Kennesaw State held on for a 42-40 Homecoming win over Delaware on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium. The Owls (3-6, 2-3 Conference USA) snapped a three-game home losing streak and improved to 1-0 all-time against the Fightin' Blue Hens (4-5, 2-3) after a 3 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN+.
Davis Bryson returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown — the second-longest return in program history and the Owls' first kick-return score since 2024. Delaware answered with a Viron Ellison Jr. 1-yard run and a Trace Scott III 7-yard interception return, but Rickie Collins' 8-yard scramble late in the first quarter started the climb back.
How the Owls pulled it out
Boogie Woods III scored twice in the second quarter on a 26-yard burst and a 1-yard touchdown on fourth down, finishing with 90 rushing yards. Together with a 28-yard Daniel Kinney field goal, Kennesaw State piled up 30 first-half points on 261 yards, the most first-half points of its FBS era.
Delaware led 34-33 after three quarters. Early in the fourth, Landon Varnes hit Reed Jesiolowski for a 63-yard touchdown — Jesiolowski's first career touchdown catch and Varnes' first Division I touchdown pass. Kinney added a 35-yard field goal for a 42-34 lead, and the Owls survived a late 17-yard Nick Minicucci-to-Bryson Graves strike with 24 seconds left.
Box Score Highlights
- Final: Kennesaw State 42, Delaware 40 (KSU 13-17-3-9, Delaware 15-10-9-6)
- Passing: KSU 309 yards (season high); Landon Varnes 19-of-37 for 254 yards and a touchdown
- Bryson: career-high seven receptions, 69 receiving yards, 164 kickoff-return yards and 232 all-purpose yards
- Kinney: field goals of 28, 29 and 35 yards
- Defense: Isaac Paul a career-high 10 tackles (eight solo); three sacks from Jaiden Grimes, Ugonna Nwoha, Zay Wilson and Tywon Christopher
Up Next
Revisit our Delaware Homecoming preview, and check the full 2026 Kennesaw State schedule for every remaining game.
Need black-and-gold after a Homecoming win? Shop the latest fan gear.
Photo courtesy of Kennesaw State Athletics. Source: Kennesaw State Athletics, Postgame Notes: Kennesaw State Clips Fightin' Blue Hens, 42-40.