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DeSean Jackson’s DSU Hornets Didn’t Look Half Bad Against FBS Delaware
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We had an abnormally-interesting game in Newark on Thursday night. That’s not to say that the Blue Hens are boring, but there was more intrigue for this one because it was their first game as an FBS program and Conference USA member, played against a Delaware State team coached by former Philadelphia Eagle DeSean Jackson.
Delaware, a 30-point favorite, lost their starting quarterback in the first quarter. There isn’t anything confirmed on Zach Marker’s injury status, but Kevin Tresolini at The News Journal tweeted this:
That turned the game upside down, and DSU went up 3-0 while keeping the Hens off the scoreboard until the second quarter. They did relatively well and then fell apart with a hideous pick six thrown by quarterback Jayden Sauray:
Final score: 35 to 17. Delaware’s backup QB, Nick Minicucci, completed 28 of 36 attempts for 251 yards and three touchdowns. He ran nine times for 44 yards and a score. I caught bits and pieces and DSU’s quarterback play wasn’t amazing. They were running some modern option stuff, swing passes and pitches and whatnot, and had success on the ground, but not so much through the air. They’ve got a pretty good running back and some decent talent overall, they just killed themselves with self-inflicted errors, a couple of picks while fumbling three times. They kept the game within arm’s reach but couldn’t put together any sort of offensive momentum and gave up a TD right before halftime.
After the game, D Jaxx sounded truly like a head coach, saying this about his team:
“They did a great job. They came out and weathered the storm. I feel like we left a lot of plays left out there, but overall they played great, played with a high intensity, could have been a little more disciplined. Feel like we left a lot of points out on the field, but overall proud of my team. I talk about the little things all the time, and the little things got us today. We’ll go back and watch the film but it was a great effort by the guys.”
It looks hella weird to see DeSean sitting up there at the table like he’s Andy Reid, but he seems pretty comfortable so far. They just have to teach him all of the proper cliches and coach speak but he sounded like a natural. All we need is a “we look forward to the challenge of playing (the next opponent), followed by a “time’s yours.”
DSU plays in the MEAC, which only has five other teams in North Carolina Central, Howard, Morgan State, South Carolina State, and Michael Vick’s Norfolk State. Since that doesn’t fill up a schedule, their remaining non-conference opponents are Albany, Bowie State, St. Francis, Sacred Heart, and Monmouth. The D Jaxx vs. Vick game is October 30th at the Linc.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com