See how Delaware State got stunning comeback football win at the Linc

Matteo Bracalenti, the freshman from Saint Mark’s, kicked the 35-yard last-second field goal that gave @DelSt_Football a 36-33 win over Norfolk State at the Linc. pic.twitter.com/4aQJ8OGgM5— kevin tresolini (@kevintresolini) November 1, 2026PHILADELPHIA – It finished way better than it started for Delaware State at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 31, and those involved will never forget.Down 17 late in the third period, the Hornets rallied to stun Norfolk State 36-33 in the MEAC matchup between teams coached by former Eagles.The Hornets were keyed by Marqui Adams, a once-forgotten former starter who demonstrated his versatile quarterback skills when DSU needed them most.He threw 5- and 20-yard TD passes, and sparked DSU with his running exploits, as DSU tied it 33-33 with 7:47 on the clock.The Hornets then prevailed when freshman Matteo Bracalenti kicked a 35-yard field goal as time ran out. Ryan Brown had given DSU possession on his fumble recovery at the NSU 15 with 57 second seconds left.Bracalenti, the Saint Mark’s grad, had kicked a 23-yarder to pull DSU within 33-19 with 1:46 left in the third quarter.“I was grateful for the opportunity,” he said of his first two college kicks.The game was played at the Linc for the second straight year to bring attention to HBCU schools and their football teams coached by Delaware State’s DeSean Jackson and Norfolk State’s Michael Vick, ex-Eagles teammates. DSU won last year’s inaugural 27-20.The paid attendance was 32,567.The Hornets improved to 5-4 overall and 1-1 in the MEAC. Norfolk State is 4-5, 0-2.“When we’re down, for some reason we fight,” Jackson said. “ . . . I feel like when we’re down we have a sense of urgency and play a little tougher.”How was Marqui Adams a bright spot for DSU?Adams played in 19 DSU games with numerous starts from 2022-24. He briefly entered the transfer portal after Jackson’s hiring but then did return before the 2025 season, when he didn’t appear in any games while recovering from an ACL tear.He’d appeared off the bench in three games this season before getting his first start at the Linc. He was briefly lifted after some early struggles.The Philadelphian Adams, the fourth different starter DSU has had at quarterback this year, completed 17 of 23 passes for 243 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 69 yards.“It truly felt like a blessing,” Adams said, “coming back to my hometown, doing what I love to do.”DSU pulled within 33-26 with 13:28 left on Adams’ 5-yard TD pass to Jaron Kelly. The Hornets regained possession soon after on Phillip Dunnam’s interception.They then tied it 33-33 with 7:47 remaining after Adams passed 20 yards to Kyree Benton for the TD. The 7-play, 60-yard drive featured 21- and 20-yard scampers by Adams.“His play at quarterback kept us in the game,” Jackson said.How did it start bad for DSU?Norfolk State led 10-0 less than seven minutes into the game, getting a field goal on its first series and a quick touchdown after DSU fumbled the subsequent kickoff.DSU later decided to go for a first down on fourth-and-2 from its 21. Sean Weston was stopped short on a run.It backfired, as the Spartans then went up 17-0 with 8:30 left in the first half on freshman quarterback Da’Jean Golmond’s 11-yard pass to Kam Thomas on third-and-11.How did DSU get back in the game?Finally, DSU was able to move the football, though a pair of pass-interference calls against NSU helped.Adams, back in at quarterback, threw a 33-yard TD pass on fourth-and-3 to Jaylin Terzado.This time the Spartans fumbled the kickoff, with Kemari Nix’s recovery giving DSU possession at the NSU 21. The Hornets settled for Patrick Fischer-Butler’s 35-yard field goal and went into halftime down just 17-10.As the second half started, DSU failed to seize an opportunity after Wayne Favors III intercepted a pass and returned it to midfield.DSU was then forced to punt and punter Ghazi Chraibi dropped a snap he had to jump to catch. Norfolk State recovered at the DSU 34 with 10:44 left in the third quarter.Golmond then zipped a 23-yard pass between defenders’ fingertips into the arms of Jason Wonodi as NSU extended its lead to 24-10 with 9:18 to go.Kyree Benton’s 34-yard kickoff return positioned DSU for Adams’ 40-yard TD pass to Terrence Rone after he scrambled away from a heavy rush and threw just as he was about to absorb a hard hit. That pulled DSU within 24-16. But they botched the extra point with Norfolk State stealing the football after a high snap and returning it for two points and a 26-16 lead.The Spartans then extended the lead to 33-16.“We really couldn’t do nothing right,” Jackson said of DSU’s early struggles. “ . . . We just kept fighting and figured out a way."Delaware Sports Hall of Famer Art Madric showing off some sweet duds for football game between @DeSeanJackson10 and his @DelSt_Football team and Michael Vick’s Norfolk State at the Linc pic.twitter.com/UVwFR0exCz— kevin tresolini (@kevintresolini) October 31, 2026Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: See how Delaware State got stunning comeback football win at the Linc