Delaware State vs Stony Brook

Delaware State seized control through explosive plays in the first half. After Stony Brook took an early 6-0 lead on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Boyd to Linkins, the Hornets answered swiftly: quarterback Ui Ale connected with Jaylin Terzado for a 76-yard touchdown on the third play of the ensuing drive to make it 7-6.

Samari Collier broke loose for a 59-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Delaware State punched in a 16-yard rushing score after forcing a fumble to stretch the lead to 24-6. Patrick Fisher-Butler added a 41-yard field goal as time expired in the first quarter.

Boyd kept Stony Brook within reach with a 10-yard rushing touchdown just before half-time, making it 24-13 at the break.

The Hornets pushed the lead back to 31-13 in the third quarter — a 19-yard rushing touchdown and a 52-yard Fisher-Butler field goal — but Stony Brook refused to fold.

Boyd threw a touchdown pass to Seth Sweitzer, CJ Hester ran in from four yards, and Boyd found Keidan Gutierrez for a nine-yard touchdown with 11 minutes remaining to tie the game at 34-34. Stony Brook had erased an 18-point deficit for the second time.

Delaware State took possession at its own 20-yard line with 7:36 left, the game tied and momentum with the visitors. Offensive coordinator Nyema "Nemo" Washington told his players during the week they would score 40 points, and he trusted personnel over scheme.

"Sometimes it's not about the plays, it's about the player you call," Washington said in a postgame interview with Lynden Campbell of Covered By Campbell. "At the end of the day, it's players over plays."

Ale led the Hornets on an 80-yard drive, and Weston finished it with his 16-yard scamper to the left side. The young running back redirected credit afterward. "It's not even just me," Weston told Campbell. "It's all our teammates, the linemen stepping up, our players, everybody, energy."

Ui Ale, QB, Delaware State — The Hornets' new starter, who won the job late in preseason camp, delivered the two biggest throws of the night: a 76-yard touchdown strike to Terzado and key completions on the game-winning drive.

Quinn Boyd, QB, Stony Brook — Three passing touchdowns and a rushing score. Boyd connected with Gutierrez for the game-tying nine-yard strike and kept the Seawolves alive through multiple deficits. His final desperation heave fell incomplete on the last play.

Sean "Deuce" Weston Jr., RB, Delaware State — One carry defined his night. His 16-yard touchdown with 1:53 left was the decisive score of his college debut.

Jaylin Terzado, WR, Delaware State — Hauled in the 76-yard touchdown reception that swung momentum after Stony Brook's opening score.

Delaware State generated five explosive plays of 30+ yards (two through the air, three on the ground), which masked an otherwise inconsistent offensive performance. Stony Brook outscored the Hornets 28-17 from the second quarter onward but could not overcome the two 18-point deficits it had to climb.

The Hornets' penalty discipline proved costly late — a 15-yard roughing-the-passer flag with 57 seconds left gave Stony Brook life it nearly used to force overtime.

Delaware State opens 1-0 for the second straight season under head coach DeSean Jackson, who improved to 9-4 in his tenure. The Hornets hit the road next week to face William & Mary.

Stony Brook (0-1) hosts Lindenwood on Thursday, September 3 at LaValle Stadium for its home opener, with kick-off set for 7:00 p.m.

Jackson's postgame tone was measured despite the win. "I just don't feel like we're where we need to be yet," Jackson told Campbell. "We was up like 31-13 and they came back and made some plays and tied the game up in the fourth quarter. That's just frustrating, but at the end of the day we found a way to win. That's all that matters."

Delaware State's explosive-play offence is real, but the Hornets' inability to close out a three-score lead raises questions ahead of a road trip to William & Mary. Stony Brook showed resilience in erasing two 18-point deficits on the road — Boyd's command of the offence was the takeaway for a programme that can build around him.