newsweek
Former Philadelphia Eagles teammates DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick stood on opposite sidelines on Saturday, and their latest encounter produced a thrilling finish. Jackson's Delaware State Hornets overcame a 17-point deficit to upset Vick's Norfolk State Spartans 36-33 at Lincoln Financial Field, sealing the comeback with a field goal as time expired.
The game brought the former NFL stars back to Philadelphia, where they once played together. This time, they were leading two historically Black colleges as head coaches.
For much of the afternoon, it seemed Vick would come out on top. Norfolk State raced to a 17-0 lead in the second quarter, but Delaware State answered with 10 straight points before halftime. The Spartans regained momentum after the break and built a 33-16 advantage with 5:24 left in the third quarter.
Jackson's Hornets, however, refused to fold. Delaware State scored the game's final 20 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, to complete the comeback. Quarterback Marqui Adams fueled the charge, passing for 243 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.
Adams connected with Jaron Kelley for a 5-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, then found Kyree Benton for a 20-yard score that tied the game at 33 with 7:47 remaining. Norfolk State had chances to reclaim the lead, but a costly late turnover gave Delaware State the ball deep in Spartans territory. With 57 seconds left, Norfolk State fumbled after a short reception, and the Hornets recovered at the 15-yard line. Delaware State then lined up for a 35-yard field goal, which Maatteo Bracalenti converted as time expired to secure the win.
The victory improved Delaware State to 5-4 overall and 1-1 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, while Norfolk State dropped to 4-5 and 0-2 in conference action. It also marked Jackson's second consecutive win over Vick, following Delaware State's 27-20 victory in last season's meeting.
Key Analysis
For Vick, the loss was especially frustrating given that his team controlled much of the contest. For Jackson, the comeback provided another memorable win over his former teammate in the stadium where both made their NFL marks.
Originally reported by newsweek.