The Wofford football team saw its season come to a close Saturday afternoon as it fell, 24-9, to Delaware in the Division I-AA semifinals before a crowd of 14,351 in Newark, Del., and an ESPN2 audience.

The Terriers (12-2), making their first appearance on the national network, close the season with a school record 12 victories. Wofford saw its 12-game winning streak end as it lost for the first time since the Aug. 30 season opener at Air Force. Delaware (14-1) advances to the national championship game against Colgate.

Delaware took a 3-0 lead on its opening series when Brad Shushman kicked a 22-yard field goal. On its next series, the Blue Hens drove to the Terrier 22 before Georgia Tech transfer and Walter Payton Award finalist Andy Hall was intercepted by Wofford inside linebacker Josh Smith. It marked the first interception for Hall in his last 129 attempts.

Smith was in the lineup in place of injured starter Jim Thurman. Wofford also played without starting cornerback Dedrick Stuckey, who was also sidelined by injury.

The Terriers forced a 3-3 tie at the half when Nick Robinson kicked a career-long 40-yard field goal as time expired. It capped a 17-play, 58-yard drive that consumed 6:44. The key play was a 7-yard rush by Kevious Johnson on a 4th-and-2 at the Delaware 47. Trey Rodgers also had an 11-yard pass to Brian Rice on a 3rd-and-8 at the Wofford 34 and a 6-yard completion to Brandon Berry on a 3rd-and-5 at the Blue Hen 35.

Field position was key throughout the game. Wofford's average starting spot was its own 19 with Delaware at its own 37.

Four-time All-SoCon punter Jimmy Miner did his best with six kicks averaging 46.3 yards. However, the Blue Hens had 56 return yards after the Terriers had surrendered just 80 yards on punt returns for the season entering the game.

After being forced to punt on its first two series of the second half, Delaware took a 10-3 lead when Germaine Bennett scored from two yards out with 3:42 to play in the third quarter. Bennett rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries. He extended his single-season Delaware rushing record to 1,565 yards.

Bennett later added fourth-quarter scoring runs of five and 15 yards.

Blue Hen defensive end Shawn Johnson, who led the ACC in sacks while playing for Duke last year, had 3.5 tackles for loss, including a sack. Southern Cal transfer David Boler keyed the Delaware receiving corps with three catches for 45 yards. With Delaware leading just 10-3 in the fourth quarter, Hall scrambled and found Boler for an 18-yard completion on a 3rd-and-8 at the Wofford 45.

The Terriers reached the end zone on the final play of the game as Rodgers connected with Rice on a 5-yard scoring pass. It capped a 13-play, 83-yard drive. With the Delaware fans rushing the field, the officials called the game and did not let the Terriers attempt the PAT or 2-point conversion.

"We faced an outstanding team," Wofford coach Mike Ayers said. "They are very well coached and play hard. We had opportunities. When you play against a great team like that, you won't get many. We just didn't capitalize.

"We competed hard. That last drive was an example of how our kids kept battling. All season long, we've played great defense. We just got a little worn down today, but kept battling. These guys are a lot like us. They play great defense and control the clock. This will be a great teaching tape for us as coaches and for our players.

"We had a great season. Some days, you just aren't good enough. We hope to be back next year."

Rodgers was 7-of-14 in the air for 65 yards. SoCon Freshman of the Year Kevious Johnson was the Terriers' top rusher with 49 yards on 13 carries to finish with a team-best 823 yards on the season.

Delaware controlled the clock as it held a 33:12-to-26:48 edge in time of possession.

"It was a great football game,” Delaware coach K.C. Keeler said. “Our coaches did a great job of letting our guys know that it was going to be an absolute war today.

"It’s 3-3 at halftime and our kids didn’t panic. I give Andy Hall all the credit. He didn’t force things and that’s what Wofford wants you to do. We just made plays in the second half."

The Terriers lose just nine players off this season's team and will have 17 of 22 starters returning for the 2004 campaign.