It was a cold November afternoon in Dover when the air finally went out of the balloon. If you were looking for the latest delaware state football score, you probably saw the 28-17 result against South Carolina State and felt that familiar sting.
Honestly, it's kinda wild how one game can change the vibe of an entire season. The Hornets were sitting pretty at 8-3, riding a wave of momentum that had fans actually whispering about a MEAC title. Then, the Bulldogs showed up at Alumni Stadium and basically reminded everyone why they’re the top dogs in the conference.
But looking at a single score doesn't tell the whole story of what Coach Lee Hull is building in Dover.
The Highs, the Lows, and That 70-Point Explosion
Most people just check the box score and move on. You've gotta look deeper to see why this 8-4 season actually matters. The standout moment? That absolute demolition of Southern Connecticut State in October.
The final delaware state football score that day was 70-23. You don't see 70 points in college football every day, especially not from a program that has struggled for offensive consistency in years past.
- Rushing dominance: The Hornets put up nearly 4,000 yards on the ground this season.
- Defensive playmaking: Wayne Favors III had a 91-yard interception return against Howard that basically broke the internet (or at least Hornet Twitter).
- The Quarterback room: Kaiden Bennett and Jayden Sauray kept defenses guessing, even if the passing game was sometimes a bit "hit or miss."
The running game was the heartbeat of this team. Marquis Gillis was basically a human highlight reel, averaging over 6 yards a carry and finishing the year with 1,166 yards. When Gillis is on, the Hornets are a completely different animal.
Breaking Down the MEAC Grind
When we talk about the delaware state football score in conference play, the Hornets were almost perfect. They went 4-1.
They took down North Carolina Central 35-26 in a game that felt like a changing of the guard. They gutted out a 14-12 win over Morgan State in Baltimore, which was one of those ugly, defensive battles that only a coach could love.
Then came the Howard game. Everyone loves the Howard rivalry. The Hornets took that one 26-13, fueled by a 205-yard rushing performance. It felt like the team was peaking at exactly the right time.
But the South Carolina State game—the finale—was the reality check. The Hornets led early, but they couldn't close the door. They finished second in the MEAC, which is a massive jump from where this program was just two years ago.
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Why the Numbers Look the Way They Do
If you're a stats nerd, the 2025 cumulative numbers are pretty fascinating. The Hornets averaged 32.25 points per game. That’s a huge number.
However, they also gave up nearly 25 points a game. It's that classic "bend but don't break" defense that keeps games exciting but gives fans heart attacks.
Total offense was roughly 449 yards per game. Most of that came from the ground. In fact, they rushed for 34 touchdowns. Compare that to just 10 passing touchdowns. It's a very specific brand of football—old school, physical, and honestly, kinda fun to watch if you like seeing offensive linemen push people around.
The Road Ahead for Hornet Football
So, what's next? You can't just look at the delaware state football score from last week and assume you know what 2026 will look like.
The team is losing some key seniors, but the core of that rushing attack is young. The biggest hurdle remains the "Route 1 Rivalry" against the University of Delaware. Losing 35-17 to the Blue Hens to start the year always leaves a sour taste in the fans' mouths.
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To take the next step, the passing game has to evolve. You can't run for 300 yards every single week in the MEAC and expect teams not to eventually stack 9 guys in the box.
If you want to stay on top of the program's progress, focus on these three things over the offseason:
- Transfer Portal Activity: Watch if Coach Hull brings in a vertical threat at wide receiver.
- Spring Ball Progress: Keep an eye on the quarterback competition between Bennett and Sauray.
- Recruiting the Trenches: The Hornets won games because their offensive line was better than the guy across from them.
The 2025 season was a massive success by almost any metric. Finishing 8-4 with a 4-1 conference record isn't just a fluke. It’s a foundation.
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To follow the team's upcoming spring schedule and official signing day updates, your best bet is to check the official DSU Athletics portal or follow the MEAC digital network. The scores tell you who won, but the offseason moves will tell you who's going to win next year.