also set a program record for longest reception in program history.
Morgan served as a dangerous playmaker and deep threat for the Aggies and racked up 11 touchdowns. Running back Jack Fallon, who had received all-conference honors each of the last two seasons, has also moved on from the team. Fallon provided a tough and consistent presence in the backfield and was someone the Aggies could always rely on.
On the other side of the ball, the Aggies lost plenty of star players. The Aggies lost all three of their starting defensive linemen, including Jacquez Mabin, two-time all-conference defensive end Shaun Balkcom, and all-conference nose tackle Sebastian Montlouis. DelVal also lost linebackers Darius Nichols and Dante Vernieri, who both received all-conference honors last season. The Aggies heavily relied on their talent in the trenches last season to generate pressure and wreak havoc in the backfield. In the secondary, the Aggies lost three all-conference players in Matt Studsrud, Barry Turner, and Barry Turner. Those three brought a veteran presence to the secondary that will be difficult to replace.
While the Aggies did lose a lot of talent, that does not mean they are without it. Returning on the offensive line are all-region guard David Casas and all-region center Andrew Snowden. Casas and Snowden bring leadership, experience, and talent to the interior of the Aggies’ offensive line and will help ease the transition to a new quarterback. Second-team all-conference wide receiver Alvaro Lora is back as well. Lora tied the program’s single-game program record, catching four passing touchdowns against Widener in 2024. Lora will look to take over as the team’s primary receiver and has shown that he can do so. Senior tight end Rob McConnell is also returning to the Aggies, who has played in 21 games during his career with the team.
Linebacker Jeremiah Clark is the main veteran presence returning on defense. Clark was second team all-conference a year ago and registered 94 tackles, nine of which were for a loss. Clark is not the only returning starting linebacker set to return, as senior Andrew Vernieri will also help anchor the Aggies’ successful defense. Clark and Vernieri will play crucial roles in manning the trenches. The Aggies also are getting senior defensive back Micah Bootman back, who missed time last season due to injury. Bootman was a first-team all-conference cornerback in 2023 and is aiming to return to that level of play this season. Along with Bootman, Jovan Tyrell is returning to the secondary. Tyrell came away with two interceptions and eight pass breakups as a freshman. As Tyrell enters his second season, the Aggies will be relying on him to help ease the transition into 2025.
With Barrios IV gone, the question looming over the Aggies all offseason was who would take over as the team’s starting quarterback. With week one around the corner, DelVal will be rolling with Mike Galasso. Galasso is a Philadelphia native and played his high school days at The Haverford School. Before transferring to Delaware Valley, Galasso spent time at Kutztown University, where he would suit up in eight games for the Golden Bears. Galasso will lead the Aggies into the 2025 season and will be backed up by sophomore Peyton Murphy.
After a down season in 2024, DelVal is anxious to get back on top and remind everyone who they are. While the offense is losing some of their skill players from last season, they will rely on an experienced offensive line and veteran pass catchers Alvaro Lora and Rob McConnell to help ease the transition to a new era with Mike Galasso at the helm. The Aggies’ dominant defense will look to repeat what they have done in past years. While others may think DelVal football’s best day is behind them, the Aggies are here to prove they’re still one of the best programs in Division III football.