Delaware Gets Contributions on All Three Sides of the Ball in 22 – 14 Win Over Coastal Carolina
NEWARK, DE 9/19/2026 –
The students called it the Cockfight. Two angry birds met. The Blue Hens of Delaware and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (a proud, clever rooster from medieval literature) played like that. Delaware earned a 22 – 14 win at Delaware Stadium. The home team got contributions from the offense, defense, and special teams in getting their second win of the season. And they needed it.
“What really stuck out to me was how well we played together. Our offense, defense, and special teams played fairly clean and played off each other well,” said Delaware Coach Ryan Carty. “We just believed in each other. There was never a doubt. There was never a time where somebody was worried about the other side of the ball.”
Complementary Football in Action
It was readily apparent in the fourth quarter when UD turned a fumble recovery off a punt to a touchdown on the ensuing play to take control of the game.
Delaware punted from their own 22-yard line at the 10:41 mark holding a 15 – 14 lead. Coastal Carolina return man Karmello English muffed the kick. Blue Hens linebacker Colin Gallagher recovered the ball at the Chanticleers 36-yard line. The offense took over. Quarterback Nick Minicucci threw the ball over the middle to wide receiver Sean Wilson who hauled it in for a touchdown. Then it was time for the defense to contribute.
Coastal Carolina put the ball in play at their 25-yard line at the 8:19 mark. The Chanticleers marched down the field to the Blue Hens 13-yard line. On a 4th-and-one, the 9th play of the drive, quarterback Deuce Bailey targeted tight end Bryson Wood. The pass was broken up by safety AJ Graham. UD took over with 4:07 remaining and ran the clock out.
Momentum Swing Play
The Blue Hens scored on a two-yard run from wildcat formation. It brought UD to within 14 – 13 with 35 seconds to halftime. The extra point kick by Tucker Smack was blocked by Jordan Thompson. Score still 14 – 13. But Coastal Carolina was flagged for roughing the kicker. The ball was set at the 1-yard line. Delaware went for a two-point conversion. Minicucci ran it in, and UD had a 15 – 14 lead. A momentum swing to say the least.
“I think it really changed the momentum,” Carty said. “Even though it was a two-point swing I think momentum is exactly the right word. There are times when you feel it. I think that play gave us gave us a swing and a lot of confidence going into half. That was really good execution on the two-point play that we’ve worked a lot.”
What the Numbers Say
Wilson caught a career-high 9 passes and set a collegiate-best gaining 182 yards. He scored twice on receptions of 40 and 36 yards. When asked which meant more to him, touchdowns or catches? Wilson replied.
“I love both of them,” said Wilson. “I think two touchdowns helps us win.”
Minicucci completed 24 of 32 passes for 302 yards. He targeted Wilson 11 times.
“I just trust that the ball is going to be there.” said Wilson. “And I have to go up and make a play. It’s all football, and just going up and showing what I can do.”
For the offense there were no turnovers.
Gallagher made a team-best 8 tackles and forced a fumble. Jamarion Kolagbodi broke up 3 passes. The Blue Hens had a season-high 4 sacks,
For Coastal Carolina the offensive star was Bailey who passed for 250 yards, two touchdowns, and still has not been intercepted this season. He started his day with a 62-yard touchdown pass to wide receive Goldie Lawrence.
On defense Ibrahim Diawara made a game-high 9 tackles and recoded 1.5 sacks.
Up Next
Delaware (2 – 1) plays at Virginia ranked 25th going into today’s games. After they open league play against Liberty on October 2 in Newark.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: glenn@phillycollegesports.com
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