Dover, Del. (Sep. 17, 2022) --- Delaware State shook of a slow start by scoring 21 unanswered first half points to highlight a 35-19 victory over Virginia Lynchburg at Alumni Stadium today.
The Hornets won for the third time in three meetings against the Dragons to improve to 2-1 this season. Virginia Lynchburg fell to 0-3 this year.
Wide receiver Jerrish Halsey (sr.; Rahway, N.J.)  had seven catches for 134 yards (both career-highs) and two touchdowns, while running back Wade Inge (r-so.; Williamstown, NJ) rushed for a career-best 106 yards to lead the Hornets' 397-yard offensive attack.
Delaware State second-string quarterback C.J. Henry (r-fr.; Newark, Del.) played more than three quarters of the game, connecting on nine-of-14 passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Hornets recorded four sacks for the second week in a row, while recovering a season-high three fumbles.
Lineman Isaiah Williams (sr.; Brooklyn, N.Y.) and linebacker Ronald Holmes (so., Darby, Pa.) shared the team lead with six tackles each. Williams had a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Virginia Lynchburg jumped out in front on the opening series of the game. Anthony Duffy scored a touchdown on a 22-yard pass from C.J. Brooks to give the Dragons a 6-0 lead a little more than four minutes into the game. The six-play, 97-yard drive was highlighted by a 90-yard pass from Brooks to Donmonic Perks to the Hornets' one-yard line. The Dragons' extra point attempt was unsuccessful due to a bad snap.
It took Delaware State just two plays and 46 seconds to answer the Virginia Lynchburg score. Halsey hauled in a 68-yard touchdown pass from starting quarterback Jared Lewis  to tie the score on the Hornets' first offensive possession. The extra point kick by Nathan Wilson gave Delaware State a 7-6 lead at the 10:09 mark of the opening quarter.
A 46-yard return by Eddie Dumas on the ensuing Hornets' kickoff helped set up a 25-yard field goal by Sulemani Fortuna, putting the Dragons back in front, 9-7, with 5:09 to go in the first quarter.
The Hornets responded with another touchdown on the ensuing possession when Henry connected with Rahkeem Smith for his first collegiate touchdown pass from 27 yards out to regain the lead 14-9 following the extra point kick by Wilson with 2:07 left in the first quarter.
Henry also threw touchdown passes of 15 yards to Nico Stout in the second quarter (10:43) and 25 yards to Halsey in the fourth quarter (6:12).
Virginia Lynchburg pulled to within 28-19 after scoring 10 straight second half points before the Henry-to-Halsey fourth quarter touchdown.
The Hornets return to action next Saturday (Sep. 24) at home against Merrimack of the Northeast Conference. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.