UD running back Kaderris Roberts runs down the right sideline in the Fightin’ Blue Hens, 42-7, win over Merrimack. Photo Credit: Dave Reeder.

The University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens (1-0) defeated the Merrimack Warriors (0-2), 42-7, in their season opener, September 3.

 

NEWARK, DE — The University of Delaware’s second FBS season started in dominant fashion with a 42-7 win over Merrimack, Thursday night. The win was the Blue Hens eighth consecutive season opening win and eighth consecutive win in their home opener.

“I think there was some times that we maybe pressed a little bit. There were some times that we did some first game, it wasn’t just mistakes, I would say it was first game, you know, I don’t want to call it nerves, but we had to get some stuff out, and we had to make sure we did it against somebody else,” head coach Ryan Carty said postgame. “Obviously, wasn’t as clean as we wanted it to be, but I think eventually we settled down and handled, you know, what we needed to handle on both sides of the ball.”

It was the Blue Hens defense that handled their business in the opening 30 minutes of their 2026 campaign, holding the Warriors under 80 total yards and forcing two turnovers in the first half. Both turnovers were forced in the second quarter and both resulted in points for the Blue Hens.

UD led by seven going into the second quarter following Viron Ellison Jr.’s 11-yard run on the team’s opening drive. The Blue Hens subsequent two drives generated 39 total yards and ended without points. The offense turned the ball over to Merrimack at the Warriors own 27 yard line with an opportunity to drive down the field and tie the game with a little less than nine minutes remaining in the first half. 

The Warriors accomplished the first part, driving down to the UD 35 yard line in seven plays. Merrimack quarterback AJ Hairston Jr. took the snap from the shotgun formation, but was met by immediate pressure from Delaware’s defensive front. Hairston Jr. launched a pass that soared over the head of its intended receiver, into the endzone and right into the hands of sophomore safety George Mullins. Mullins completed the catch and slid in the endzone for a touchback, handing possession back to the Delaware offense. 

Sophomore safety George Mullins sliding in the endzone following his first career interception. Photo Credit: Dave Reeder.

UD’s offense took over from its own 20 yard line and from there, looked like the dynamic passing attack that ranked first in Conference USA (CUSA) last season. 

Senior quarterback Nick Minicucci threw for 68 yards on two throws leading Delaware’s offense into the red zone. The first completion was a 31-yard deep throw to the back shoulder of senior receiver Donovan Lewis. The second was a 37-yard completion to Coastal Carolina transfer Bryson Graves on the next play. Minicucci finished the drive with a 12-yard run into the endzone putting the Blue Hens ahead by two scores.

The Delaware offense tallied another touchdown before halftime, benefitting from another stellar defensive play. 

The Warriors took over at their own 20 yard line with less than 40 seconds remaining in the half after blocking UD kicker Tucker Smack’s 26-yard field goal attempt the drive prior. Hairston Jr. handed the ball off to running back DeMarcus McElroy and McElroy was met by freshman safety Kevin Moore. Moore’s hit jarred the ball out of McElroy’s hands and onto the field. The ball bounced off multiple players before being engulfed by a diving Blake Matthews as he slid toward the sideline.

“So I’m trying to push [a Merrimack player] out the way and then somebody jumped on it and I was like ‘oh we got it’and then it bounced out and I was like, well I got to keep going,” Matthews said postgame. “Right before we got to the sidelines, I tried to jump on it before we get out and luckily it didn’t bounce off my chest as well.”  

Matthew’s recovery put the Blue Hen offense back on the field, in the red zone with 23 seconds before halftime. Minicucci only needed seven. 

The senior connected with junior wideout Sean Wilson for a 12-yard touchdown near the back left pylon that put the Blue Hens ahead, 21-0, at halftime.

“Our defense played great today,” Minicucci said postgame. “I mean just getting us a chance to have the ball is a blessing and we took advantage of most of our opportunities, but we still, we’re not satisfied with what we did. So, we got a lot to clean up.”

Delaware’s offense accumulated 242 total yards and scored 14 more points in the third quarter to go into the fourth quarter ahead, 35-7. The highlight play from the frame was a trick play involving Minicucci, Ellison Jr. and the player that scored both of the Blue Hens third quarter touchdowns — Kaderris Roberts. 

The play started with Minicucci in the shotgun with Roberts on his right. Ellison lined up with his right foot on the 20 yard line and a receiver in front of him lined up at the line of scrimmage. Tight end Scott Moore motioned over, the ball was snapped and Minicucci fired to Ellison. The play looked like a designed screen for the junior running back, but Ellison didn’t run. He faked the run, stopped and fired a pass to Roberts who was left all alone down the right side of the field.

“First off, that was a dot,” Minicucci said, getting a laugh out of those at the postgame press conference. “I mean that was unreal.”

THE TRICKERY 🪄

Kaderris again!! pic.twitter.com/KrRkJRFm2i

— Delaware Football (@Delaware_FB) September 4, 2026

The Minicucci to Ellison to Roberts connection resulted in a 75-yard touchdown and a 28-point lead.

“That specific throw, it needs to be somebody who’s got a gun,” Carty said. “We talk about high risk, high reward. That one, we saw what we wanted and we got it, but that was still certainly something that could’ve went the other way.” 

Minicucci stayed in at the start of the fourth quarter, but was pulled from the game after throwing his second touchdown pass to junior receiver Nick Tyree — the first receiving touchdown of his career. Junior quarterback Braden Streeter played the rest of the fourth quarter as UD coasted to the win. Minicucci finished with 330 passing yards, three total touchdowns and an interception. 

UD’s offense finished the game with 547 total yards, 14 big plays (runs of 10 or more yards and passes of 15 or more yards) and averaged 7.6 yards per play. The defense held Merrimack to 244 total yards, sacked the quarterback three times and forced two turnovers.

“Obviously we saw when it was slow, you know, the spark was created by the defense, and that’s got to be who we, who we should be, playing off each other and playing complementary,” Carty said. 

The Blue Hen players celebrate with the fans in the stands after their win over the Merrimack Warriors. Photo Credit: Dave Reeder.

The Blue Hens next opponent is a step up from the FCS competition they faced Thursday night. UD will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, for a matchup with the SEC’s Vanderbilt Commodores. The game starts at 4:15 p.m. and will be nationally televised on SEC Network.

To read more about what awaits the Blue Hens in their non-conference schedule click here.

Ryan Colasanti joins Delaware Live following four years at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. There he covered multiple sports for the school’s radio station as both a reporter and editor. Ryan is excited to return back to the state and cover all things Delaware sports.