​It comes down to last play Delaware State beats Stony Brook 41-34 @DSUHornets@StonyBrookFBpic.twitter.com/sF6lIqRPk8— kevin tresolini (@kevintresolini) August 28, 2026DOVER – Delaware State’s bid to build off a breakthrough 2025 football season got off to a satisfying – and quite dramatic — start the night of Aug. 27.It came down to the final play as the Hornets opened the 2026 season beating Stony Brook 41-34 at damp and muggy Alumni Stadium.DSU had an 18-point lead in the third quarter, but needed Sean Weston’s tie-breaking 16-yard TD run with 1:53 left.Stony Brook then had a TD pass erased by a penalty before a final throw into the end zone from the 29-yard line was incomplete, setting off DSU’s celebration.The Hornets had not beaten a Division I foe in a fall season opener since 2012 against VMI.Delaware State was 8-4 overall and 4-1 in the MEAC last season under first-year coach DeSean Jackson, the former NFL wide receiver. It was their best season since 2007 and ended a string of 12 losing seasons in a row.The Hornets built a 24-6 first-half lead and were up 31-13 early in the second half.Two transfer quarterbacks – starter Ui Ali (Troy) and Samari Collier (Coastal Carolina) – saw duty and each made the most of it, which should certainly fuel optimism among DSU fans.But DSU was foiled by a gamble as Collier was shy of the first down on a fourth-and-1 keeper from the DSU 31 early in the fourth period.Coastal Athletic Association member Stony Brook then converted a fourth-and-1 en route to tying the game 34-34 with 11:25 left after Quinn Boyd’s 9-yard TD pass to tight end Keiden Gutierez.Sean Weston runs 16 yards for TD 1:53 left in game @DSUHornets lead @StonyBrookFB 41-34 pic.twitter.com/CyOmW96ZP6— kevin tresolini (@kevintresolini) August 28, 2026The Seawolves then forced a DSU punt but were thwarted when Arkansas transfer Andrew Harris had a third-and-1 tackle for lost yardage to force a punt.DSU took over on its 20 with 7:36 to go and, keyed by Ale’s 18-yard pass to Kyree Benton on third-and-11, regained the lead.HIGH HOPES: 5 questions as DSU starts football seasonUp 24-13 at halftime, DSU stretched the lead to 31-13 when Ale’s 39-yard run set up Jayden Jenkins’ 19-yard TD scamper with 10:15 to go in the third period.Stony Brook did retaliate with 6:40 on the third-quarter clock on Quinn Boyd’s 19-yard TD pass to Seth Sweitzer on fourth-and-13 to pull within 31-20.DSU answered as Patrick Fisher-Butler fluttered a 52-yard field goal, two yards short of the school record, over the crossbar to make it 34-20 with 3:39 to go in the third period.But Stony Brook quickly cut the lead to 34-27 on a drive culminating with a 3-yard TD run by C.J. Hester, a transfer from Michigan who didn’t appear in any games there but did see action for UMass the year before.Stony Brook scored on its second possession on Boyd’s 34-yard TD pass to D.J. Linkins, but missed the extra point to go up 6-0 with 10:27 left in the first pe