The game was also known as the Pioneer Bowl,[4] a name that had been used starting in 1971 for various NCAA playoff games held in Wichita Falls. The Colonels, making their fourth consecutive appearance in the I-AA championship game, became the first program to capture two I-AA titles, having previously won in 1979.
The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 1982 I-AA Playoffs, which began with a 12-team bracket.[5]
Eastern Kentucky Colonels[]
See also: Eastern Kentucky Colonels football
Eastern Kentucky finished their regular season with an undefeated 10–0 record (7–0 in conference).[6] Ranked first in the final NCAA I-AA in-house poll[7] and seeded first in the tournament, the Colonels received a first-round bye then defeated Idaho and fourth-seed Tennessee State to reach the final. This was the fourth appearance for Eastern Kentucky in a Division I-AA championship game, having won in 1979 and having lost in 1980 and 1981.
Delaware finished their regular season with a 10–1 record; its only loss was an away game at Temple.[8] Ranked third in the final NCAA I-AA in-house poll[7] and seeded third in the tournament, the Fightin' Blue Hens received a first-round bye then defeated Colgate and second-seed Louisiana Tech to reach the final. This was the first appearance for Delaware in a Division I-AA championship game, though the team had recently been the 1979 Division II champion before moving up to Division I-AA in 1980.
Delaware FG attempt blocked by Gus Parks, Richard Bell returned 77 yards for touchdown, Jamie Lovett kick good
7
0
2
3:10
33
EKU
37-yard field goal by Lovett
10
0
3
13:28
4
21
EKU
Nick Yeast 1-yard touchdown run, Lovett kick good
17
0
4
9:35
1
20
DEL
Mark Steimer 20-yard touchdown reception from Kelvin Phelan, 2-point run by Rick Titus failed
17
6
4
5:38
3
55
DEL
Tim Sager 5-yard touchdown reception from Rick Scully, 2-point pass good (Steimer from Scully)
17
14
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
17
14
Delaware's attempt to kick the extra point was blocked, but Eastern Kentucky was ruled offside on the play. Delaware then attempted a two-point conversion, with the ball being snapped 1+1⁄2 yards from the end zone.
[1][9][10]
^Sutton, Stan (December 19, 1982). "Title was no easy Kidd's stuff". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. A 20. Retrieved May 9, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
^"EKU 17, Delaware 14". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. December 19, 1982. p. D10. Retrieved May 9, 2019 – via newspapers.com.