RULING THE ROOST
Delaware holds on to top Coastal Carolina in home opener
Thursday September 3, 2026 | Delaware Stadium – Newark, Delaware | 7:30 PM
Newark, Delaware - Delaware cornerback Will Kendricks celebrated emphatically after knocking down a fourth down pass that Coastal Carolina quarterback Roquan Barber intended for wide receiver Ja'Marion Wayne with under two minutes to play in the game. Delaware's defense was tasked with protecting a four point lead on the late possession. Kendricks was able to jump with Wayne and break up the pass despite a height disadvantage.
“Just a heads up play at a time when we really needed one.” Defensive coordinator Manny Rojas said when asked about the play.
Delaware's offense was able to run out the clock and secure the win, improving their record to 2-0 to start the season.
The Blue Hens were able to lean on their running game, amassing 223 yards on the ground. Darrion Dupree, who struggled against Virginia last week, led the team with 97 yards on 21 carries. Luke Brown chipped in 71 yards and a score while QB Mason Kelsay ran for 55 yards on the day, including a 19 yard touchdown run in the third quarter that came on a third and long.
Kelsay threw for 211 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 20 of 27 passing. He was picked off twice.
“He's young and he's out there trying to make plays and, you know, as you mature as a player and as a quarterback you learn when to cut your losses and that's still something we're working on.” Offensive coordinator DJ Porter explained when asked about the turnovers. “We'll get that worked out and Mason's going to keep making plays for us.”
Kelsay's favorite target was once again senior receiver Thomas Amankwaa, who caught a team high seven passes for 80 yards and a score. Amankwaa's second quarter touchdown pass put the Hens up 7-0.
After Coastal Carolina answered that score with a 27 yard touchdown pass from Barber to Yakery Wiedner it was backup tight end/receiver Garrison Shead who was on the receiving end of Kelsay's second touchdown pass, scoring from 13 yards out on a crossing route.
“If you're open he's going to give you a chance to make a play.” Shead said of the connection.
Coastal Carolina added a field goal late in the first half then took the lead midway in the third quarter when Barber found Jeremiah Cobb for an 11 yard score. Kelsay's third down touchdown run put the Hens back on top at the end of the third quarter.
Scottre Humphrey's one yard run put the Chants back on top early in the fourth quarter before Luke Brown put Delaware back on top for good with a 20 yard touchdown run at the three minute mark.
Delaware's defense held Barber to just 150 yards passing but ave up a pair of touchdown passes. Runningback Jeremiah Cobb ran for 128 yards against the Hens' defense. Cobb also caught a pair of passes for 16 yards and a score.
“A couple things we'll need to look at the tape and see what we need to work on.” Rojas commented. “We gave up a couple runs of 20 plus yards so obviously we want to get that fixed. If you take those away the numbers start to look a bit better.”
Delaware will head to Tennessee to face Vanderbilt next week.
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter
(DEL) Thomas Amankwaa 27 yd pass from Mason Kelsay (Skyler Sholder kick), 7:17
(CCAR) Yakery Wiedner 27 yd pass from Roquan Barber (Logan Haines kick), 4:57
(DEL) Garrison Shead 13 yd pass from Mason Kelsay (Skyler Sholder kick), 2:24
(CCAR) Logan Haines 38 yd FG, 0:10
Third Quarter
(CCAR) Jeremiah Cobb 11 yd pass from Roquan Barber (Logan Haines kick), 4:47
(DEL) Mason Kelsay 19 yd run (Skyler Sholder kick), 0:30
Fourth Quarter
(CCAR) Scottre Humphrey 1 yd run (Logan Haines kick), 7:38
(DEL) Luke Brown 20 yd run (Skyler Sholder kick), 3:04
Delaware Stat Leaders
Passing
M. Kelsay – 20/27 211 Yds 2 TD 2 Int
Rushing
D. Dupree – 21 Car 97 yds 4.6 Avg
L. Brown – 11 Car 71 Yds 6.4 Avg 1 TD
M. Kelsay – 7 Car 55 Yds 7.8 Avg 1 TD
Receiving
T. Amankwaa – 7 Rec 80 Yds 11.4 Avg 1 TD
J. Bredell – 1 Rec 32 Yds 32.0 Avg
Y. Smith – 4 Rec 26 Yds 6.5 Avg
J. Kelly – 2 Rec 22 Yds 11.0 Avg
L. Brown – 2 Rec 15 Yds 7.5 Avg
G. Shead – 1 Rec 13 Yds 13.0 Avg 1 TD
Defense
H. Manning Jr – 6 Tkl
W. Kendricks – 5 Tkl
C. Gill – 5 Tkl 1 TFL 1.0 Sck
B. Jenkins – 2 Tkl 1 TFL 1.0 Sck
Coastal Carolina Stat Leaders
Passing
R. Barber – 14/26 150 Yds 2 TD
Rushing
J. Cobb – 21 Car 128 Yds 6.0 Avg
S. Humphrey – 2 Car 4 Yds 2.0 Avg 1 TD
Receiving
X. Wiedner – 3 Rec 47 Yds 15.6 Avg 1 TD
J. Wayne – 3 Rec 34 Yds 11.3 Avg
R. Johnson – 1 Rec 20 Yds 20.0 Avg
J. Cobb – 2 Rec 16 Yds 8.0 Avg 1 TD
Defense
W. Gedeon – 14 Tkl 1 TFL 1 Int
L. Murphy – 13 Tkl
F. Adams – 11 Tkl 1 TFL 1.0 Sck 1 Int
Team Stats Comparison
| Category | Delaware | Coastal Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 21 | 15 |
| Total Offense | 378 | 317 |
| Rush|Yds|TD | 26|143|2 | 19|83|1 |
| Comp|Att|TD | 19|26|3 | 19|27|2 |
| Passing Yards | 235 | 234 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 6/8 (75%) | 5/8 (63%) |
| 4th Down Conv. | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties|Yards | 1|6 | 0|0 |
| Punt Ret. Yds | 29 | 0 |
| Kick Ret. Yds | 85 | 56 |
| Total Yards | 492 | 373 |
