DOVER — For 30 minutes, it looked like it might be one of the worst days the Delaware State football team has had in a while.

But it ended being one of the Hornets’ most memorable days in a long time.

Trailing by 26 points at halftime, Delaware State reeled off 28 unanswered second-half points to stun the Norfolk State Spartans, 28-26, in a MEAC football matchup at Alumni Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Trey Gross caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jared Lewis on fourth down-and-five with 1:53 left to give the Hornets the shocking victory.

“This is the greatest win in my coaching career, and I couldn’t be more proud of our players and coaches for never giving up in this game,” said Hornet coach Rod Milstead. “Everyone had a hand in the win but our play makers on offense and defense really stepped up to lead the way.”

“I really didn’t want to lose my last home game,” said Gross. “I’m so proud that no one gave up when we were down and everyone contributed to this win.”

The comeback was actually only the second-biggest in DSU’s modern history. In 1990, Delaware State erased a 28-point fourth quarter deficit in a 39-38 victory at Liberty in 1990 for the biggest come-from-behind win in team history.

Milstead was a starting guard on that 1990 squad.

“I challenged the guys at halftime to look at the man in the mirror,” Milstead in a post-game interview on HSRN.com. “When you walk outside our locker room, there’s a mirror. It’s the last thing you see.

“They acceepted the challenge. They came out here a different bunch in the second half. The playmakers made plays, everybody stayed together. ... Man, what a win for Delaware State football.”

Norfolk State opened up a 26-0 lead on a three-yard pass from Juwan Carter to Justin Smith with 1:50 to go before halftime.

Delaware State was scoreless until Sy’Veon Wilkerson capped off an eight-play, 75 yard drive with an eight-yard run to get the Hornets on the board. The extra point kick by Matt Noll cut the deficit to 19 points (26-7) at the 8:45 mark of the third quarter.

The Hornets drew closer when Lewis connected with running back Wade Inge on a 47-yard catch and run for a touchdown to pull DSU to within 26-14 after the extra point with 12:48 left to play.

Lewis and Inge hooked up again more than five minutes later on a 17-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-12 with 7:08 left in the game. Norfolk State’s lead was cut to 26-21 after Noll’s extra point.

On the ensuing Norfolk State possession, the Spartans gained 24 yards on six plays, chewing up nearly four minutes, before being forced to punt.

The Hornets received the ball at their own 28 yard line with 3:10 left to play following the punt.

Lewis completed a 26-yard pass to senior Kwannah Kollie to the Norfolk State 46 on the second play of the possession. The pair hooked up again on the next play, picking up another 11 yards to the Spartan 35.

After netting just five yards on the next three plays, the Hornets called time out before facing fourth down-and-five.

Gross made the catch along the left side of the end zone, setting off a wild celebration on the DSU sideline.

Gross had three catches for 64s yards in the game, giving him 143 receptions for 1,995 yards in his career. The touchdown catch was his career-best ninth of the season and 25th overall at DSU.

There was still 1:53 left on the clock following Delaware State’s go-ahead score, but Norfolk State never regained the ball again because the line drive kickoff by DSU’s Jake Bridell hit a Spartan player. The live ball was recovered by the Hornets, who ran off the remaining time.

Lewis completed 11 of 22 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns, although he was intercepted twice. Inge had three catches for 68 yards and Kollie hauled in three passes for 66.

The Hornets improved to 5-5 overall and 2-2 in the MEAC with the win. A victory in their season finale at North Carolina Central next Saturday would give DSU its first winning season since 2013 (6-5).