Sam Houston erases 10-point deficit, defense torments Minicucci to secure second straight win
HOUSTON — Sam Houston stacked its second straight victory Saturday night, erasing a 10-0 deficit and surviving a late Delaware push to win 26–23 at Shell Energy Stadium. The Blue Hens still had life with 21 seconds left, but kicker Nate Reed pushed a 36-yard attempt wide left, allowing the Bearkats to kneel out the final seconds.
The comeback was powered by sophomore running back Landan “Coco” Brown, who finished with 109 rushing yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns, including a 62-yard explosion in the third quarter that flipped control of the game. Brown averaged 10.9 yards per carry, the highest of any player with more than five attempts.
Freshman quarterback Landyn Locke made his first career start and completed 16 of 39 passes for 213 yards, connecting with nine different receivers. His longest completion — a 46-yard strike to Chris Reed — jump-started the third-quarter surge.
But the story of the night was a relentless Bearkat pass rush. Delaware quarterback Nick Minicucci, who threw for 338 yards, was sacked eight times, leading to –50 yards and multiple drive-killing losses. It was Sam Houston’s most sacks in a game since recording 12 against Nicholls in 2010.
Delaware jumps ahead 10–0
Delaware controlled early possession, holding the ball 9:59 in the first quarter and racking up 108 total yards. Minicucci capped an 88-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run at the 2:14 mark, putting the Blue Hens up 7–0.
Reed added a 37-yard field goal halfway through the second quarter to make it 10–0, and Delaware had already compiled 25 first-half rushing attempts and 14 completions before Sam Houston finally broke through.
Turnover sparks Sam Houston
Defensive end Antavious Fish forced a fumble at the Delaware 45 that was recovered by AJ Sargent, giving Sam Houston its first short field. Brown powered in from two yards out to cut the deficit to 10–7.
After holding Delaware to a three-and-out, Locke moved the Bearkats 47 yards in the final 1:43 of the half. Christian Pavon hit a 33-yard field goal as time expired, sending the teams into halftime tied 10–10.
Bearkats seize control in the third
Sam Houston dominated the third quarter, outgaining Delaware 173–57, forcing two turnovers, intercepting Minicucci once, and holding the ball nearly 10 minutes.
After a 55-yard drive, Pavon drilled a 48-yard field goal to give the Kats their first lead, 13–10.
Brown then delivered the night’s signature play: a 62-yard touchdown run with 8:34 left in the third, pushing the lead to 20–10. Brown added a 30-yard carry on the next possession, which set up Pavon’s 23-yard field goal to extend the advantage to 23–10.
Sam Houston outgained Delaware 96–6 on the ground in the quarter, and the defense produced sacks from Christopher Eaton, Dylan Frazier, She’Fon Boyd, Dean Ford, and others.
Pavon adds fourth field goal; Delaware surges late
Pavon opened the fourth quarter with another 48-yard field goal, making it 26–10. Pavon finished 4 for 5, hitting from 48, 48, 33, and 23 yards, tying his career high for makes.
Delaware responded with its best stretch of the night. Running back Viron Ellison Jr., who finished with 97 rushing yards and 140 all-purpose yards, scored on a 3-yard run with 8:47 left. After a defensive stop inside the Sam Houston 30, Minicucci marched the Blue Hens 78 yards, hitting Max Patterson for a 26-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 26–23 with 2:36 left.
Delaware got the ball back once more, reaching the Sam Houston 19 with 21 seconds remaining, but Reed’s potential game-tying 36-yard field goal hooked wide.
Statistically balanced, defensively fierce
Delaware outgained Sam Houston 433–352 and held the ball 32:04, but penalties (eight for 81 yards), three lost turnovers, and eight sacks proved costly.
Sam Houston finished with:
- 139 rushing yards (4.8 per carry)
- 213 passing yards
- Four scoring drives over 40 yards
- A perfect 4-for-4 red-zone conversion rate
- 10 tackles for loss
Delaware posted:
- 338 passing yards
- 95 rushing yards on 39 attempts (2.4 per carry)
- 25 first downs
- A 14–11 edge in passing first downs
Chris Reed led Sam Houston receivers with 66 yards, while Grady O’Neill added 57. Sean Wilson was dominant for Delaware with 9 catches for 162 yards.
UP NEXT
Sam Houston travels to Middle Tennessee on Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
Score by Quarters
Delaware — 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 23
Sam Houston — 0 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 26
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
02:14 — UD: Minicucci 7-yd run (Reed kick), 8-88, 3:29 — UD 7–0
2nd Quarter
09:20 — UD: Reed 37-yd FG, 12-60, 5:30 — UD 10–0
02:35 — SHSU: Brown 2-yd run (Pavon kick), 4-47, 1:35 — UD 10–7
00:00 — SHSU: Pavon 33-yd FG, 10-47, 1:43 — 10–10
3rd Quarter
11:22 — SHSU: Pavon 48-yd FG, 9-55, 3:33 — SHSU 13–10
08:34 — SHSU: Brown 62-yd run (Pavon kick), 2-67, 0:38 — SHSU 20–10
03:52 — SHSU: Pavon 23-yd FG, 6-44, 3:24 — SHSU 23–10
4th Quarter
11:58 — SHSU: Pavon 48-yd FG, 4-(-10), 1:37 — SHSU 26–10
08:47 — UD: Ellison Jr. 3-yd run (2-pt pass failed), 9-75, 3:11 — SHSU 26–16
02:36 — UD: Patterson 26-yd pass from Minicucci (Reed kick), 6-78, 1:37 — SHSU 26–23