DOVER, Del. — Delaware State survived a furious Stony Brook comeback Thursday night, turning a wild season opener into a 41-34 victory after the Hornets watched a 25-point lead disappear.
The game featured multiple momentum swings, but Delaware State’s first major run put the Hornets firmly in control.
After Stony Brook grabbed an early 6-0 advantage, Delaware State responded by scoring 24 unanswered points, turning the deficit into a 24-6 lead.
The Hornets continued to pour it on and eventually pushed their advantage to 31-6, building what appeared to be an insurmountable lead.
But Stony Brook refused to go away.
The Seawolves seized momentum of the contest as Delaware State faltered , turning what was shaping up to be a comfortable win for the Hornets into a battle for victorious survival.
Stony Brook, with DSU on the ropes, was already to whittle down the Hornets lead and get within striking distance.
The Stony Brook defense rebuffed Delaware State’s 4th and 1 conversion attempt from, setting up the Seawolves at the DSU 34 yard line. Stony Brook completed their comeback when Quinn Boyd connected with Keiden Gutierrez from 9 yards out, knotting the contest at 34 at the 11:25 mark of the game’s final period.
Just like that, a game that had been a 25-point Delaware State advantage became a winner-take-all battle in the fourth quarter.
The Hornets, however, found a way to respond.
Sean Weston’s 16-yard run with 1:53 put the Hornets up 41-34 and proved to be the game’s decisive score. A potential Stony Brook game tying score was wiped away by an offensive pass interference penalty and the DSU defense was able keep the Seawolves from paydirt, preserving what ended up being a hard fought win.
The win is particularly impressive considering how thoroughly Stony Brook neutralized what was Delaware State’s biggest offensive strength last season.
The Hornets led the nation in rushing in 2025, but the Seawolves held them to just nine rushing yards.
Rather than allowing that to derail the offense, Delaware State adjusted and still produced 41 points.
For head coach DeSean Jackson, the season-opening victory provides plenty to celebrate — and plenty to correct.
Delaware State demonstrated the ability to dominate offensively, adjust when its rushing attack was taken away and make critical defensive plays late.
The Hornets also learned that no lead is safe.
A 24-point unanswered run helped Delaware State build a 24-6 advantage. That lead eventually grew to 31-6 before Stony Brook’s comeback erased it completely.
Yet when the game was finally decided, Delaware State was the team standing.
Final: Delaware State 41, Stony Brook 34.
Delaware State scored 24 straight to turn a 6-0 deficit into a 24-6 lead, watched Stony Brook rally all the way back to 34-34, and still found a way to win.
