University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
4-4 , 2-3
Liberty
4-4 , 3-1
Football Stumbles at Liberty
11/1/2025 7:42:00 PM | Football
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The University of Delaware football team stumbled on the road against the Liberty Flames, 59-30, on Saturday at Williams Stadium on CBS Sports Network. The Fightin' Blue Hens drop to 4-4, 2-3 CUSA, while the Flames jump to 4-4, 3-1 CUSA.
HEN HIGHLIGHTS
- QB Nick Minicucci went 29-for-49 for 344 passing yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first 300-yard passer allowed by Liberty since Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix had 363 yards in the 2023 Fiesta Bowl at Oregon. He also added 37 yards on the ground to go with his eighth rushing touchdown of the season.
- Minicucci completed a pass to 10 different targets, marking the fourth time this season with at least 10 Hens catching a pass. UD has found at least eight pass catchers in seven of eight games this season.
- With five touchbacks, K Nate Reed set the Delaware all-time record for career touchbacks with 82, surpassing Jake Roth (78). Reed also tied his career-high with three field goals made.
- WR Donovan Lewis and TE Elijah Sessoms each caught their first-career touchdowns.
- WR Sean Wilson recorded his first-career 100-yard game, notching a career-best 109 receiving yards and a career-long reception of 41yards.
- WR Kyre Duplessis neared the century mark, reeling in eight catches for 98 yards.
- DT Dominick Brogna had a career-best eight tackles to lead the team to go with a TFL.
- CB Jamarion Kolagbodi set a career-best with six tackles, while knocking out his first-career forced fumble.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Reed got Delaware on the board first with a 42-yard field goal 3:31 into the contest.
- Liberty scored on its opening drive, going 75 yards in 10 plays, capped off by a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-3.
- UD tacked on another three off the foot of Reed from 28 yards out, cutting it to a one-point game at 7-6.
- With 11:18 left in the second quarter, the Flames added a five-yard rushing score to go up 14-6.
- After multiple stops inside the one-yard line by the Blue Hen defense, Liberty punched it in on the ground to increase its lead to 21-6 with 2:57 to go in the first half.
- LU's third-rushing score of the first half put the Flames up 28-6 with under two to play in the second quarter.
- Delaware got into field goal range to end the first half, setting Reed up for a 42-yard attempt that he knocked through to make the score 28-9 at the break.
- The Flames scored a 72-yard rushing touchdown 30 seconds into the third quarter, increasing their lead to 35-9.
- Minicucci found Sessoms wide open in the endzone for an eight-yard touchdown, capping off a five-play, 69-yard drive with 12:58 to go in the third quarter. Reed knocked in the extra point to bring the score to 35-16.
- Lewis toe tapped his way to a three-yard touchdown from Minicucci in the corner of the endzone with 5:49 to go in the third. A two-point conversion from Minicucci to Duplessis made it an 11-point game at 35-24.
- A pair of Liberty touchdown passes led to a 49-24 advantage with 28 ticks left in the third quarter.
- Minicucci found paydirt from 12-yards out on the ground to make it 49-30 after a failed two-point attempt with 12:57.
- Liberty added a 12-yard rushing touchdown with 9:05 left in regulation to make it 56-30.
- The Flames made a 32-yard field goal with 4:49 left to extend their lead to 59-30.
GAME NOTES
- Delaware moved to 23-1 when scoring 30 or more points under Ryan Carty.
- Kolagbodi and S Kahlil Ali made their first-career starts.
- LB Dillon Trainer returned to the field after missing the previous three games.
UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will host LA Tech for Homecoming on Saturday, November 8 at 3 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+.
TICKET INFORMATION
Don't miss your chance to be part of the action at Delaware Stadium this fall. Get your single-game tickets for the 2025 Delaware home football season today!
Season tickets offer the best seats at the best price for every home game and come with great benefits, such as ticket priority for away games and invites to exclusive member-only events. Partial Plans offer fans flexible options and price savings over individual games.
For more information or to secure your seats, visit BlueHens.com/fbtickets.
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Team Stats
DEL 3, LU 0
DEL - Reed,Nate 42 yd field goal 9 plays, 50 yards, TOP 03:31
DEL 3, LU 7
LU - Vasko,Ethan 15 yd run (Billingsley,Jay kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:27
DEL 6, LU 7
DEL - Reed,Nate 28 yd field goal 15 plays, 64 yards, TOP 06:57
DEL 6, LU 14
LU - Dickens,Evan 5 yd run (Billingsley,Jay kick), 2 plays, 21 yards, TOP 00:16
DEL 6, LU 21
LU - Dickens,Evan 1 yd run (Billingsley,Jay kick), 13 plays, 79 yards, TOP 06:53
DEL 6, LU 28
LU - Dickens,Evan 30 yd run (Billingsley,Jay kick), 2 plays, 30 yards, TOP 00:13
DEL 9, LU 28
DEL - Reed,Nate 42 yd field goal 9 plays, 50 yards, TOP 01:39
DEL 9, LU 35
LU - Dickens,Evan 72 yd run (Billingsley,Jay kick), 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:30
DEL 16, LU 35
DEL - Sessoms,Elijah 8 yd pass from Minicucci,Nick (Reed,Nate kick) 5 plays, 69 yards, TOP 01:24
DEL 24, LU 35
DEL - Lewis,Donovan 3 yd pass from Minicucci,Nick (Duplessis,Kyre pass) 12 plays, 57 yards, TOP 04:14
DEL 24, LU 42
LU - Jenkins,Jacob 15 yd pass from Vasko,Ethan (Billingsley,Jay kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:42
DEL 24, LU 49
LU - Lee Jr.,Donte 31 yd pass from Vasko,Ethan (Billingsley,Jay kick) 2 plays, 34 yards, TOP 00:39
DEL 30, LU 49
DEL - Minicucci,Nick 12 yd run (), 7 plays, 69 yards, TOP 02:22
DEL 30, LU 56
LU - Blue,Vaughn 12 yd run (Billingsley,Jay kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:52
DEL 30, LU 59
LU - Beck,Brayden 32 yd field goal 7 plays, 46 yards, TOP 03:24
