The HBCU Classic dazzled with two days of signature events. Could Philly expand it even more?

Marqui Adams grinned ear-to-ear as he stood near the 40-yard line of Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday evening, and was told by a passing Delaware State teammate that he was “the best QB in the MEAC.”

He was recounting the steps behind Delaware State’s dramatic 36-33 comeback victory, down 17 points in both the first and second halves. The Delaware State quarterback and Neumann-Goretti graduate was benched earlier in the game after being sacked twice and with the offense stuck in neutral.

» READ MORE: HBCU culture was on display at the Linc with an Allen Iverson cameo and an epic battle of the bands

His head coach, DeSean Jackson, said he gave the fifth-year quarterback — who was once a starter in 2023 and 2024 and tore his ACL last season — a pep talk. It worked, as Jackson’s Delaware State once again took down Norfolk State, coached by Jackson’s former Eagles teammate, and friend, Michael Vick, with a game-winning kick as time expired in the second annual HBCU Classic.

“It just felt like a blessing to come back to my home city,” Adams told The Inquirer as Delaware State’s band played its sweet victory music. “I had to put on for my city. … It just really felt like a dream come true. [I] had to go out there and ball.”

Vick and Jackson, beloved Eagles players now in their second seasons at the helm of their respective schools, treated the 32,567 fans in attendance to another quality game at the Linc. Last year’s 27-20 Delaware State win featured two teams going in opposite directions, with Delaware State finishing with an 8-4 record and Norfolk State at 1-11.

This year, the stakes were higher, with both teams entering the game at 4-4 overall and 0-1 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play. The festivities surrounding One Philly HBCU Week added to the excitement, bringing step shows, a battle of the bands, career fairs, and two football games to the Linc.

One of those games featured Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s alma mater, Lincoln University, where she graduated in 1994. Lincoln fell to Virginia Union, 62-0.

Saturday’s game was more than keeping each team’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship hopes alive.

“I just got a disclaimer. This stadium is now called the Delaware State Eagles,” quipped Jackson, who is now 2-0 against Vick. “A challenge that I put on my team [was] if we lose any more games going forward, we can chalk it up for the rest of the season with our chances for MEAC championship play. We’ve got a lot of Philly guys on this team, man. You know the heart and soul of my career and what I meant and what Philadelphia has meant to me. So it’s just opportunity and to play in front of Philadelphia fans.”

Of the Philly kids on Delaware State, Adams shined brightest. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 243 yards and four touchdowns, with his final TD tying the game, 33-33, midway through the fourth quarter. He stepped up through the right side of a collapsing pocket and flipped the ball to Kyree Benton for a 20-yard score.

Adams was far down the depth chart to open the season and became the fifth quarterback to play this year. His play in the final 33 minutes may make him a mainstay for Delaware State’s quarterback room.

“Since I’ve been here, it’s been hard times for [Adams],” Jackson said. “We missed him all last year, and just [him] fighting to get back, I felt lately [he’s] been doing a good job of getting back to his normal. … If it wasn’t [for] him [Saturday night], we wouldn’t win this game. And obviously, the team effort, everybody on the team did a great job. But his play at quarterback, man, kept us in the game, and obviously came back and won the game for us.”

The mood was much different for Vick as he sat down in a familiar press conference room to take questions after the loss.

Just 366 days ago, Vick spoke of looking “forward to better days” after dropping his eighth game in nine tries. It appears those better days have arrived a year later, despite the loss.

The disappointment still stings, he says, but the program is “in a better place.”

“I do think it’s a lot of room to build, going through last year,” Vick said. “This year, getting a chance to really observe where we [are] at, who’s in position, where we can get better, what areas where can I get better. … It’s part of the decision-making, and I have to be accountable for. And it’s the fun part of it, you know. But [we have] three critical games left. I will say it’s very important, I think, that we finish strong.”

» READ MORE: Bringing Lincoln University to Philadelphia for HBCU football was ‘personal’ for Mayor Parker

Lost in the excitement was the return of former Eagles offensive tackle Tra Thomas to the Linc, this time on the sidelines as a coach.

Thomas, who spent 11 seasons with the Eagles, joined Jackson’s staff earlier this year as an assistant offensive line coach. He exchanged pleasantries with Vick before and after the game. Thomas and Jackson also were teammates for one season with the Eagles.

Thomas says he earned his degree at Florida State a few years ago so he could coach at the college level and use the “12 years of [NFL-playing] experience and [try] to pour all that into the guys.”

“Coming back to the Linc, it brings back so many memories and emotions, because you spent so much time on this field,” Thomas told The Inquirer, noting that both of his parents went to Florida A&M, an HBCU in Tallahassee, Fla. “Just coming back and being a part of this — this is the reason why I wanted to come back and coach on the college level. … To have this opportunity is extremely special.”

Jackson told The Inquirer earlier that he appreciates Thomas’ “dedication to these players” and added that “the amount he knows [about offensive line play] is definitely a great addition to have.”

Philadelphia has placed a renewed emphasis on celebrating HBCUs with an annual HBCU Week. Mayor Parker worked for years to bring HBCU football back to the city, reviving a tradition that dates to 1919.

Could the HBCU Classic expand beyond the two games the Eagles helped host this week?

“[I’m] not necessarily sure, we’ll kind of see where it goes,” Frank Gumienny, the chief operating officer for the Eagles, said earlier this week. “We love the local [connection], obviously [with] Lincoln being sort of in our backyard, so to speak. And really, what excited the Eagles and myself and the whole Eagles organization is like this is not just [two] football games. … It was really the combination of everything: The football game, obviously the two great [programs] playing on the field, but then also the career fair, the job fair. We had a step show, and really I learned a lot about the HBCU culture and how exciting it really was.

“The city is committed, and Mayor Parker specifically is committed. And we are Philadelphia; wherever we can, play a role to enhance the city of Philadelphia, we do.”

Both Norfolk State and Delaware State appear committed to participating, as long as Vick and Jackson remain on the sidelines. Even Vick, who said “no” last year when asked about making the game an annual event, changed his tune following Saturday’s loss.

“Just going back and thinking about it, it’s just a great opportunity for the players. The stage is as big as it’s going to get on our level, and we got to take advantage of that,” Vick said. “And the opportunities being created. Shout out to the city of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Eagles for making this happen, giving us an opportunity to play in the presence of Lincoln Financial.

“It’s a no-brainer, man. It’s a blessing to be able to do this, and I hope the players feel that.”

On the topic of keeping a Jackson-Vick matchup at the Linc, Gumienny noted that the Eagles have had “discussions with the mayor about expanding it to different HBCUs.” Scheduling will always be a challenge with the Eagles and Temple football sharing the Linc and needing an open date on the calendar, says Gumienny.

But for the second year in a row, the budding rivalry between the two former Eagles teammates stole the show, even with an HBCU Battle of the Bands held earlier in the day.

“We’re trying to build it and have a lot more excitement around the HBCUs, and hopefully it continues to grow and take different directions,” Gumienny said. “But I think having two guys like Michael Vick and DeSean definitely shines a light on the game.”