Dover, DE --- Delaware State overcame an 18-point fourth quarter to defeat Norfolk State 28-21 in overtime to win the 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship, and earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) playoffs for the first time in team history before a capacity crowd at Alumni Stadium Saturday. Reserve linebacker Eric Sewell, lined up at fullback, scored the game-winning touchdown on a two-yard pass from Vashon Winton on the first overtime possession. The Hornets sealed the win when cornerback Akeem Green sacked Norfolk State quarterback Casey Hansen on fourth down on the Spartans' overtime possession to give Delaware State its first outright MEAC championship since 1989 and touch off a wild celebration on the field. The Hornets won their seventh straight to improve to 9-1 overall and 7-0 in the MEAC. The nine wins matches the school single-season record, while the seven MEAC wins are the most in team history. Norfolk State, which would have claimed at least a tie for the MEAC championship and the league's automatic playoff berth with a win, fell to 7-3 overall and 6-2 in conference play. The Spartans were picked to finish seventh in the league's preseason poll. Norfolk State appeared on its way to the win after opening up a 21-3 lead on a 19-yard run by Daryl Jones with 4:55 left in the third quarter. Jones rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Spartans. Delaware State started the comeback when Winton connected with Shaheer McBride on a six-yard touchdown pass to pull the Hornets to within 21-10 with 8:09 left in the fourth quarter. Winton completed five-of-six passes for 42 yards, and rushed for 18 yards on three carries during the 12-play, 81-yard drive. The touchdown catch was the 33rd for McBride, tying John Taylor (1982-85) for the team record. After Norfolk State failed to score on its next possession, Delaware State took over at its 35 with 3:53 left in the quarter. Winton completed a 53-yard pass to Derrick McNeil to give DSU a first-and-goal at the two. On the next play, Adam Shrewsbury rushed for a touchdown to make it 21-16 with 3:08 left. Shrewsbury then added the two-point run to pull the Hornets to within 21-18. After Norfolk State failed to pick up a first down on the ensuing possession, DSU got the ball at its 44 with 1:54 remaining. The Hornets picked up 46 yards on 10 plays before Peter Gaertner nailed a 28-yard field goal as time expired to tie the game. Gaertner kicked two field goals in the contest to give him a school-record 17 for the season. The senior kicker, who knocked down game winning field goals in the final seconds in each of the previous two weeks, eclipsed his previous record of 16 field goals in 2005.
NOTES ? Winton completed 28 of 44 passes for 245 yards, each a career high. He completed passes to 11 different receivers.
McBride had four catches for 16 yards to become the first player with 3,000 receiving yards at Delaware State.
The NCAA will announce its FCS Tournament teams and pairings on Nov. 18.
Delaware State will close out the regular season at home against Howard next Saturday (Nov. 17).
The overtime was the second in Delaware State history. The Hornets are now 1-1 in overtime games.
Media Quotes vs. Norfolk State University
*Shaheer McBride on being behind 18pts:
Basically we needed to score points. We were down 18 points in the fourth quarter. Pretty much we had to put the ball in play and score points.
*Shaheer McBride on coming back after injury:
I felt as though I had to come back for the team, felt it would help change the momentum.
*Akeem Green on coming back:
We had to make good plays. We've been in this position before but this is the biggest deficit. We just had to dig deeper and make big play.
After we kicked the ball, it had to be three and out. We knew we had a chance to win. We just had to dig deep on defense.
*Akeem Green on fumble recovery:
We thought we were going to score after the fumble recovery but we didn't score on that drive. We just had to dig deeper on defense.
*Shaheer McBride on being recruited:
I was recruited heavily by Division I-A but they kind of fell back. Delaware State was the only school willing to take a chance on me.
*Al Lavan on the game:
The last three games especially but all year we haven't been this far behind. Its resiliency and leading. We have a chance and I don't know how else to put it. We've been apart of a lot of comebacks.
Lavan on McBride coming back after injury:
He's always been like that since he's been here. McBride wasn't even supposed to be in the game. I didn't realize he was until I saw the formation. What people need to realize is that he plays every play at practice. When he runs out there limping as bad as he was, it sends a signal to the team. As a still, he stands as a point. That's how he's done what he has been doing since he got here. That's why his teammates chose him as the captain. He doesn't even have to say anything.
*Lavan on playoffs:
I'm not going to make any plans. We've still got games to play. We will enjoy what it means but we got to get better tomorrow and it starts with watching tapes. We have a game this week to prepare for. I'm not downplaying the MEAC Championship but the only thing that matters is the next opponent, everything else is just something to talk about.
