Hampton, VA --- Delaware State's hopes of winning its first
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship since 1991 took a big step forward
with a 24-17 win over defending champ Hampton at Armstrong Stadium Saturday
afternoon. The Hornets improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the MEAC, while the
Pirates lost for the first time in four games, all against conference
opponents. Hampton
was ranked 13th in the latest SportsNetwork poll of FCS (formerly
Division I-AA) teams.
Vashon Winton connected with tight end Jeff Postell on a
five-yard scoring pass with 11:39 left in the fourth quarter for the
game-winning score.
Kareem Jones rushed for 135 yards, while Winton rushed for
two touchdowns and passed for another to lead the Delaware State
offense.
The Hornet defense recorded a season-high five sacks. Joe
Mendes had two sacks, while linebacker Josh Pope had a game-high 10 tackles.
Hampton
scored on the game's first possession when Jerry Cummings capped off a
four-play 75-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. The big play in the drive
was a 59-yard pass from T.J. Mitchell to Jeremy Gilchrist. Gilchrist had eight
receptions for 177 yards, but was held to two catches for 21 yards in the
second half.
Delaware
State pulled even when
Winton scored on a one-yard keeper to cap off a six-play, 80-yard drive with
11:45 left in the second quarter. The big play in the drive was a 57-yard run
by Jones to the Hampton
23.
The Hornets opened up a 10-7 lead on a 28-yard field goal by
Peter Gaertner with 5:34 left in the second quarter. A 34-yard pass from Winton
to Laronne Moore helped set up the go-ahead score.
Hampton responded on its next possession with an eight-play,
90-yard drive that was capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell to
Gilchrist with 2:35 left in the second quarter. The extra point gave the
Pirates a 14-10 lead.
On the ensuing possession, Delaware State
drove 90 yards in seven plays to reclaim the lead. Winton capped off the drive
with an 11-yard touchdown run with 21 seconds left in the half. The junior
signal-caller rushed for 44 yards and connected with Moore on a 16-yard pass during the
drive.
Hampton
tied the game at 17 when Carlo Turavani nailed a 33-yard field goal with 13:52
left in the third quarter.
Delaware State's game-winning touchdown came three plays after
Winton hooked up with Shaheer McBride on a 50 yard pass to the Hampton 10.
The Pirates had three possessions after Delaware State's
go-ahead score, but Mendes, Ronn Spinner and Tyron Hurst had fourth quarter
sacks to key the defensive stops.
Delaware
State has little time to
celebrate. The Hornets return to action on Thursday (Oct.) at home against
Bethune-Cookman.
