Orangeburg, SC --- Senior Peter Gaertner nailed a 38-yard field goal with 2.6 seconds left to give Delaware State a 17-16 win over South Carolina State before 15,388 homecoming fans at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Saturday afternoon. The win, coupled with Norfolk State's loss to Howard, gives the Hornets a one-game lead in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) standings. Delaware State has won five in a row to improve to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in the MEAC. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for South Carolina State, which fell to 4-4 and 3-2. Delaware State and Norfolk State were tied for first in the MEAC entering Saturday's action. Gaertner's game-winning kick came seven plays after Delaware State's Ryan Robinson forced a fumble by Bulldog quarterback Cleveland McCoy that was recovered by DSU's Ron Spinner at the SC State 43 with 2:58 left to play. A 23-yard pass from Vashon Winton to Shaheer McBride gave Delaware State a first down at the Bulldog 14. After three running plays, Gaertner split the uprights to set off a wild celebration on the Hornet sideline. South Carolina State opened up a 16-7 lead when Stephen Grantham kicked his third field goal of the game, a 37-yarder, with 5:03 left in the third quarter. Delaware State pulled to within 16-14 when Adam Shrewsbury capped off a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge on the second play of the fourth quarter. Winton completed three-of-three passes for 54 yards in the drive. South Carolina State chewed up 3:45 on its final possession before McCoy's fumble. Delaware State scored first when Winton and McBride connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 3:57 left in the first quarter. McBride now has 31 touchdown receptions at Delaware State, two shy of the school record held by John Taylor (1982-85). South Carolina State opened up its first lead, 10-7, on a 13-yard run by McCoy with 1:58 left in the second quarter. The Bulldogs dominated the statistics, outgaining the Hornets 418-253. South Carolina State, the MEAC's top rushing team, racked up 325 yards on the ground. Halfback William Ford rushed for 160 yards, while McCoy added 102. Winton completed 12 of 22 passes for 151 yards and one touchdown. McBride had six catches for 91 yards. Delaware State will return to action this Saturday (Nov. 3) at Winston-Salem State. 

NOTES ? The Hornets could clinch their first outright MEAC title since 1989 with a win over Norfolk State on Nov. 10 at home ... Delaware State shared the MEAC title with North Carolina A&T in 1991 ... South Carolina State fell to the Hornets by one point in each of the last two years (Delaware State won 10-9 last year in Dover, DE) ... McBride needs six receiving yards to reach 3,000 at Delaware State ... The Hornets are 6-0 in the MEAC for the first time in team history.