C.J Henry throws for three touchdowns in Delaware State’s 28-7 victory over Norfolk State

Delaware State leads by seven after one-quarter of play.

The game started with the Hornets getting possession of the ball first at their 40-yard line. DSU did not waste their first drive of the game as the team marched 60 yards in three plays to end with quarterback C.J. Henry finding wide receiver Jerrish Halsey for a 41 touchdown reception to give their team a 7-0 lead with 13:51 left in the first quarter.

Delaware State’s defense was solid in the first quarter of this matchup as they forced the Norfolk State offense to punt twice and turn the ball over on downs.

The Hornets lead by 14 at the end of the first half.

Fast forward to the 5:26 minute mark in the second quarter, where the DSU offense would be setting up shop at their 49-yard line. The Hornets would drive 51 yards in four plays to end with quarterback C. J. Henry completing a deep pass in the middle of the field to wide receiver NyGhee Lolley for a 29-yard touchdown. Lolley’s score would give Delaware State a 14-0 advantage with 3:26 left in the first half.

The Hornets’ defense continued their strong play in the second quarter as they forced The Spartans’ offense to punt and turned the ball over on downs.

DSU leads by 21 after three-quarters of play.

After Norfolk State would go three and out on the first drive in the second half, it would be DSU’s turn to possess the ball, and the team had a different result in their series.

Delaware State would start their drive on their 45-yard line, which they drove 55 yards down the field in five plays to end with C. J Henry finding Jerrish Hasley for his second touchdown of the day. Halsey’s second touchdown of the game would be a 22-yard reception, which extended his team’s lead to 21-0 with 10:18 left in the third quarter.

The Spartans could not move on this DSU defense, as they forced them to punt four times in the third quarter.

Delaware State wins 28-7!

Norfolk State tried as hard they could, but they just could not stop the Hornets’ big highlight plays on offense, which turned into a touchdown soon after.

Delaware State’s next scoring drive would happen in the early minutes of the fourth quarter as the team marched 77 yards in seven plays to end with Marquis Gillis blasting into the endzone with a 23-yard run to expand his team’s advantage to 28-7 with 12:26 remaining in the game.

Gillis was a man on a mission on that scoring drive as he rushed for 44 yards.

After the DSU score, the Spartans would take the ball at their 25-yard line with 12:36 left in the fourth quarter. After three-quarters of getting blanked, Norfolk State would finally put together a scoring drive. The team went 75 yards in three plays to end, with quarterback Otto Kuhns finding wide receiver Chris Butler for the 42-yard touchdown reception to cut the lead to 28-7 with 11:19 left in the game.

The Hornets’ defense would take care of the rest of the game as on Norfolk State’s next drive in the late fourth quarter, DSU’s defensive back Andrew Reese would stop the momentum of their five-play, 31-yard series by intercepting the ball and sealing a 28-7 win.

Team Stats:

First Downs: DSU 21 &  NSU: 21

Third Efficiency (%): DSU (4 of 10) & NSU (7 of 15)

Total Offense: DSU 398& NSU 351

Net Yards Passing: DSU 194 & NSU 258

Net Yards Rushing: DSU 204 & NSU 93

Penalties: DSU 4-50 & NSU 7-57

Fumbles: DSU 0 & NSU 1

Sacks: DSU 3& NSU 3

Interceptions: DSU 1 & NSU 0

Time of Possession: DSU 32:58 & NSU 27:02