DOVER, Del. (Interstat) — Delaware State spotted Stony Brook an early lead, then answered every challenge on the way to a 41-34 victory Thursday night at Alumni Stadium. The Hornets won their season opener, while the Seawolves dropped to 0-1.

Stony Brook struck first on its opening possession. Quarterback Quinn Boyd hit wide receiver DJ Linkins with a 34-yard touchdown pass with 10:27 left in the first quarter, but the extra point attempt failed, leaving the Seawolves with a 6-0 edge. Delaware State responded quickly when Ui Ale connected with Jaylin Terzado deep down the left side for a 72-yard touchdown. Patrick Fisher-Butler’s extra point gave the Hornets a 7-6 lead. Fisher-Butler later added a 41-yard field goal with 1:22 remaining in the quarter to stretch Delaware State’s lead to 10-6.

Delaware State seized broader control in the second quarter. Backup quarterback Samari Collier broke loose for a 59-yard touchdown run at the 13:21 mark, and Fisher-Butler’s kick made it 17-6. Ale added a 16-yard touchdown run with 10:41 left in the half, capping a quick scoring drive after a Stony Brook fumble deep in its own territory, and the Hornets led 24-6. Stony Brook answered before halftime. Boyd capped a drive with a 10-yard touchdown run at 5:57, and Joseph Krienbring’s extra point trimmed the deficit to 24-13. Delaware State carried that lead into the locker room.

The Hornets extended their margin early in the third quarter. After Delaware State forced a turnover on downs, Jayden Jenkins ran for a 19-yard touchdown with 10:15 remaining, pushing the lead to 31-13. Stony Brook began chipping away. Boyd threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Sam Sweitzer with 6:40 left in the third, and Krienbring’s kick made it 31-20. Delaware State answered with Fisher-Butler’s 52-yard field goal at the 3:43 mark to go ahead 34-20. The Seawolves responded again, as running back CJ Hester scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:02 remaining in the quarter, and Krienbring’s extra point cut the lead to 34-27.

Stony Brook tied the game early in the fourth quarter when Boyd found Kyle Gutierrez for a 9-yard touchdown with 11:25 to play, and Krienbring’s kick evened the score at 34-34. The Delaware State defense then forced a punt on Stony Brook’s next possession, giving the Hornets the ball at their own 20 with 7:36 remaining. Ale directed a methodical drive, completing passes to Terzado, Kyree Benton and Terrence Rone to move into Stony Brook territory. Running back S. Weston Jr. finished the possession with a 16-yard touchdown run with 1:54 left. Fisher-Butler’s extra point made it 41-34.

Stony Brook made one final push. Boyd completed passes to Sweitzer and CJ Hester to move the Seawolves into Delaware State territory. With 14 seconds left, Boyd appeared to connect with Sweitzer for a 9-yard touchdown, but the play was nullified by a pass-interference penalty against Stony Brook. Boyd’s next pass into the end zone fell incomplete, and Delaware State ran out the clock.

Boyd finished with a productive night for Stony Brook, completing 22 of 41 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing 10 times for 29 yards and a score. Linkins caught three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown, and Sweitzer added six catches for 91 yards. James Dely contributed two receptions for 12 yards. Defensively, Joseph Garcia and Geno Calgaro each recorded eight tackles, while Khalid Bueno added seven tackles, two sacks and a quarterback hurry.

Delaware State’s offense was balanced and explosive. Ale completed 18 of 29 passes for 259 yards with a touchdown through the air and one rushing score, adding 82 rushing yards on eight carries. Terzado caught six passes for 149 yards, including the 72-yard touchdown. Benton added three catches for 40 yards. Collier, primarily used in change-of-pace situations, rushed six times for 70 yards and scored on the 59-yard run. Jenkins carried seven times for 30 yards and scored a touchdown. Ryan Pellum Taylor contributed a 72-yard kickoff return in the third quarter, and Carl Nesmith led the defense with five tackles. Gensley Auguste also had five tackles and a half-sack. Jordan Banks and Andrew Harris each recorded six tackles.

Stony Brook’s offense managed 34 points despite two interceptions and a fumble. The Seawolves showed resilience, erasing a 21-point deficit in the third quarter to tie the game, but the late penalty prevented them from taking the lead. Delaware State’s defense bent at times but made critical stops, including a fourth-down stand in the third quarter and the final defensive sequence in the end zone.

Delaware State will look to build on its winning start when it travels to William & Mary on Sept. 5. Stony Brook will seek its first win when it hosts Lindenwood on Sept. 3. The Seawolves then visit Ball State on Sept. 12 before opening Colonial Athletic Association play against Rhode Island on Sept. 19. Delaware State hosts Bowie State on Sept. 12, then visits South Florida on Sept. 19 and hosts Towson on Sept. 26.

The result was a surprise relative to pregame expectations. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Stony Brook 37, Delaware State 28, and Interstatl’s ELO system gave Stony Brook an 80.20 percent probability to win. Delaware State had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -4.5. The total score of 75 went under the over/under line of 50.5.