Delaware’s top sports stories of 2022 include a national controversy

Another year has come and is nearly gone.

In sports, it has left us with plenty to savor, celebrate, ponder but also wonder: “How did that happen?”

Several University of Delaware teams made NCAA tournaments, three more high school seasons yielded numerous state champions and a lifetime’s worth of memories, the Phillies made a stunning run to the World Series and the Eagles’ success hinted that early 2023 may harbor some potential history, too.

But one story in particular, which had nothing to do with wins and losses, caught the attention of citizens in Delaware and well beyond, and it leads our review of the biggest Delaware sports stories of 2022.

1. Delaware State lacrosse bus stopped, searched

The Delaware State University women’s lacrosse team, returning by bus from Florida after playing its final game of the season, was pulled over along Interstate 95 in Georgia by local Liberty County Sherriff’s Office deputies. Players’ belongings were searched for drugs with nothing found. The driver and most of the players and coaches on the bus were Black while the deputies were all white, leading to charges of racial profiling. DSU coach Pamella Jenkins described the incident as being “very traumatizing.” Delaware U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester termed the situation “deeply disturbing” in a joint statement and Gov. Carney described video of deputies questioning and lecturing those on the bus “upsetting, concerning and disappointing.” DSU player Brianna Johanson said: “Something has to happen about this because it was just something that no one should go through, let alone a Division I sports team . . . Basically we were violated.” Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings requested a civil rights review from the U.S. Justice Dept.

2. Phillies’ postseason run fuels fans

The Phillies ended the National League’s longest postseason drought by making the playoffs for the first time since 2011, earning the third and final wild-card position, which didn’t even exist until this year. They then swept two games from the Cardinals in Saint Louis, stunned the NL East champ Braves in four games stirred on by enthusiastic crowds at Citizens Bank Park and then beat the San Diego Padres in the National League Championship Series. It was the franchise’s eighth pennant and first since 2009. Bryce Harper’s eighth-inning go-ahead home run in the deciding game became one of the signature moments in Philadelphia sports history. Long-suffering fans sensed a third World Series title in franchise history was possible. But the Houston Astros were better, taking the last three games to win the series 4 games to 2.

3. Carty era opens with win at Navy

Playing its first football game under new coach Ryan Carty, the former Delaware quarterback, the Blue Hens stunned Navy 14-7 in Annapolis, putting themselves on course for a 5-0 start that spurred the Hens to a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Delaware did lose four of its last six, but still made the 24-team FCS bracket and walloped Saint Francis at home 56-17 in the first round. The Blue Hens then realized a national title was still well out of a reach in a 42-6 loss at South Dakota State that closed an 8-5 season, their winningest in 12 years. The season was highlighted by quarterback Nolan Henderson throwing a school record 32 touchdown passes and linebacker Johnny Buchanan being among the national leaders in tackles.

4. Eagles add the next T.O., then soar

It’s no accident that the Eagles became a much better team last April 28, when they traded for star receiver A.J. Brown during the first round of the NFL draft. Brown just so happened to be Jalen Hurts’ best friend, and the two were working out just a week before the draft, unbeknownst to them that they would soon become teammates. Still, Brown was the brash, talented wide receiver they lacked ever since they had T.O. in 2004 − but without the driveway situps. Brown has already paid dividends, becoming the first Eagles wide receiver to surpass 1,000 yards since Jeremy Maclin in 2014 as the Eagles are primed to be the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

5. A basketball double for Blue Hens

Delaware’s men’s and women’s basketball teams each won Colonial Athletic Association Tournament titles to reach the NCAA Tournament. The Delaware men, seeded fifth, became the first team to beat three higher seeds en route to the title since 1993 with UNC-Wilmington falling 59-55 in the final. It was Delaware’s second CAA title and sixth NCAA trip. The Blue Hens started strong against Villanova in the NCAA Tournament in Pittsburgh before falling 80-60 to close a 22-13 season. The UD women stunned top-seeded and regular-season champ Drexel 63-59 on the Dragons’ homecourt in the CAA finals the day after a down-to-the-wire 56-55 conquest of Towson. The Hens lost at Maryland 102-71 in their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2013. They went 24-8. Coach Natasha Adair later was hired to be Arizona State coach with former UD assistant Sarah Jenkins selected as her replacement.