By Andy Walter

WHEN: Saturday, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Campus Field (3.334), Fairfield, Conn.
TV: ESPN-plus.
LIVE STATS: https://sacredheartpioneers.com.
COACHES: DSU — Lee Hull (1-11, 2nd season at DSU; 13-23, 4th season overall); Sacred Heart — Mark Nofri (69-62, 13th season).
SERIES: Sacred Heart leads, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Sacred Heart won, 10-7, in 2014.
LAST WEEK: Delaware State lost at Hawaii, 35-14; Sacred Heart was off.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “They really bonded and came together even closer because of the experience. We spent some long hours in a hotel and also in the airport. ... The guys really responded to the travel stuff — just being focused once we got to Hawaii. ... Hopeully we’ve figured some things out and what our identity is going to be,” — DSU coach Lee Hull.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Delaware State did a lot of good things in last week’s loss at Hawaii. Now is the Hornets’ chance to show they can compete for a win against an FCS program. Sacred Heart was just 2-9 a year ago and DSU has the edge of having played a game already. ... DSU quarterback Marqui Adams showed he could run the ball a year ago. But he looked even more dangerous with his legs in last weeks’ game. Running back Jaden Sutton also had a big impact on last week’s contest, carrying the ball 12 times for 56 yards and a TD while catching three passes for 43 more yards. ... It’s difficult to imagine that the Hornets’ 21-hour roundtrip flight to Hawaii last week won’t have some lingering effects on them. On the other hand, DelState’s coaches knew what the situation would be and did some early game-planning for the Pioneers over the summer and on last week’s trip home. If the Hornets left their jet lag behind them, they should have a chance to be competitive.
NOTES: The Hornets stopped off at the NFL’s MetLife Stadium on their way to Connecticut on Friday. ... DSU punter Nathan Wilson got the chance to kick 11 times last week, averaging 40.5 yards with a long punt of 62 yards. The left-footer also put three kicks inside the 20. ... Sacred Heart plays at Delaware on Sept. 28. ... The Pioneers reached the FCS playoffs four times between 2013-21. ... Former Smyrna High standout Nate Chandler is a sophomore defensive end for the Pioneers. ... After an open date next weekend, DelState returns to action on Sept. 14 by hosting Wagner at 3 p.m. in its home opener.