By Jake DiBlasio
The weather has started to get colder, and students are starting to head home for the semester, but that isn’t the only thing that has changed at Delaware Valley University. Robert A. Lipinski stands empty as the 2025 Aggies football season has come to an end. Through plenty of ups and downs, for the second year in a row, DelVal finished second in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) with an 8-3 record.
The season didn’t get off to a good start in their home opener against Hampden-Sydney College. In their first-ever matchup in 2024, Delaware Valley blew them out in a game that featured three touchdowns from wide receiver Nashir Morgan. The Tigers repaid the favor this season as they blew out the Aggies 38-9. On both sides of the ball, the home team struggled, turning the ball over four times and giving up 5.2 yards per carry. While it was far from the start DelVal had hoped for, it would help expose their weaknesses and allow them to tighten up their play in the coming weeks.
While the loss to Hampden-Sydney hurt, the Aggies were forced to move on quickly as Kings’ College was next up on the schedule. The Monarchs were the 2024 MAC champions, ending a six-year streak previously held by the Aggies. The Aggies hadn’t forgotten the pain of losing in heartbreaking fashion in 2024 and were ready to repay the favor. DelVal laced up their cleats and tightened their helmet and threw everything they had at the opposition. By the end of the game, the Aggies emerged victorious, winning 49-7. Quarterback Mike Galasso would throw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns, while five different players found their first touchdown as an Aggie. Defensive end Thomas Arcaroli’s two sacks and three tackles for a loss would earn him MAC defensive player of the week honors.
The momentum would carry into week three, where the Aggies would hop on the road for the first time and head to Reading, Pennsylvania, to play the Albright Lions. While it was a lot closer than my DelVal football fans would have preferred, it ended in another Aggies victory. Galasso would have another three-touchdown game, and for the second consecutive week, senior wide receiver Gavin Migliori would register over 100 yards. However, the highlight of the game came in the second quarter when linebacker Michael Foley recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Moments before, the Aggies offense failed to convert from the goal line, but Foley and a herd of Aggies on defense stepped up big on defense. Safety Micah Bootman would also rise to the occasion, coming up with the game-winning pass deflection in the end zone, helping DelVal advance to a 2-1 record.
With Hampton-Sydney in the rearview mirror and the Aggies winning two in a row, all seemed to be heading in the right direction. Unfortunately, the Aggies would be entering the roughest part of their season, and it would all start in their game against Lebanon Valley College. Even after losing the turnover battle by three, DelVal fought tooth and nail to win the game, but in the end, they would lose 21-18. The name of the game was time of possession, where the Dutchmen held the ball for 33:52 compared to only 21:05 for the Aggies. This loss would sting as the Aggies headed into the bye week with a 2-2 record.
Following the bye week, Delaware Valley was back on the road taking on the Eastern Eagles. In all three phases of the game, the Eagles outbattled the Aggies. Eastern’s special teams were too much for DelVal, as the Eagles went three for three on field goals and averaged 59.7 yards on six kickoffs compared to 37.3 for Delaware Valley. For the second straight week, the passing game for DelVal struggled, with Galasso being held to under 200 yards passing. However, running back Justin Brown was a monster in the ground game. Brown ran for 178 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per carry. Brown’s performance wouldn’t be enough, as the Eagles won 37-20.
The Aggies’ trip to New Jersey to take on FDU-Florham would mark a shift in momentum for the back half of the season. Everything DelVal did worked; it was as simple as that. On offense, the Aggies recorded 564 yards of offense, which saw five receivers record a 50-yard reception or longer. Cornerback Owen Suah had a breakout performance with two interceptions in the game. Freshman Joel Perez would make a huge play in the third quarter, taking a punt return back to the house for a touchdown. Everything went the Aggies’ way on their road to victory, which helped wide receiver Alvaro Lora secure MAC Offensive Player of the Week with his 145-yard, three-touchdown performance.
The following week DelVal would return back to their home field for homecoming, and all the alumni that came back were in for a treat. This was another revenge game for the Aggies as they took on the Stevenson Mustangs. Stevenson defeated the Aggies in week three of the 2024 season, ending a 54-consecutive in-conference win streak. While the Aggies were eager to get even with their in-conference opponent, they would find themselves down 17 points in the fourth quarter. Perez would play a crucial role in keeping the Aggies in the game with not one but two kick return touchdowns. The defense would also find a way to intercept the Mustangs four times. Brown would run in a 28-yard touchdown with 1:28 left, giving the Aggies their first lead since the first quarter. The Aggies would pull off the impossible, coming back from three scores and winning 41-38. Perez would go on not only to receive MAC Special Teams of the Week but also to be named to the D3.com Team of the Week.
DelVal would then head back to Reading, this time to take on the Alvernia Golden Wolves. The Aggies would put up a dominant performance, which featured a dual effort from Galasso through the air and Brown on the ground. Galasso would throw for two touchdowns, one to tight end Rob McConnell, his first receiving touchdown of the season, and the other to his go-to receiver in Migliori. On the other side of the ball, the Aggies’ defense didn’t give up a touchdown until the fourth quarter. After a game that kept everyone on the edge of their seat the week before, DelVal dominated the game from start to finish.
The Aggies would stay on the road and take on the Misericordia Cougars, who at the time held a 6-1 record within the conference, a substantial improvement from where they had been the previous few seasons. DelVal’s intense play rolled into their week nine game, which saw them register 51 points on offense. Galasso’s arm continued to stay red hot as he threw for 362 yards and three passing touchdowns while also contributing a touchdown on the ground. This performance was good enough to help him receive MAC Offensive Player of the Week. The Aggies had four players rush for touchdowns, including running back Brady Beres. The Aggies defense did what they do best and came away with two interceptions. As the season continued to go on, momentum only grew for DelVal.
November 15th would mark the last regular season game and Senior Day. The Aggies recognized 16 seniors for their hard work and dedication to the program. The cherry on top was it also happened to be against their rivals, the Widener Pride, and the two would duke it out for the Keystone Cup. With friends and family in the crowd, the seniors would not disappoint, as from start to finish they controlled the game. On defense, nose tackle James Mahana would play his best game of the season. Mahana’s stat line consisted of one sack, 1.5 tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble. His performance, along with cornerback Micah Bootman’s two interceptions, held Widener to only seven points. Bootman would be named MAC Defensive Player of the Week, and their 28-7 victory at home would secure them a spot in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Games.
For the Aggies’ final game of the season, Dickinson College would travel to Doylestown as both teams battled to end the 2025 season on a positive note. The first half belonged to Dickinson, plain and simple. The Red Devils had a 10-0 lead going into the half. Everything had turned in Dickinson’s favor, whether it be time of possession, offensive production, or slowing down the Aggies’ passing attack. Even when all hope seemed lost, DelVal never gave up, and the tide started to turn when they scored their first touchdown in the third quarter. To no one’s surprise, Migliori scored first for the Aggies on a 40-yard reception. Even though Dickinson answered with a field goal, the Aggies kept attacking. In the fourth quarter, Migliori would score a 64-yard touchdown to put the game away. He would finish the game with 10 receptions, 191 yards, and both Aggies touchdowns and was named bowl game MVP. DelVal would win the game 14-13, concluding the 2025 season with an 8-3 record.
While the season didn’t result in a playoff appearance or a MAC Championship, the Aggies would have plenty to celebrate. On offense, they were the number one scoring and passing offense in the conference. As a result, eight starters on that side of the ball would receive all conference honors. Migliori along with offensive lineman Dave Casas and AJ Snowden would be named to the first team. This would mark the second time in their careers Casas and Snowden had been awarded first team honors. Lora and offensive lineman Jake DiBlasio and Tyreese Downing would be named to the second team. This would mark the second time in DelVal history they had four offensive lineman make all-conference in the same season. Galasso and Brown would be an honorable mention despite being two of the best offensive players in the conference.
On defense, the Aggies were tied for fourth in all of division three football with 29 turnovers which reflects their bend don’t break style of defense. Arcaroli, Bootman, and Jerimiah Clark would be named to the first team defense while corner back Jovan Tyrell was named second team. Perez would be put on the first team thanks to his incredible performance returning kicks and John Dzielawa would get an honorable mention for his efforts across the boards on special teams.
While it was a season of ups and downs, it was very fitting for this team. The 2025 Aggies played with grit and tenacity on every snap. Even though they were far from perfect, they continued to fight no matter the situation. While standing with a 2-3 record in October, knowing they had likely missed out on winning the MAC or making the playoffs, it would have been easy to give up on the season. Instead, they would finish the season with six wins in a row, displaying a level of physical and mental toughness most Division Three programs can’t obtain. With the 2025 season over, all eyes are looking to next season as the Aggies aim to take back the MAC.