WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (November 7, 2009) --- Delaware State led by 17 points in the second quarter, then held off a late Winston-Salem State charge en route to a 24-21 victory at Bowman Gray Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Hornets won for the second time in three games to improve to 3-6 on the season. The Rams fell for the eighth time in nine games.
"We are happy to get an ugly victory," said Delaware State head coach Al Lavan. "We certainly didn't put on a clinic, as far as football is concerned, not to take anything away from Winston-Salem State. The turnovers in the first half gave us multiple opportunities to score."
Jaashawn Jones rushed for 143 yards on 35 carries, each a career-high, to lead the Delaware State offense. His total carries were one shy of the school record 36 by Fabian Thorne in 1995.
"Jaashawn's ability to run the inside and outside zones well was a key to our running game today," added Lavan.
"I give all the credit to the offensive line," said Jones. 'They were getting really good pushes on each and every play."
The Hornets jumped out to a 24-7 lead in the first half, forcing five turnovers which resulted in 14 points. DSU out-gained the Rams 165-107, including 90 yards on the ground by J. Jones.
Riley Flickinger got the scoring started with a 26-yard field goal with 6:24 left in the first quarter. The field goal conversion capped off a seven-play, 19-yard drive which ate up 3:30.
A 21-yard fumble recovery by Jerome Strums extended DSU's lead to 10-0 with 5:52 in the first quarter. On a botched pitch to Jonathan Harris from Jarrett Dunston at the WSSU 21, Strums picked up the fumble and returned it untouched into the endzone. The fumble recovery for a touchdown was the first for Delaware State since 2007 (Reggie McCoy 19 yards versus Delaware - 11/23/07). Strums also had an interception in the game, his team-leading third of the season. He now has six picks in his career.
The Rams responded with a touchdown late in the first quarter. With 1:32 left in the opening frame, Brandon Williams completed a seven-yard pass to Dominique Fitzgerald for the Rams' only points of the first half. The drive lasted eight plays for 75 yards and lasted 4:13.
A pair of rushing touchdowns pushed DSU's lead to 24-7. Jones recorded his third rushing touchdown of the season, registering a six-run early in the second quarter (14:18). Anthony Glaud scored his fourth rushing touchdown with a one-yard quarterback keeper with 8:26 left in the half.
Glaud's touchdown capped off a two-yard drive that began after Avery Grant returned an interception 38 yards to the Winston-Salem 2. The pick was Grant's second of the season and his career.
Winston-Salem State pulled closer with a touchdown midway through the third quarter. Fitzgerald scored his second touchdown of the game, this one on a six-yard pass from Dunston to cut the Hornets' lead to 24-14 with 7:29 left in the third quarter.
The Rams made it a one-possession game after a fourth-quarter touchdown. Dunston connected with Omar Kizzie on a 16-yard scoring pass to pull Winston-Salem to within 24-21 with 5:24 left to play.
Delaware State was forced to punt on the ensuing possession, but a roughing the punter call on the Rams allowed the Hornets to hold the ball for the remainder of the game.
DSU won the total yardage battle, 255-to-246. The Hornets rushed for 153 yards and passed for 102.
Glaud completed eight-of-21 passes for 102 yards. He was intercepted once. Zach Charles led the Hornets with four catches for 32 yards.
Linemen Tyron Hurst and Fabian Dunn topped the Delaware State defense with six tackles each. Hurst had five solo stops, including a sack, while Dunn had four unassisted tackles and a forced fumble.
The Hornets wrap up the season with a two-game home stand, beginning with a visit by the Norfolk State Spartans next Saturday (Nov. 14). Game time is 1:00 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
STINGERS:
- Today's captains - Anthony Glaud (Offense), Nick Richmond (Offense), Mike Gable (Defense), Jerome Strums (Defense), Larrone Moore (Special Teams)
- Riley Flickinger converted his 15th-career field goal with a 26-yarder in the first quarter. With the first-quarter score, DSU has now scored points in 61-consecutive games.
- Jerome Strums scored on 21-yard fumble recovery in the first quarter. First career fumble recovery for Strums. It was the fourth defensive score for the Hornets this season. It was the first fumble recovery for a touchdown since the 2007 season (Reggie McCoy 19 yards versus Delaware - 11/23/07).
- The 10 points scored in the first quarter were the most scored by DSU in the first quarter this season.
- Jaashawn Jones scored his third touchdown of the season with a 6-yard rush at the 14:18 mark in the second quarter.
- Strums picked off his third pass of the season (sixth of his career) during the second quarter.
- Anthony Glaud scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season with a 1-yard run during the second quarter (8:26).
- Avery Grant recorded his second-career interception during the second quarter, setting up the Hornets third touchdown of the game.
-The Hornets were shutout in the third quarter for the sixth time in eight games this season.
