Kent, OH ? Delaware State trailed just 7-0 after 30 minutes,
but faltered in the second half of a 38-7 loss to Kent State before 8,455 fans at
Dix Stadium Saturday afternoon. The contest was the first for Delaware State
against a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly D-IA) team since 1987. The win
improved the Golden Flashes to 2-1, while the Hornets suffered their first
setback of the year to fall to 2-1.
Kent
State scored 24
unanswered points in the second half to open up a 31-0 lead. Delaware State
avoided the shutout by scoring a touchdown in the final minute, but Kent State's
Shawn Bayes returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards to close out the scoring.
The game was scoreless when Delaware
State failed to take advantage of two Kent State
turnovers in the second quarter. A fumble recovery by Ryan Robinson gave DSU
the ball at the Kent State 34, but the Hornets failed to pick up a first down.
An interception by James Romain gave DSU a possession at midfield, but the
Hornets again failed to move the ball.
Kent
State finally broke the
deadlock when Julian Edelman connected with Bayes on a 42-yard touchdown with
1:37 left in the second quarter. The play capped off an eight-play, 94-yard
drive.
The Golden Flashes stretched their lead to 14-0 when Eugene Jarvis scored on a four-yard run to cap off a
five-play, 60-yard drive on Kent
State's first possession of
the second half. Jarvis led all players with 136 yards rushing on 22 carries.
He also scored on a 42-yard pass from Edelman to give Kent State
a 28-0 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Delaware
State got on the scoreboard
when quarterback Vashon Winton capped off a 12-play, 57-yard drive with a
one-yard keeper with 35 seconds left to play.
Kent
State racked up 468 total
yards to 191 for the Hornets. Delaware
State had just 74 yards
passing.
Shaheer McBride had three catches for 20 yards. He has 163
career receptions to pass Albert Horsey (1997-00) as Delaware State's
all-time leader.
The Hornets are off next weekend. They return to action on
Sep. 29 at Hampton
in a key MEAC showdown.
