Missouri State’s three‑game skid continued on Tuesday night when the Bears were outscored 61‑38 by the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens. The game, played in Newark, Delaware, featured a spectacular second‑half surge by Delaware that turned a 28‑24 halftime lead into a decisive 61‑38 victory.
Second‑half comeback fuels Delaware win
Delaware entered the locker room trailing by four points but answered with a 42‑yard kickoff return by Bryson Graves. The short field set up a 12‑yard touchdown reception by Jo Silver, giving the Blue Hens a 31‑28 lead. After a Missouri State fumble deep in its own territory, quarterback Nick Minicucci capped the drive with a short run on fourth‑and‑goal, extending the lead to 45‑35.
Missouri State’s offense stalled on its next two possessions, throwing interceptions that Delaware converted into 13 more points. The Blue Hens finished the night with 20 points generated directly off turnovers.
Individual performances shine
Nick Minicucci, returning from a two‑game injury stretch, completed 20 of 29 passes and added a rushing touchdown. He threw for five touchdowns, a career‑high performance that helped him rebound from his recent absence.
Jo Silver contributed 101 rushing yards on 13 carries and caught a touchdown pass, marking his second career multi‑touchdown game. On the Missouri State side, Isaiah Myers recorded 242 receiving yards – the most in an FBS game this season – with nine catches for 148 yards and two scores before halftime. He finished with 11 receptions overall.
Missouri State quarterback Henry Belin IV completed 26 of 35 attempts for 337 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Wide receiver Jmariyae Robinson added 10 catches for 85 yards, while running back Connor Lair rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
Conference USA context
Delaware (3‑4 overall, 1‑2 in Conference USA) entered the game having scored just 69 points across its previous four contests. The 61‑point outburst more than doubled that total, highlighting a potent offensive turnaround. Missouri State (2‑5 overall, 1‑2 in Conference USA) will look to regroup as it returns home to face Sam Houston on Oct. 27.
Both programs made the jump to the Football Bowl Subdivision and joined Conference USA in 2025, marking this as their first meeting since that transition.
Upcoming schedule
Delaware will travel to Western Kentucky on Oct. 27, seeking to build on its offensive resurgence. Missouri State hopes to bounce back against Sam Houston later that week.
Original reporting: KY3 Springfield (local) — read the source article.
