University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
4-5 , 2-3
Kennesaw State
3-6 , 2-3
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 15 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 40 |
| Kennesaw St. | 13 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 42 |
11/7/2026 7:33:00 PM | Football
KENNESAW, Ga. – The University of Delaware football team was in position to tie the game with a two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell to Kennesaw State, 42-40, on Saturday evening at Fifth Third Stadium. The Fightin' Blue Hens drop to 4-5, 2-3 CUSA, while the Owls rise to 3-6 2-3 CUSA.
HEN HIGHLIGHTS
- QB Nick Minicucci set a career high with 35 completions, throwing for 408 yards and two touchdowns. Minicucci's 35 completions are the fourth-most completions by a Delaware QB in a single game in program history. His 35 completions moves him to 596 for his career, passing Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco for the most passes completed all-time in a Delaware career. Minicucci surpassed the 300-passing yard mark for the 11th time in his career, tying him with Flacco for the program record. Minicucci became the first QB in program history to record back-to-back 400-yard passing games, marking the third of his career.
- WR Bryson Graves set career highs in catches (7) and receiving yards (125) for his first-career 100-yard receiving game. He also had 20 yards rushing and 15 yards in the return game for 160 all-purpose yards. It's his fifth-career 100+ all-purpose yard game.
- WR Donovan Lewis notched five catches, 73 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown.
- RB Viron Ellison Jr. scored two rushing touchdowns, running for 15 yards on four carries.
- DT Trace Scott III recorded his first-career interception and first-collegiate touchdown with a five-yard pick-six.
- K Tucker Smack made a 54-yard field goal, tied for the second-longest kick in school history and the longest in CUSA this season. He also added a 36 yarder to go with two PATs.
- S George Mullins posted a career-best eight tackles, leading the team, to go with his CUSA-leading fourth interception of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Kennesaw State returned the game's opening kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown, going up 6-0 after a botched snap on the PAT. Delaware answered on its first possession, driving 75 yards on 14 plays in 6:58, capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Ellison Jr. Scott III jumped the route on a screen pass, picking off KSU at their own five-yard line and returning it for a touchdown to put UD up 15-6 after a two-point conversion by Ellison Jr. The Owls ran it in from eight-yard out to cut into the Blue Hens' lead, leaving a 15-13 game after one.
- To open the second quarter, KSU found paydirt, scoring on a 26-yard run to go up 20-15. Ellison Jr. took a direct snap into the endzone for the second time in the game, putting the Blue & Gold back in front, 22-20. The Owls knocked in a 28-yard field goal with 4:32 remaining in the first half to jump ahead 23-22. With time ticking down under 30 seconds in the second quarter, KSU scored a rushing touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line, increasing the lead to 30-22. As time expired in the first half, Smack nailed a 54-yard field goal.
- On a pass that was intended for WR Sean Wilson in the back of the endzone, Lewis caught the tipped ball off Wilson's fingertips for the 12-yard score. A failed two-point conversion left a 31-30 score in favor of UD with 12:27 remaining in the third quarter. The two teams traded field goals with 1:04 left in the third frame as Delaware held a 34-33 advantage after three quarters.
- Ten-straight points for the Owls gave them a 42-34 advantage with 8:25 left in the fourth quarter. Minicucci connected with Graves over the middle for a 17-yard touchdown with 24 ticks left to give the Hens a chance to tie the game. The ensuing game-tying two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving a 42-40 Owl lead that held final.
GAME NOTES
- Minicucci's 408 passing yards in the game moves him to 6,867 for his career, passing Bill Vergantino for third on the Delaware all-time career passing yards list.
- Minicucci's two passing touchdowns in the game moves him to 54 for his career, two shy of a tie for second on the Delaware all-time career passing touchdowns list (Nolan Henderson).
- Minicucci surpassed the 200-passing yard mark for the 18th time in his career, passing Nolan Henderson for third most by a Blue Hen.
UP NEXT
The Fightin' Blue Hens will host FIU for Homecoming on Saturday, November 14 at 3 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+.
TICKET INFORMATION
Get your 2026 Delaware football tickets now by visiting bluehens.com/fbtickets.
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
DEL 0, KSU 6
KSU - Bryson,Davis 99 yd kickoff return ()
DEL 7, KSU 6
DEL - Ellison Jr.,Viron 1 yd run (Smack,Tucker kick), 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:58
DEL 15, KSU 6
DEL - Scott III,Trace 7 yd interception (Ellison Jr.,Viron rush)
DEL 15, KSU 13
KSU - Collins,Rickie 8 yd run (Kinney,Daniel kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:05
DEL 15, KSU 20
KSU - Woods III,Boogie 26 yd run (Kinney,Daniel kick), 5 plays, 50 yards, TOP 01:00
DEL 22, KSU 20
DEL - Ellison Jr.,Viron 1 yd run (Smack,Tucker kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:10
DEL 22, KSU 23
KSU - Kinney,Daniel 28 yd field goal 15 plays, 65 yards, TOP 06:18
DEL 22, KSU 30
KSU - Woods III,Boogie 1 yd run (Kinney,Daniel kick), 10 plays, 47 yards, TOP 01:20
DEL 25, KSU 30
DEL - Smack,Tucker 54 yd field goal 4 plays, 39 yards, TOP 00:22
DEL 31, KSU 30
DEL - Lewis,Donovan 12 yd pass from Minicucci,Nick () 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:33
DEL 31, KSU 33
KSU - Kinney,Daniel 29 yd field goal 9 plays, 64 yards, TOP 03:00
DEL 34, KSU 33
DEL - Smack,Tucker 36 yd field goal 5 plays, 17 yards, TOP 02:14
DEL 34, KSU 39
KSU - Jesiolowski,Reed 63 yd pass from Varnes,Landon () 3 plays, 57 yards, TOP 01:37
DEL 34, KSU 42
KSU - Kinney,Daniel 35 yd field goal 9 plays, 32 yards, TOP 04:03
DEL 40, KSU 42
DEL - Graves,Bryson 17 yd pass from Minicucci,Nick () 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:23
