The Delaware Bison played the Philadelphia Gators to kick-off the 2010 Season at Claymont’s Falcon Field in Claymont, Delaware Saturday, July 10th at 5:30 pm.  The Bison earned a victory with a 16 - 8 in a Division win.

The teams traded possessions for the first half as team struggled to gain yardage against the stingy defensive Play.  Each defensive prevented their opponents from getting a first down in the first half. 

The Gators got on the board first as the second quarter was coming to an end with the Bison forced to punt from their own 40.  The Punt sailed to the Gator 10 yard line.  The returner went left then reversed his field and went right down the sideline led by blockers for a 90 yard touchdown.  The score turned out to be the only time the Gators would see the end zone the rest of the afternoon. 

The second half started with a change in momentum.  The Bison came out strong with a kickoff return of 40 yards to the Bison 45 yard line.  The Bison could not capitalize on the good field position and were forced to punt. After a punt by the Gators and with the ball on their own 38, Bison quarterback Matt Quinn hit slot receiver Curt Byrd for a 62 yard touchdown.  Byrd broke free from the outside linebacker and then ran past the safety and the rest of the defense for the score.  The 2 point conversion pass from Quinn was caught by Lamar Shaw to tie the game 8 - 8. 

On the next possession the Bison trapped the Gators deep in their territory with a sack by blitzing linebacker Jordan Distance.  The next play the Brian Hammond hit the Gator Quarterback in the end zone causing a fumble.  The Gators recovered the ball, but in the end zone for a Bison safety making the score 10 - 8. 

The final score came with 9:37 left in the 4th quarter when Quinn threw for his 2nd touchdown pass of the day to Chad Carlson.  Another slant was the damaging route as Carlson broke free from the cornerback to the middle of the field, then won the foot race for a 48 yard touchdown pass.  The two point conversion failed leaving the Bison ahead with a 16 - 8 score. 

The Bison sealed the win with a fumble recovery by Hammond with 3:51 in the 4th.  One last effort by the Gators was halted by the Bison defense as time ran out with the Gators on the Bison 32 yard line.

Notes:

• No major injuries occurred during the game for either team
• Matt Quinn had his first multi-touchdown pass game in his Bison Career. 
• The Bison had the first defensive hat-trick since 2008 by having an Interception, fumble recovery, and safety in the game.