Dover, DE --- Akeem Green scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 100-yard fumble return in the fourth quarter of Delaware State's 25-17 Homecoming win over Morgan State at Alumni Stadium Saturday. The Hornets won their fourth straight to improve to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Delaware State is tied with Norfolk State for first place in the MEAC standings. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Bears, who fell to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in league play. Morgan State was leading 17-16 when halfback Courtney Anderson appeared headed for a two-yard touchdown run. Anderson coughed up the ball just short of the goal line, and Green scooped it up about seven yards into the end zone. He returned the fumble all the way down field for a touchdown to give Delaware State a 22-17 lead with 9:11 left in the fourth quarter. The Hornets failed on a two-point pass following the score. Delaware State's Peter Gaertner tacked on a 43-yard field goal to close out the scoring with 4:09 left to play. It was his fourth field goal of the game, tying the school record he set in 2005. Morgan State had two possessions after falling behind by eight points. The first possession ended when Mario Melton's pass was intercepted by Delaware State's Ryan Robinson at the DSU 43. Morgan State could only advance to its own 38 on the game's final possession. The Hornets scored first when Vashon Winton connected with Shaheer McBride on a seven-yard touchdown pass on the opening possession of the game. The touchdown drive covered just 15 yards after a 77-yard return by Brandon Hudson on the opening kickoff. Morgan State pulled to within 7-3 on a 36-yard field goal by James Meade with 2:40 left in the first quarter. The Bears pulled ahead 10-7 when quarterback Mario Melton scored on a one-yard keeper with 9:53 left in the second quarter. The 10-play, 77-yard drive was highlighted by a 33-yard pass from Melton to Robert Surratt, and a roughing the kicker penalty against Delaware State on a missed field goal attempt. The Hornets tied the scored on a 42-yard field goal by Gaertner with 3:02 left in the second quarter. After Delaware State took a 13-10 lead on a 45-yard field goal by Gaertner with 4:26 left in the third quarter, it didn't take long for Morgan State to respond. A 63-yard screen pass from Byron Selby to Devan James on a third-and-10 play gave Morgan State the ball at the DSU 4. Anderson ran the ball for a touchdown on the next play to give the Bears a 17-16 lead with 2:54 remaining in the third quarter. Gaertner's third field goal pulled the Hornets to within 17-16 on the final play of the third quarter. Morgan State chewed up 5-minutes-49 seconds on an 11-play, 64-yard drive before Anderson's fumble set up Green's heroics. Kareem Jones rushed for 122 yards on 28 carries to lead the Delaware State offense. McBride's touchdown catch was the 30th of his career, three behind the school record held by John Taylor (1982-85). Ron Spinner led the Hornets with 13 tackles, including three behind the line-of-scrimmage. Morgan State's Gregory Onyuike led all players with 14 tackles, including seven solo stops. Delaware State will visit South Carolina State (3-1 MEAC), while Morgan State will play host to Florida A&M next Saturday (Oct. 27).
NOTES ? Delaware State is 5-0 in the MEAC for the first time since 1989, and 6-1 overall for the first time since 1992 ... The Hornets were ranked #15 in the SportsNetwork Football Champion Subdivision poll and first in the Sheridan Broadcast Network poll of HBCU teams entering the game ... Delaware State has won its last six home games ... The Hornets have at least one interception in 10 straight games.
QUOTES
Akeem Green on Fumble returned for TD:
“Saw him jump off the goal line and fumble the ball forward. I just ran and got it and kept playing. “
“It was a great experience, probably the biggest play of my career.”
“Somebody did say that they started to walk off the field but I just kept running with the ball.”
Green on Special Teams:
“Special teams play a big part in all games.”
Peter Gaertner on adjustments:
“Sure we had to make some adjustments because the wind was a challenge. We missed the first field goal. Wind was a huge factor. Fortunately, we were able to kick two field goals with the wind with us in the third quarter and got another one in the fourth. Then it died down in the fourth.”
Coach Lavan on the win:
“We played with good defense for the most part. The offense was running the ball okay but we weren't passing the ball very well.”
“We had real good defense but just fair on offense. Special teams have allowed us to be on the positive side of field and have given us the advantage. The offense needs to move consistently and continue to improve.”
Lavan on Instant Replay:
“It would most certainly enhance the game.”
Lavan on Green's TD:
“We kept playing the ball. They did not concede the touchdown. Unfortunately they were walking off the field. Akeem exemplifies what should happen everyday at practice. He saw the ball clearly come out and scooped the ball up. We practice that everyday. It was not an accident that he scooped it up clearly. We practice it everyday. It is what it is.”
