DURHAM — The last time Delaware came to town to play New Hampshire, on Oct. 6, 2007, the Blue Hens were 5-0 and ranked No. 11 in the country and the Wildcats were 2-2 and No. 15.

Delaware is 4-0 and No. 8 heading into today’s noontime game at Cowell Stadium.

The Wildcats are 2-2 and No. 20 and will try to reprise their role as rude and upsetting host and add to an impressive streak they have been compiling.

UNH has won seven straight and 19 of its last 20 games at Cowell.

“That’s something we harp on every week and every season, protecting our home field,” said UNH senior linebacker and captain Allan Buzbee. “We love playing here and not many people like coming here. Especially teams like Delaware that have a big stadium and have got a bunch of nice facilities and all, they don’t want to come play here.”

The Blue Hens brought Joe Flacco, now the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, for that 2006 game and he completed 41 of his 50 passes for 419 yards and a couple of touchdowns.

But UNH, with redshirt freshman R.J. Toman in relief of injured senior starter Ricky Santos, built up a 35-10 lead after three quarters and held on for a 35-30 win.

Santos himself had come on in relief of the injured Mike Granieri as a redshirt freshman in the 2004 season opener and led the Wildcats to a 24-21 triumph, starting UNH’s still-continuing run of success.

Delaware coach K.C. Keeler pointed out in Monday’s Colonial Athletic Association teleconference that he’s seen his share of productive UNH backup quarterbacks.

Andy Vailas, a sophomore out of Bedford and Bishop Guertin of Nashua and a backup when the season began, gets his third straight start for the Wildcats today. He came in early in UNH’s second game at Minnesota when redshirt freshman Sean Goldrich hurt his shoulder. Goldrich may be available as a backup today.

UNH lost to Minnesota, 44-7, beat Central Connecticut State, 43-10, and lost a shootout last week at Old Dominion, now No. 4, 64-61.

“People don’t realize they scored 61 points with a backup quarterback who’s good, but obviously there’s a reason why someone else was named the starter,” Keeler said. “This is one of the best teams in the league, if not the country.”

Vailas completed 23 of his 38 passes for 336 yards and five scores against ODU and ran for 80 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown.

UNH rushed for 389 yards against Old Dominion, led by Nico Steriti’s 201 yards on 21 carries, and is averaging a CAA-leading 266.8 yards rushing a game.

“The running game is doing real well,” said junior running back Chris Setian. “The offensive line is carrying the team.”

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Offensive coordinator Ryan Carty has been rehabbing and working back into the mix after being hospitalized with stroke-like symptoms a couple of days before the Minnesota. A former Delaware QB, Carty is expected to call UNH’s plays today for the first time since being sidelined. . . . Senior defensive lineman Randi Vines should play today, while senior defensive tackle Jared Smith will be a game-time decision, McDonnell said. Both left the ODU game with knee injuries. Junior free safety Chris Beranger and freshman defensive back Daniel Rowe are out with concussion symptoms. . . . Lucas Currier, 10, of Newfields will be involved in pregame ceremonies as UNH coaches join in a nationwide Coach To Cure MD program. The program has raised more than $1 million in its first four years for the fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy. More information is available at www.CoachtoCureMD.org

a lessels@unionleader.com.