DURHAM — Statement delivered. Most emphatically.

The University of New Hampshire, stung and stunned on the road last week, responded in a huge way on Saturday for a defense-driven 34-14 win over No. 8-ranked and previously unbeaten Delaware in front of 7,058 at Cowell Stadium.

“Today, we wanted to go out and make a statement that we were the best in the CAA,” said sophomore defensive end Robbie Zauck, who had two of UNHs six sacks in the game. “The offense and defense played great and we had each other's back. We just went out there and played our butts off.”

UNH, ranked No. 20 last week, turned the game completely around with a dominating second half to improve to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Delaware dropped to 4-1 and 1-1.

The Wildcats were intent on rebounding from last week's 64-61 track meet of a loss at Old Dominion in which their defense gave up more than 800 yards of offense.

“It goes back to the resiliency of some of the kids in this program that were embarrassed by last week's game and wanted to come back and show we can play a little bit up here,” said coach Sean McDonnell.

The defense was impressive throughout Saturday's game.

Quarterback Andy Vailas (23-of-36 for 315 yards, 2 TD pass and a TD run), a sophomore out of Bedford and Bishop Guertin of Nashua, and the offense came out firing after a sluggish first half.

“They started making some plays and getting some confidence and it kind of snowballed,” said Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler.

Did it ever.

The Wildcats trailed 7-0 at halftime and had only collected two first downs in the opening two quarters.

After the defense forced a Delaware punt to open the third, UNH collected three first downs in the first five plays of the second half.

Vailas connected with Justin Mello for 16 yards to the left and with Joey Orlando for 12 yards to the right on the first two plays.

“We started spreading it out some and had some open areas for receivers,” Vailas said. “The offensive line did a phenomenal job allowing me to have time to make my reads and get the ball to the right people.”

Vailas found R.J. Harris between defenders for a 32-yard score to end the first drive of the half. A conversion kick by Mike MacArthur, a junior from North Hampton and Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, made it 7-7.

The defense came up with another stop and the offense was right back at it.

Vailas started with a 34-pass to Orlando and later, after a Delaware interception was called back because of pass interference, the quarterback scored on a 2-yard run and UNH had its first lead at 14-7 with 5:08 left in the third period.

Delaware got nothing out of three more downs and punted again.

This time Vailas and the offense came up with a 67-yard drive that ended with his 7-yard scoring pass to Harris for 21-7 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

That about did it.

MacArthur tacked on field goals of 28 and 32 yards and, just in case the Blue Hens had any thoughts of a comeback, UNH senior defensive back Dontra Peters picked off a pair of Trent Hurley passes.

After the second one, Wildcat sophomore Jimmy Owens raced 60 yards for a touchdown for 34-7.