Delaware's goal is return to FCS playoffs

(STATS) - Delaware ended spring practices Saturday with its annual intrasquad game, which the Blue team won over the White team 14-7.

There's no doubt where the Blue Hens hope to end the 2016 season - participating in the FCS playoffs.

Delaware hasn't been to the postseason since its 2010 squad lost in the national championship game, and the five-year drought hasn't sat well with the Blue Hens, who enter their fourth season under coach Dave Brock.

With 18 returning starters (10 on offense and eight on defense) and many more players from the second unit, the Blue Hens believe their goal is within reach.

"I think we are going to have a very good team in the fall - a playoff-caliber team," Brock said. "Certainly we had a very good spring. We came out of today without getting anyone hurt - which is the top priority in the spring game - but we got a lot of good work in too and were able to drive the ball. I was very pleased overall and I thought the quarterbacks performed well and managed it well."

The Blue team, consisting of the first team offense and defense, won behind two first-half touchdowns - Wes Hills' 7-yard run and Blake Rankin's 10-yard pass to Diante Cherry.

Eric Patton scored on a 2-yard run for the White team.

The Blue Hens will need more consistency after going 4-7 last season, beating two of CAA Football's playoff teams - William & Mary and New Hampshire - but also losing to two of the conference's worst teams in Rhode Island and Albany.

A porous offense which averaged 14.9 points and 286.5 yards per game figures to improve behind redshirt sophomore Joe Walker, a deep running backs unit - Thomas Jefferson and Kareem Williams along with Hills and Jalen Randolph returning from injuries - and a veteran offensive line.

On defense, transfer linebacker Troy Reed was a starter at Penn State and cornerback Malcolm Brown returns after missing last season.