DSU Welcomes North Carolina A&T
Back in the thick of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title race following the team's 26-20 win at Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 11), the Hornets host the North Carolina A&T Aggies Saturday, Oct. 18 as DSU celebrates Homecoming 2008 (Carnivale). Delaware State is looking to win its fifth-straight over the Aggies and snap the team's current two-game, home-losing streak.

Delaware State enters Saturday's game looking to improve on the team's 13-3 record versus conference foes at home under Coach Al Lavan. The Hornets are 2-1 in conference play this season and are currently positioned behind Hampton and South Carolina State in the league standings. A win today would move DSU one step closer to catching the league leaders as the Hornets are just one game behind the Pirates and Bulldogs.

Senior quarterback Vashon Winton has been key for the Delaware State offense as the 6-foot-2 quarterback has accounted for all eight of the team's touchdowns on the ground. His eight rushing touchdowns so far this season are a career-best for Winton. Winton is coming off his first-career 100-yard rushing performance, registering 102 yards on the ground versus the Wildcats last Saturday. On the season, Winton has tallied 359 yards on the ground on 58 carries (6.2 yards-per-carry). Through the air, the Chicago, Ill., native has amassed 680 yards on 69-of-124 passing and three touchdowns. He is currently ranked No. 18 on the all-time MEAC passing list (4,954) and has completed 33-career touchdowns (second-most in school history).

Redshirt senior Chris Strother is coming off his second-career, 100-yard rushing performance, registering 110 yards versus Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 11. The Miami, Fla., product leads the team in rushing (375 yards on 73 carries) and is averaging 5.1 yards-per-carry. During the Hornet's 26-20 win over Bethune-Cookman, Strother recorded a career-long 78 yard scamper to set up DSU's second touchdown of the afternoon. Strother is averaging 75.0 yards-per-game rushing and 94.2 all-purpose yards-per-game (team best).

Senior Eddie Brown is averaging 12.0 yards-per-reception to lead the team. The 5-foot-10 receiver has grabbed 13 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown so far this season. Along with Brown is sophomore Larrone Moore, who has registered 113 receiving yards with 13 catches in 2008. The fastest athlete on the team, Moore is averaging 8.7 yards-per-reception. Junior Zach Charles has not only been a threat as part of the Hornet receiving corps (12 catches for 108 yards) but, he is the team's top kick returner averaging 22.5 yards-per-kickoff return.

Defensively, the Hornets rank No. 27 in the nation against the pass. Delaware State is holding opposing offenses to 172.00 yards-per-game through the air. On the ground, the opposition is averaging 175.00 yards-per-game. The Hornets are led by linebacker Kevin Conner. The 5-foot-11 senior has recorded 43 tackles this season. During the team's last home game (Oct. 4 vs. Hampton), Conner recovered two fumbles (the first of his career). Conner, along with defensive end Alimayo Wilder, led the team in total tackles last weekend (9). Wilder, a native of Baltimore, Md., disrupted the Wildcat offense as Bethune-Cookman consistently found the 6-foot-4 defensive lineman in the backfield. Wilder finished the contest with a team-high four tackles for loss. Also making impacts during the Hornet's last contest were defensive back Avery Grant (six tackles) and linebacker Josh Pope (seven tackles). Grant, who has tallied 30 tackles this season, has recorded three tackles for loss, including one sack. Pope, who has 17 tackles so far this season, has one and a-half tackles for loss, including a sack. Cornerback Brandon Hudson notched his second interception of the season last week, tying teammate Jerome Strums for the team lead. On the year, DSU has grabbed six interceptions.

Game Notables
- The Hornets enter Saturday's game looking to snap a current two-game, home-losing streak.
- Last season's shutout of the Aggies was the first for the Hornets in the 37-year history between the two schools.
- DSU is looking to win its fifth-straight over the Aggies.
- Coach Lavan has the highest winning percentage in among active MEAC coaches in conference play (26-8, .765).
- Coach Lavan has never lost to the Aggies (4-0).
- Coach Lavan is 3-1 all-time in Homecoming Games.
- Over the past four meetings, DSU has out-scored North Carolina A&T, 96-40
- Saturday marks Coach Lavan's 51st game as DSU head coach.
- Saturday's game will mark Vashon Winton's 39th-career start.
- Winton ranks No. 18 all-time among MEAC quarterbacks (4,954 yards).
- Saturday marks the return of John McKenzie (N.C. A&T offensive coordinator), who served as DSU head coach from 1997-99 (7-26, .212).

A Quick Look at North Carolina A&T
North Carolina A&T comes into today's game having lost five-straight contests, including a 41-3 loss to Morgan State last weekend. The Bears held the Aggies to just 139 yards of offense, including 23 yards through the air as North Carolina A&T lost its second-straight conference game by more than 35 points. The Aggies are 0-2 on the road this season and have not won a road contest in over two years.

The Aggies leading passer is junior Herb Miller. The 6-foot-2 signal caller has completed 43-of-88 passes for 453 yards and two touchdowns this season. Sharing time behind center with Miller is Stone Mountain, Ga., product Carlton Fears. Fears is 26-of-60 for 205 yards and two touchdowns in '08. He is also averaging 3.7 yards-per-carry, recording 106 yards on 29 carries.
Michael Ferguson is the Aggies featured back, averaging 75.00 yards-per-game. The 5-foot-11 Ferguson has scored five touchdowns, registering 450 yards on 98 carries this year (4.6 yards-per-carry).

The top two targets for both Miller and Fears are Giorgio Lowrance and Chaz Dawson. Lowrance has caught 17 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown, averaging 13.0 yards-per-catch. Dawson has grabbed two touchdown passes, recording 219 receiving yards on 17 catches.

Linebacker Andre Thornton is the team's leading tackler, recording 59 tackles through seven games. Thornton has notched six tackles for loss and has recorded four pass breakups. Second on the defense in tackles is middle linebacker Brandon Long. The senior from Como, N.C. has tallied 50 tackles, including eight for loss this season.

Delaware State - North Carolina A&T Series History
- Saturday's contest will mark the 38th meeting all-time between Delaware State and North Carolina A&T.
- The series is tied, 18-18-1.
- DSU won the lasting meeting, 27-0, in Greensboro, N.C. (Oct. 13, 2007).
- Delaware State has won four-straight contests versus North Carolina A&T.
- During the Hornet's four-game winning streak, DSU has out-scored North Carolina A&T, 96-40.
- Last season's shutout of the Aggies was the first for the Hornets in the 37-year history between the two schools.
- North Carolina A&T won the 2003 MEAC title with a 10-3 (6-1 MEAC) record, marking the last time the Aggies defeated the Hornets.
- DSU owns an 8-5 record all-time versus North Carolina A&T here at Alumni Stadium.

A Delaware State Win Would...
- Snap a current two-game, home-losing streak.
- Extend DSU's winning streak over the Aggies to five games.
- Give Coach Lavan his 33rd-career win at Delaware State.
- Give Coach Lavan his 18th home victory as DSU head coach.
- Give Coach Lavan his 14th home victory versus the MEAC.
- Improve Vashon Winton's record as a starter to 28-11.
- Move DSU to 3-1 in conference action this season.
- Improve DSU's 2008 record to 3-3.
- Give Coach Lavan his 27th-career victory in conference play.
- Give the DSU football program its 326th victory all-time.
- Give DSU an edge in the series history, 19-18-1.

Dynamic Duo
Vashon Winton and Chris Strother became the first DSU tandem to rush for over 100 yards in the same game since Sept. 6, 1997 (Bryan Jenkins - 147; Clay Perry - 113 vs. Cheney). Both Winton and Strother eclipsed the century mark during Delaware State's 26-20 win over Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 11).

Winton rushed for 102 yards on 16 carries, including two touchdowns. The 100-yard performance was the first of Winton's career. Strother notched his second 100-yard performance of the season, gaining 110 yards on 11 carries, including a career-long 78-yard rush which led to the Hornet's second touchdown of the afternoon versus the Wildcats.

Jones' First Touchdown
Wide receiver Erick Jones grabbed his first-career touchdown reception during the Hornet's 26-20 win at Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 11). The 6-foot-3 Jones grabbed two receptions for 38 yards during the contest. The score came late in the second quarter and gave the Hornets a 26-10 lead.

Pair of Hornets Pick Up Weekly MEAC Honors
Senior quarterback Vashon Winton has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week and senior place kicker Riley Flickinger was named MEAC Special Teams Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 12. Winton rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead the DSU Hornets to a 26-20 win over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday. Winton rushed for his seventh and eighth touchdowns of the season, setting a career best for rushing touchdowns in a season (8). He recorded his first-career 100-yard rushing performance, averaging 6.4 yards-per-carry. Winton also passed for 147 yards, moving the 6-foot-2 signal caller to No. 18 all-time on the MEAC passing list (4,954). During the game, Winton connected on his 33rd-career touchdown pass.

This is Winton's fifth offensive player of the week honor of his career and seventh weekly conference honor as a Hornet (two-time MEAC Rookie of the Week). He was also named MEAC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 8).

Flickinger converted two field goal attempts to help lead the Delaware State Hornets to a 26-20 win over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday. The Gresham, Ore., native's two field goals proved to be the difference as the Hornets snapped a three-game losing skid. Flickinger also averaged 60.2 yards-per-kickoff giving the Wildcats an average starting field position on their own 26-yard line. The 5-foot-9 senior also forced two touch backs as nearly all of his kicks reached the Wildcats goal line or sailed through the end zone.

This is Flickinger's first weekly MEAC honor.

The Field General
Senior Vashon Winton enters Saturday's game with a 27-11 record as the Hornets' signal caller and a 22-4 mark in MEAC contests. The Chicago, Ill., native ranks second in the school's record books in completions (454), passing attempts (802) and passing yards (4,954). His 33-career passing touchdowns are second-best on the all-time DSU list. This season, Winton has thrown three touchdowns, completing 55.6 percent of his passes en route to a 98.40 passer rating.