Jacksonville, AL – We looked forward to seeing former Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) power team, Delaware, play for the first time as an FBS competitor. Over the years, the Fighting Blue Hens FCS record finish14-7. This evening, Jacksonville State dominated to the tune of 35-6 before the end of the third quarter of our first FBS game they appeared in.
After hours of driving down to Mobile on Tuesday, attending the Arkansas State at South Alabama game, visiting the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial in the morning and driving five more hours to attend this game, we felt like we wasted our time. Delaware, (3-3, 1-2) showed no energy, effort or guts. With 3:02 left in the third, JSU brought in their second team QB. As we left, we heard the PA announce a score for the Blue Hens (note we didn’t say “Fighting”). We didn’t know what happened after that, but the outcome was evident as we exited AmFirst Stadium.
Jacksonville forces turnovers
Delaware TE Elijah Sessoms took a hard shot and coughed up the football to JSU on the UD 11. RB Cam Cook ran it in from the six for a 7-0 Jacksonville State lead in the first. In the second, Delaware WR Jake Thaw fumbled after a catch. This time, Caleb Nix picked it off the turf and rambled 45 yards for Jacksonville’s second score. On a three-play 48-yard drive, QB Caden Creel connected with TE Brock Rechsteiner on a crossing pattern for a 23-yard TD pass.
Delaware finally put together a scoring drive of 83 yards on four plays. Viron Vinson took it in from one. The two-point attempt failed, and Jacksonville held the 21-6 edge into halftime.
All Jacksonville in third
The two teams exchanged punts to start. On the Gamecock’s second possession, Cam Cook’s 66-yard run keyed the next JSU score. He ran it in from the one two plays later. After forcing a turnover on downs. JSU took over again at UD’s 43. Cook scored his third TD of the game from the two. Building a one-sided score, 35-6, after a long day, we decided to pack it in for our morning trip back up to Tennessee in anticipation of more driving back down to return to Auburn to see the Tigers host No. 14 Missouri (that plan changed later though) on Saturday.
Before we left AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville brought in second-string QB Gavin Wimsett. He formerly played at Rutgers and Kentucky. Based on that, we realized this game was about to become a scrimmage. Jacksonville State HC Charles Kelly decided give his second-stringer some actual game experience. Rightly so. Exiting Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium, we heard the PA announce a Delaware TD. Then, they missed two-point conversion. Delaware QB Nick Minicucci connected with Max Patterson for a 21-yard scoring pass.
Fourth period played out as expected
JSU PK Garrison Rippa got to try out his leg for a 52-yard FG to increase the Gamecock lead, 38-12. UD would make the score respectable against what we figured were second-stringers gaining some game experience. According to reports online the next morning, UD put together two long drives with Viron Ellison scoring for the Blue Hens. The first from two yards and the latter from four. Final score, Jacksonville 38 Delaware 25.
Not the exciting, competitive game we had hoped for. However, watched our 136th FBS program play for the first time. We achieved our primary goal once again. The FBS adds, and we keep pace. The Delaware football program remains one of our favorites, and we hope to see them do well at the FBS level. Already, we plan to see them host a game at Delaware Stadium since now it’s officially another FBS venue to add to our record book.
On to CUSA Wednesdays; Collegefootballfan.com – Big game to end WEEK Eight
Delaware (4-3, 1-2) hosts its next FCS foe, Middle Tennessee State (1-5, 0-3) on Wednesday, October 22. In WEEK Ten, JSU (4-3, 3-0) visits MTSU on Wednesday, October 29. We’ve decided to pack it in regarding weekday nights games for the rest of the 2025 season. We’re saving our trips, money and energy for the post season games ahead that intrigue us much more. One impacting such possibilities comes to nearby Nashville on Saturday: No. 10 LSU visits No. 17 Vanderbilt. If Vandy triumphs, partying on Broadway will be even more fun that afternoon!
Finished up seeing all 136 teams – there’s a lot of history to share now that this was done and more to make. Check out our book on Amazon.com.
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today! If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about.
In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having now seen every FBS team play over the years! Who else can say that? Continue to come back and follow our future adventures. Thanks!
