Bowling Green, Kentucky – Delaware (4-4, 2-2) and Western Kentucky battled in the first half to a 28-21 lead for the Blue Hens. Wide receivers for both teams were basically met unchallenged for big gains. The game changed entirely in the second half. Only UD would score again. However, Delaware QB Nick Minicucci set the standard. He completed his first 17 passes, finishing 32 of 38 for 414 yards and four TDs. WR Sean Wilson hauled in nine of those tosses for 183 yards and two TDs.
WKU’s QB Brock Glenn went toe-to-toe in the first half but couldn’t exceed Minicucci in the second. Both defenses made adjustments at the half to bring more pressure on both quarterbacks. Both locker rooms had to hear from angry coaching staffs after the play of their defenses during the first 30 minutes. Glenn finished 25 for 37 for 284 yards, one TD and two INTs. He rushed 17 times for 129 yards as the game’s leading rusher. The way both offenses dominated in the first half, it surprised Guest Game Analyst Al Tatum (Tennessee State) and me that the scoring did not continue through to the end.
Delaware and Western Kentucky unimpeded to begin the first quarter
WKU (3-5, 2-2) scored at the end of their first possession of 75 yards on a two-yard pass from Glenn to WR CC Ezirim. Delaware countered immediately. Minicucci connected with Kaderris Robert from 17 yards to tie. Glenn connected with wide-open Moussa Barry for 46 yards to the UD 27. Hilltopper RB Zion Taylor swept right for one-yard score. Then, the back and forth took a momentary break. Western DB Dave Herard stripped a catch by Wilson to cause a fumble. Two plays later, S Kevin Moore intercepted for the Blue Hens at their 22. UD started their drive from there into the second period.
On with the fireworks display
The next drive finished again in the end zone with Wilson wide open on the end of a 21-yard pass to tie, 14-14. Not to be outdone, the Hilltoppers drove the length of the field once again. Glenn broke loose for 61 yards to the Fighting Blue Hen five. RB Ajay Allen (12 rushes, 73 yards, 1 TD) took it in from there. Next UD series, Minicucci completed four consecutive passes to put the Blue Hens at the Toppers 14. Three rushes later, Viron Ellison scored from the five. All tied up now, 21-21.
Western Kentucky drove to the UD 34. Shocker! On two consecutive plays DT Trace Scott sacked Glenn for eight yards and then another. WKU punted to put the Hens back on their ten. A sack of Minicucci and his first incompletion of the game did not deter this Delaware drive. Minicucci completed consecutive passes to Wilson of 25 and 34 yards. At the eight, he passed to Joe Silver over the middle for a TD to lead, 28-21, with :59 left. On a desperation drive, Glenn threw a pass that was almost intercepted for a pick six that could have put the Hilltoppers in a deeper hole. Delaware would get the ball first to start the half after some assuredly major coaching frustrations vented in both locker rooms at intermission.
What a difference two halves make
Totally different game starting in the third. Instead of consecutive touchdown drives, three punts and a missed field goal. After, starting from their 24, Delaware broke the second half scoring freeze. Ellison picked up seven yards on a third and one at the WKU 46. From there, Minicucci re-connected with Wilson for a diving TD catch into the end zone. UD extended its lead, 35-21.
Next possession, WKU threated at the UD 16. Safety AJ Graham picked Glenn under pressure and returned it out to the UD 33. After that, a punt and three turnovers on downs ensued. So much for those well-needed, halftime “pep talks.” Delaware attempted a 43-yard field goal – wide left!
Delaware puts Western Kentucky away
Glenn came up hobbling toward the sideline a play later with the ball with less than two minutes to play. Rodney Tisdale replaced him to no avail. With the game out of reach now and the Blue Hens shutting out the Hilltoppers in the second half, UD ended its seven-game losing streak on the road. Had to be a welcome feeling for HC Ryan Carty and the Fighting Blue Hens all the way back to Newark.
Week Nine coming up for Delaware and Western Kentucky – NOT!
With these crazy weeknight schedules for ConferenceUSA, UD and WKU resume play again in Week Ten. They align with most of college football and play again on Saturdays from now on. The Mid-American takes over on weekday nights as temperatures start to dip in northern climes. On November 7, Delaware will host Kennesaw State (1-6, 0-3). The Hilltoppers will bus 100 miles that day to Murfreesboro, Tennessee (4-3, 2-1) for its annual rivalry game with Middle Tennessee, known in these parts as “100 miles of hate.”
As for CFF.com Week nine; “Smurf turf,” new location, new state, and another high-scoring game?
We travel to No. 20 Boise State (6-1, 3-0) this weekend for our first game there ever. It also marks our first “PAC-12” game since USC vs UCLA in 2017. Even my wife, St. Laurie exclaimed that she “always wanted to see a game on the blue field!” So, we’re going to Albertsons Stadium. We will be meeting up with some friends we made at Texas State on our annual visits to San Marcos in recent years to attend Texas State games.
The Bobcats (4-3, 2-1) can put points up on the board. As a matter of fact, they defeated North Texas this season, 49-35. They also defeated Colorado State, 66-27, under HC GJ Kinne in his fourth season. Bobcat QB Brad Jackson has thrown for 1,606 passing yards and nine TD passes. He’s also run for 382 yards and five scores. Their rushing attack also features Torrance Burgess (889 yards, 7.5 yards per carry, and 5 TDs) and Davian Jackson (315 yards and 5 TDs) for a very potent offense.
We figure to see another close game on our 2026 journey
QB Maddux Madsen leads Boise with 1,445 passing yards and 14 TDs, but no INTs. RB Dylan Riley leads the ground game with 963 yards and 8 TDs. Both teams have defeated Utah State in PAC-12 play. Both have close “points for” and “points against” numbers in conference play thus far. BSU has scored 106 and allowed 59. TXST has scored 115 and allowed 75.
Different conference opponents, otherwise, but Boise dominates at home and TXST slipped on the road at San Diego State, 31-29. The Broncos are favored by 11.5 points. We think the Bobcats will keep it closer than that with their potent offense in their first meeting as PAC-12 opponents. We anticipate a fun game once again despite some precipitation in this week’s forecast. Saint Laurie may not like that!
Read more fun history of many games attended our first 42 Seasons!
If you haven’t already, please click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Among 750 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person. In 2026, in case you aren’t aware, North Dakota State and Sacramento State join the FBS this season. “Fifty Years” tells our story of how we got to attend our first 652 games!
Read the reviews on the book page and order your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023. Hopefully, you’ll understand how much we love this sport and what we propose for it to survive successfully. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales.
Capture some memories
Please buy your copy today and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe some will bring back some of the same memories you encountered when we did. And to us this isn’t a job. It’s our lifelong adventure!
Written and edited by Steve Koreivo, member of Football Writers Associ
