Dover, DE --- Delaware State is 3-0 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) for the first time since 1993 after a 24-10 win over Bethune-Cookman at Alumni Stadium Thursday evening. The Hornets won their second straight to improve to 4-1 overall, while the Wildcats lost their third in a row to fall to 2-4 overall and 0-4 in the MEAC.
Delaware State's Vashon Winton and Shaheer McBride connected on two touchdown passes after the score was tied at 10 late in the third quarter.
McBride hauled in a 37-yard pass from Winton to give the Hornets a 17-10 lead with 12 seconds left in the third quarter. The duo struck again on a 24-yard scoring pass with 5:57 left to play to give the Hornets a two-touchdown lead. McBride out leaped two Bethune-Cookman defenders in the endzone on a "flea-flicker" play for his second score. McBride, Delaware State's career leader in receptions and receiving yards, had five catches for 111 yards in the contest. He now has 170 receptions for 2,747 yards and 29 touchdowns with the Hornets. John Taylor, who starred with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers after four years at Delaware State, is the school's career leader with 33 touchdown catches.
After a scoreless first quarter, Bethune-Cookman struck first when quarterback Jimmie Russell capped off a 16-play, 80-yard drive with a three-yard keeper to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead with 8:51 left in the second quarter. Russell rushed for 175 yards on 27 carries. He also completed seven-of-16 passes for 102 yards.
Delaware State was stymied on offense for much of the first half, but caught a big break when Bethune-Cookman lost a fumble on its own seven-yard line late in the second quarter.
Three plays later, Winton scored on a one-yard sneak to pull the Hornets even at 7-7 with 1:17 left in the first half.
Bethune-Cookman regained the lead 10-7 on a 39-yard field goal by Lucas Esquivel on the opening drive of the third quarter.
The Hornets tied the game at 10 when Peter Gaertner hit a 28-yard field with 5:27 left in the third quarter.
Lineman Kelly Rouse led the Hornets with 7.5 tackles. He was also credited with a sack and a forced fumble. Linebacker Josh Pope recorded 6.5 tackles, including two backfield stops, and a forced fumble.
It's been 14 years since Delaware State won its first three MEAC games. The Hornets started the '93 conference season with victories over Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M and Morgan State en route to a 4-2 league record.
Delaware State holds a ? game lead over Norfolk State (2-0) in the current MEAC standings.
The Hornets were 20th in the latest SportsNetwork FCS (formerly I-AA) poll, and number one in the most recent Sheridan Broadcast Network poll of HBCU teams.
Post Game Quotes......
Coach Lavan:
On the Defense:
The starting quarterback or even the backup quarterback could've gone 90 yards and have no one stop him, it's going to happen. We just know we'll be persistent. We just made more plays then they did. That's what it comes down too.
On McBride:
I've said this the past two years and it's not an exaggeration. McBride is the best I've scene at any level, that can jump, catch the ball, and then come down with it and continue to pick up yards in the open field. And he's been doing it for the past four years. We've always felt if we can put the ball up and it's between him and another guy, he'll come down with it.
McBride:
On adjustments made after first half:
We figured we get the run game going, then it'll get the passing game open and it did kind of loosened things up a little bit.
On getting things started in the third quarter:
We knew eventually things would come around.
On the Defense:
The defense plays great for us everyday.
