Delaware State earns first victory of the season with a 17-15 win over Sacred Heart

Delaware State trails by three points at the end of the first quarter.

Sacred Heart would get the ball first in this matchup and the team would drive 58 yards in 12 plays to end with kicker Matt Kling booting a 34-yard field goal through the uprights to give his team a 3-0 lead with 8:05 remaining in the opening quarter.

DSU looked like they were going to respond with a score of their own, as they cruised from their own 25-yard line to the Pioneers’ 18, but the possession stalled and kicker Nathan Wilson missed a 35-yard field goal attempt.

One of the highlight plays on the drive came on a first and ten from their own 49-yard line when quarterback Marqui Adams, found his wide receiver Jordan Hull for a 28-yard reception.

The Hornets lead by one point at the end of the first half.

Delaware State would start the first touchdown drive of this game at the 10:56 minute mark in the second quarter at their own 22-yard line.

The Hornets would cruise 78 yards in eight plays to end with Marqui Adams finding his wide receiver Kristian Tate for the 41-yard touchdown reception to give their team a 7-3 edge with 6:37 left in the first half.

Sacred Heart would punch back by going on their own scoring drive, as the team went 54 yards in 12 plays to end with Matt Kling making a 41-yard field goal attempt to slice the deficit to 7-6 at halftime.

DSU trails by two points at the end of the third quarter.

After SHU’s first possession of the second half ended in an interception, the team would put together a scoring drive when the offense had the ball again. The Pioneers would go 67 yards in 12 plays to end with Matt Kling making his third field goal of the night to put his team ahead 9-7 at the end of the third quarter.

The Hornets take home a 17-15 victory!

Delaware State’s next score would happen in the fourth quarter when the team marched 63 yards in 13 plays to end with Nathan Wilson booting a 29-yard field goal to give his team a 10-9 lead with 11:55 remaining in the game.

One of the highlights on the drive came on first and ten at Sacred Heart’s 34 when quarterback Marqui Adams ran for 21 yards.

SHU’s next drive would end after five plays, as John Michalski would throw his second interception of the day to set DSU up at their own 31-yard line.

The Hornets’ offense would not waste that turnover, as the team 69 yards in five plays to end with running back Jaden Sutton galloping for 39 yards for a touchdown to push Delaware State’s advantage to 17-9 with 7:15 left in the game.

Sacred Heart was not done fighting just yet, as they marched 66 yards in 11 plays to end with their running back Xavier Leigh scampering for four yards to cut the deficit to 17-15 with 1:53 remaining in the fourth.

Delaware State would hang to win the game 17-15 and to earn their victory over the season.

Team Stats
1st Downs	15	20
3rd down efficiency	4-13	3-10
4th down efficiency	2-2	0-1
Total Yards	295	341
Passing	150	104
Comp-Att	14-22	12-23
Yards per pass	6.8	4.5
Interceptions thrown	0	2
Rushing	145	237
Rushing Attempts	33	43
Yards per rush	4.4	5.5
Penalties	3-25	3-35
Turnovers	0	2
Fumbles lost	0	0
Interceptions thrown	0	2
Possession	28:11	31:49