Jackson’s Del State defeats Vick’s Norfolk State in Philly

Norfolk State’s Michael Vick and Delaware State’s DeSean Jackson battled it out at a place that is familiar to both Vick and Jackson, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, on Thursday night at the HBCU Battle of the Legends.

However, one legend would walk off victorious. Led by a dominant rushing attack that saw the Hornets rush for 201 yards, including a game-clinching 76-yard touchdown run by running back James Jones Jr. in the fourth quarter, Delaware State would defeat Norfolk State 27-20. 

With the win, the Hornets (6-3, 2-0) remain undefeated in MEAC conference play, while the Spartans (1-8, 0-2) remain winless in the conference.

Vick and Jackson were teammates with the Eagles from 2009 to 2013, and the two connected on the field with many big plays; they have also remained close friends off the field. 

After the game, the two had a long hug in the middle of the field.

Most people did not have Vick and Jackson as college football coaches facing off against each other on their bingo cards, including Jackson and Vick.

“I would ​have ​never ​envisioned ​this,” Jackson said. “​I ​could ​have ​never ​imagined ​it. ​I ​could ​have ​never ​predicted it. ​ It​ just ​shows ​you ​how well ​God ​works, ​man.”

Vick’s answer was very similar to Jackson’s.

“Twelve ​years ​ago, ​I ​was ​a ​player, ​you ​know, ​here ​in ​Philadelphia,” Vick said. ​”And ​fast ​forward ​ ​to ​now, ​I’m ​a ​coach ​​that ​just ​coached ​his ​ninth ​game ​in ​Philadelphia ​​against ​a ​former ​teammate, ​​who ​happens ​to ​be ​a ​good ​friend. ​So ​I ​think ​it’s ​a full ​circle ​moment. ​It ​shows ​you ​how ​God ​worked. ​I ​mean, ​you ​never ​just ​never ​know ​where ​the ​good ​Lord ​will ​take ​you.”

This year, Delaware State was the home team, but next year, Norfolk State will be the host, and Jackson hopes that the game comes back to the Lincoln Financial Field in 2026.

“I ​definitely ​do ​hope ​we ​continue ​to ​come ​back ​here ​and ​play ​in ​a ​great ​environment ​like ​this, ​man,” Jackson said.

Vick, on the other hand, was not so sure. 

“No, ​it ​felt ​more ​like ​a ​home ​game ​for ​them,” he said. ​”​Next ​time, ​they’ll ​come ​to ​us.”

This was a great event, and a great atmosphere. Let’s hope it returns to the “City of Brotherly Love.”

Notes:

Norfolk State quarterback Otto Kuhns led the Spartan offense with 311 passing yards, completing 22 of 34 attempts with three touchdowns and an interception. J.J. Evans hauled in five catches for 124 yards and two scores, marking his second straight game with multiple touchdown receptions. DreSean Kendrick added nine receptions for 112 yards and one touchdown.

Delaware State quarterback Kaiden Bennett completed 16-of-18 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. Jones Jr. ran for 109 yards and a touchdown, and Marquis Gillis added 79 yards on the ground.

The Hornets have won six games in a season for the first time since 2012.

Next Up:

The Hornets go on the road to face Morgan State, and the Spartans also go on the road to battle North Carolina Central.