Three Keys to Victory: Delaware
After a huge Homecoming victory, Louisiana Tech will head back on the road to take on the Blue Hens of Delaware seeking a sixth win and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2020.
It will be Tech’s first game in the first state – what can they do to bring home a first W?
Keep Blake Baker clean
Over the course of the season, Bulldog QB Blake Baker has really grown into the role.
In 2025, Baker’s completing 74.6% of his passes when he’s kept clean – or when the defense doesn’t pressure him. When he’s pressured, that number plummets to 38.2%. Shockingly, Baker has thrown more TDs when pressured (3 and 1 INT) compared to when he’s not (2 and 2 INTs)… but that doesn’t help make my point so we’re going to move along!
There’s good news for Tech here. One is that Baker is coming off of two of the best statistical performances of his young career. Against WKU he threw for a career-high 340 yards on 31/45 through the air. He built on that performance and put up a ho-hum 82.3 PFF grade against Sam Houston, completing 17 of 21 passes and rushing for 42 yards in the homecoming rout.
The even better news? Delaware isn’t known for their pass rushing prowess. So far this season, the Hens pressure the QB on just 27.6% of dropbacks (126th in FBS). Tech’s OL, believe it or not, has only allowed a pressure on 30.7% of dropbacks, good for 56th in the nation.
This combination of Baker’s “kept clean” passing and Delaware’s inability to rush the passer may just give Baker the time he needs to set more career bests.
Find the Endzone
Warning: Hot take incoming!
One of the best ways to ensure victory in any given football game is to score points when you have the ball!
I know, this is groundbreaking analysis here.
But stick with me for a second. Tech is currently scoring 3.36 points per “quality drive” (or a drive that results in at least one first down inside the opponent’s 40 – this ranks 82nd in FBS). The Bulldogs are also having quality drives on roughly 37% of their possessions (96th).
Enter the Blue Hens, who allow opponents to have quality drives on 51% of their possessions, and allow 4.17 points per quality drive. Both of these rank in the bottom 20 of FBS.
All this to say that Tech’s offense should have opportunities to drive the ball, and find the endzone. It will be incumbent on them to finish drives with touchdowns against a team that usually lets their opponents do so. Delaware currently ranks 11th in CUSA play in points allowed per game (33.6). Coincidentally, Tech is scoring 33.6 points per game in their 5 CUSA games.
Minimize Minicucci
So far, I’ve focused on what the Tech offense will need to do to win in Newark tomorrow afternoon – but football games aren’t usually won or lost on just one side of the ball.
And while Delaware’s defense isn’t the scariest unit in the world, their offense brings a lot more to the table to contend with. This season, the Blue Hens boast the #1 passing attack in CUSA (313 ypg). Most of that is due to their fearless leader at the Quarterback position – Nick Minicucci.
The Delaware QB ranks first in CUSA in yards and TDs, and is highly rated in efficiency and accuracy. Minicucci’s success this season is thanks in part to his offensive line, which only allows a pressure on 29% of dropbacks (34th in FBS). Making matters worse, when Minicucci is kept clean, he completes 70% of his passes!
For Tech to have success against the Blue Hen passing attack, they’ll need to bend but not break. Delaware is going to get some yardage – but we need to ensure they don’t get into the endzone. In that case, the stats tell us we’ve got a good chance. Delaware scores 3.71 points per quality drive, while Tech only allows 2.49 (7th best in FBS). If the Dogs can stop possessions inside the 40, we’ll be on our way to victory.
Evan is a contributor at go tech pls dont die, a weekly podcast, Twitter, and blog that covers Louisiana Tech sports in a not-so-serious way.
