Delaware State beats Norfolk State football 36-33 on last-second field goal

Norfolk State football gave up a 17-point lead and lost 36-33 to Delaware State on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Patrick Fisher-Butler kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give the Hornets the win.

The Spartans (4-5, 0-2 in conference play) led 33-16 in the third quarter. They did not score again, while the Hornets (5-4) scored 20 points over the rest of the game, 17 of them in the fourth quarter.

A fast start for the Spartans

Norfolk State scored 10 points in the first quarter. Marco Peery kicked a 32-yard field goal, and Jalyn Daniels ran 8 yards for a touchdown. Da'Jean Golmond then threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kam'Ryn Thomas in the second quarter to make it 17-0.

Delaware State answered with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Marqui Adams to Jaylin Terzado and a 35-yard Fisher-Butler field goal before halftime. Norfolk State led 17-10 at the break.

In the third quarter, Golmond found Jason Wonodi for a 23-yard touchdown to make it 24-10. Terrence Rone caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Adams for the Hornets, and Nasir Bashir scored a defensive conversion for two points. Ravon Moore's 3-yard touchdown run made it 33-16 with 5:24 left in the third. Fisher-Butler's 23-yard field goal cut it to 33-19.

The fourth-quarter rally

Adams threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Kelley with 13:28 left. After Golmond was intercepted by Phillip Dunnam, Adams hit Kyree Benton for a 20-yard score with 11:10 to play, tying it at 33-33.

Norfolk State punted once more after the tie, a 42-yard kick by Jake Nichols, and then fumbled. Elyjah Mitchell lost the ball after a catch, and Delaware State recovered at the Norfolk State 15. Adams was stopped for a 3-yard loss on one carry, and Fisher-Butler kicked the winning field goal as time ran out.

Turnovers and the numbers

Norfolk State turned the ball over four times, with two interceptions and two lost fumbles. Delaware State had two turnovers, both lost fumbles. The Hornets converted only 1 of 12 third downs but went 2 of 4 on fourth down.

Adams finished 17 of 23 for 243 yards and four touchdowns, and he ran 18 times for 69 yards. Carl Nesmith had two sacks and four tackles for loss for the Hornets.

Golmond was 25 of 35 for 278 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Mitchell had five catches for 91 yards, and Brevin Caldwell caught nine passes for 69 yards. Norfolk State ran for only 22 yards on 25 carries. Peery made 1 of 2 field goal tries, and the Spartans had 11 penalties for 117 yards.

Kaleb Broadbent had a sack for Norfolk State, and Rontravious Perry led the team with five tackles. Nichols put three of his four punts inside the 20.

Norfolk State's next game is at home against North Carolina Central on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET.