Delaware State pulled off a mind-blowing 36-33 comeback victory against Norfolk State at Lincoln Financial Field on Halloween, a game folks won’t forget anytime soon. Down by a massive 17 points late in the third period, the Hornets absolutely refused to quit, rallying to snag a win that felt impossible moments earlier.
Marqui Adams, From Forgotten to Phenom
This insane turnaround was all thanks to Marqui Adams, the Delaware State quarterback who went from “once-forgotten former starter” to the undisputed hero of the night. This kid showed off some truly versatile quarterback skills exactly when DSU needed it most. He fired off 5- and 20-yard touchdown passes, but don’t sleep on his legs either, because he sparked the Hornets with huge running plays, including 21- and 20-yard scampers on the drive that tied the game 33-33 with just 7:47 left on the clock. It’s wild to think he’d played in 19 DSU games with multiple starts from 2022-24, even briefly hitting the transfer portal after coach DeSean Jackson came aboard. He didn’t even play in 2025 recovering from an ACL tear, and this was his first start of *this* season after just three relief appearances. What a story! Adams, a Philly native, didn’t just play well, he dominated his hometown return. He completed 17 of 23 passes for a huge 243 yards and four touchdowns, plus another 69 yards on the ground. After the game, Adams put it perfectly, saying, “It truly felt like a blessing, coming back to my hometown, doing what I love to do.” Coach Jackson himself later praised him, stating, “His play at quarterback kept us in the game.”
From Rock Bottom to Clutch Finish
But before Adams could work his magic, this game started ugly. Norfolk State jumped out to a 10-0 lead less than seven minutes in, picking up a field goal on their opening drive and then a quick touchdown after DSU fumbled the subsequent kickoff. It got even worse when DSU tried to go for it on fourth-and-2 from their own 21, only for Sean Weston to get stuffed short. Norfolk State capitalized, pushing their lead to 17-0 with 8:30 left in the first half on a freshman quarterback Da’Jean Golmond 11-yard pass. Talk about digging a hole!
Yet, DSU just kept fighting. Adams hit Jaron Kelly for a 5-yard TD pass to cut the deficit to 33-26 with 13:28 remaining. Then, Phillip Dunnam came up with a massive interception to get the ball back, setting up Adams’ game-tying 20-yard strike to Kyree Benton. But the real dagger came from freshman Matteo Bracalenti. After Ryan Brown recovered a fumble at the NSU 15 with just 57 seconds left, Bracalenti stepped up and drilled a 35-yard field goal as time expired. This kid had earlier kicked a 23-yarder in the third to get DSU within 33-19. Imagine that pressure for his first two college kicks! He was simply “grateful for the opportunity,” he said. Coach Jackson summed up his team’s spirit, admitting, “When we’re down, for some reason we fight. . . . I feel like when we’re down we have a sense of urgency and play a little tougher.”
This huge comeback win improves Delaware State’s record to 5-4 overall and 1-1 in the MEAC. What a moment for the Hornets at the Linc, a game played to highlight HBCU schools, coached by former Eagles DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick. DSU’s got momentum now, and the rest of their season just got a whole lot more interesting after that kind of jaw-dropping performance.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply