DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 11, 2008) ? DSU QB Vashon Winton rushed for two touchdowns and threw another to help the Hornets break their three-game losing streak with a 26-20 win over Bethune-Cookman, Saturday evening. With the victory the Hornets improve to 2-3 (2-1 in MEAC) on the season.
"We had some players really step up in a much-needed win for our team," said Delaware State Head Coach Al Lavan, who improved to 26-8 vs. MEAC opponents. "Winton showed a great deal of leadership directing the offense and the line really came through in a big way. I thought our defense did an outstanding job in slowing Bethune-Cookman's option attack. We showed a great deal of improvement today."
The Hornets took a 3-0 lead on a 28-yard field goal by Riley Flickinger with 11:53 left in the first quarter. The field goal, Flickinger's third of the season, capped off a drive which went 46 yards on six plays in 2:58.
A Delaware State special teams miscue gave Bethune-Cookman the lead later in the first quarter. A bad snap to DSU punter Nick Lochner was recovered in the endzone by the Wildcats' Ryan Davis to give BCU a 7-3 lead with 8:10 left in the opening quarter.
DSU regained the lead with Vashon Winton's seventh rushing touchdown of the season on a 10-yard run with 5:07 left in the first quarter. The score tied Winton's career-best for rushing touchdowns in a single season (7). The score capped off a 70-yard drive in eight plays lasting 2:56.
"I challenged myself to execute the offense a lot better than the last three weeks," said Winton. The offensive line created a lot of opportunities, and we were able to take advantage. I have to step up and be a leader if we expect to compete for the conference title."
Bethune-Cookman tied the contest at 10-all with 0:45 left in the first quarter on a 31-yard field goal by Matt McCutcheon. The Wildcats moved 67 yards on seven plays in 4:18 to tie the ball game.
Early in the second quarter Flickinger converted his second field goal of the game, registering a 20-yard attempt with 12:51 left in the half. The field goal gave DSU a 13-10 lead and kicked off a stretch of 16-straight points for the Hornets.
Delaware State extended its lead to 19-10 when Winton scored his second rushing touchdown of the game from 10-yards out with 9:31 left in the first half. The Hornet could not convert the extra point due to a bad snap. The score capped a 91-yard drive on three plays in 1:19. The drive was highlighted by a career-best 78-yard rush by Chris Strother, who finished the first half with 95 yards on the ground.
The Hornets found the end zone once again with a 17-yard reception by Erick Jones with 0:52 left on the clock. The reception was the first of Jones' career and extended DSU's lead to 26-10. Winton connected with Jones for his third touchdown pass of the season and 33rd of his career. The Hornets ate up 4:42 on the clock with an 11-play, 61-yard drive.
Bethune-Cookman cut into Delaware State's lead with a 25-yard field goal by McCutheon with no time on the clock as DSU went into halftime with a 26-13 lead. The Hornets out-gained the Wildcats 291-to-144 during the first half, out-rushing B-CU 158-ot-62.
"I thought we achieved our objective to stop Bethune-Cookman's running game and force them to become a passing team," said Hornet defensive tackle Andre Caroll. "I thought the coaches had a good game plan and everyone did their part to make it work."
In the fourth quarter, DSU DB Brandon Hudson acrobatically intercepted B-CU QB McKinson Souverain's pass at the goal line, abruptly ending B-CU's drive to cut into the 13 point lead. The interception was Hudson's second this season and career.
"I thought the defense had its best overall game of the season," said Hudson. "We put aside individual agendas and played as a team. The defensive line put good pressure on the quarterback to enable me to get the interception."
The Wildcats would get the ball back with about four minutes to go in the game. Two passes from quarterback Matthew Johnson to wide receiver Jeff Pope, including a 43-yard touchdown, would allow B-CU to get within six points at 26-20.
Bethune-Cookman would try an onside kick after the touchdown, but DSU running back Kareem Jones recovered the ball.
Winton guided the offense for one last first down with a little over a minute left to seal the 26-20 victory for the Hornets. The redshirt senior finished with 147 yards through the air which moves him into 18th place all-time on the MEAC career passing list. (4,904) He also finished a career-high 102 rushing yards.
Strother finished with his second 100-yard rushing effort of the season (and career) as he carried the ball 11 times for 110 yards, adding to the Hornets' season-high total of 234 yards.
The Hornets will return home to take on North Carolina A&T, October 25. The homecoming contest is set for 1 p.m.
