Jackson’s Delaware State erases two 17-point deficits to beat Vick’s Norfolk State

Midway through the second quarter, Norfolk State led Delaware State 17-0, but Delaware State cut the lead to 17-10 at halftime.

After a three-yard touchdown run by Ravon Moore, Norfolk State led the Hornets 33-16 with 5:24 left in the third quarter.

The Hornets rallied again, tying the game when quarterback Marqui Adams connected with Kyree Benton on a 20-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Late in the fourth, Del State’s Phillip Dunnam forced Elyjah Mitchell to fumble, and Ryan Brown recovered it deep in Norfolk State territory. It was one of four turnovers forced by the Hornets.

Delaware State kicker Matteo Bracalent hit a 35-yard field goal at the buzzer as the Hornets (5-4, 1-1) defeated Norfolk State (4-5, 0-2), 36-33, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday.

The game was a part of One Philly HBCU Week. On Friday, Virginia Union defeated Lincoln 62-0.

The victory gave Delaware State coach DeSean Jackson his second straight win over former Eagles teammate and Norfolk State coach Mike Vick at Lincoln Financial Field.

“This ​stadium ​is ​now ​called ​the ​Delaware ​State ​Eagles,” Jackson said after the win. “​Put ​the ​words ​in.”

Obviously, you don’t like to be down by 17 points, but Jackson said his team plays with greater urgency when trailing.

“I ​kind ​of ​like ​being ​down,” Jackson said. “​When ​we’re ​down, ​man, ​for ​some ​reason ​we ​fight, ​that ​hunger… ​I ​don’t ​want ​to ​be ​down, ​but ​I ​think, when ​we ​are ​down, ​we ​have ​a ​different ​fight ​to ​us. ​We’ve ​been ​up ​games ​this ​year, and ​​I ​kind ​of ​don’t ​like ​the ​complacency ​and ​being ​content ​because I ​feel ​like ​when ​we’re ​down, ​we ​got ​a ​sense ​of ​urgency ​and ​we ​play ​a ​little ​tougher.”

Norfolk State coach Mike Vick said he hopes his team can learn from this game.

“I hope they learn that you can come from behind; watch Delaware State,” Vick said. “And I hope they learn that you’ve got to hold on to a lead – watch us. It happens across the country every Saturday, but it doesn’t register until it happens to you. We put ourselves in a position with a 17-point lead, and I hope the players and the coaches learn a lot from this. But we have to do that really, really fast.”

Barring anything unforeseen, with two conference losses, Norfolk State’s chances of winning the MEAC appear pretty much over, while Delaware State is still alive.

Delaware State hosts Morgan State next Saturday, while Norfolk State will host North Carolina Central.