DOVER (November 4, 2008) - Delaware State hosts the Winston-Salem State Rams in the final home contest of the 2008 season. Looking to rebound from the team's 23-17 loss to South Carolina State last week, the Hornets welcome the Rams which will be making their first-ever trip to Alumni Stadium and first visit to Dover since 1949. Last season DSU and WSSU met for the first time in over 50 years with the Hornets downing the Rams 23-20 at Bowman Gray Stadium (Nov. 3, 2007). Today's game also marks the final home contest for DSU's senior class. The Hornets are looking to snap a current two-game losing skid and prevent the team's first losing record at home since Head Coach Al Lavan's first season (2004).
The Hornets enter Saturday's game looking to improve to 5-2-1 all-time versus the Rams. Lavan is 1-0 all-time versus Winston-Salem State and enters today's game with an 18-8 record all-time at home. The Hornets slipped to seventh in the MEAC and 98th nationally in total offense after being held to nine yards rushing versus the Bulldogs. DSU is averaging 298 yards of total offense-per-game. The team improved its passing offense to fifth in the MEAC and 84th nationally, completing a season-high 31 passes for 220 yards last weekend. On the season, DSU is averaging 173.50 yards passing-per-game.
Quarterback Vashon Winton, who has started for the Hornets in each of the team's eight games, is currently ranked fifth in the MEAC and 77th in the nation in total offense (171.38 yards-per-game). Through the air, Winton's passer rating of 96.18 is seventh in the league and 96th in the nation. The Chicago, Ill., native threw for 147 yards and one touchdown on a season high 23-of-34 passing. The 6-foot-2 signal caller has completed 56.9 percent of his passes (103-of-181) for 951 yards and four touchdowns. Last week, Winton moved into 14th place on the MEAC's all-time list with 5,225 yards, second-best in DSU history. His 34-career touchdown passes also ranks second on the school's all-time list. He continues to rank No. 10 in the MEAC and tops among the league's quarterbacks in rushing with 420 yards. Winton has registered a career-best nine rushing touchdowns this season. He also recorded his first-career reception with a 20-yard catch (from backup quarterback Anthony Glaud) during last week's contest. Glaud has appeared in seven games this season, completing 38-of-57 passes for 437 yards and one touchdown.
Redshirt senior Chris Strother has appeared and started in every game for the Hornets this season (8), averaging 59.1 yards rushing-per-game. The Miami, Fla., native is averaging 5.0 yards-per-carry. He ranks 77th in the nation (eighth in the MEAC) in rushing and 17th in the league in total offense (59.12 yards-per-game). The 5-foot-10 running back has recorded two 100+-yard games this season and ranks 16th in the conference in all-purpose yards (72.75 all-purpose yards-per-game). Senior Kareem Jones shares time in the backfield with Strother, averaging 3.4 yards-per-carry this season. Jones has registered two rushing touchdowns on 31 carries in seven games in '08.
Senior Eddie Brown leads a DSU receiving corps which is averaging 9.8 yards-per-reception this season. Brown has recorded a team-high 25 catches for 279 yards and two touchdowns in 2008. The 5-foot-10 Brown ranks 16th in receptions (3.12 per-game) and 18th in receiving yards (34.88 per-game) in the MEAC. Senior Derrick McNeil recorded a career-high eight receptions versus the Bulldogs (Nov. 1). The 5-foot-9 McNeil had eight catches for 48 yards last weekend, ranking the DSU wide receiver 10th in the MEAC in receptions-per-game (3.83). The Petersburg, Va., native also ranks 21st in the conference in receiving yards-per-game (31.67).
The Hornet offensive line is led by 2007 All-MEAC First Team selection Adrian Brown at left tackle, and redshirt junior Nick Richmond at center.
On the defensive side of the ball, Delaware State continues to feature a number of players who will be considered for All-MEAC honors. DSU ranks fourth in the MEAC and 24th in nation in total defense, averaging 311.00 yards-per-game allowed. The Hornets are 15th in pass defense, surrendering 158.88 yards-per-game through the air. Leading the way for Delaware State is middle linebacker Kevin Conner, who has recorded a team-high 64 tackles this season. Conner is fourth in the conference in total tackles (81st in the nation). The senior linebacker has had two quarterback hurries and leads the team in fumble recoveries (2). Joining Conner is fellow linebacker Jackie Watkins, who has tallied 46 tackles this season. Watkins is third on the team in total tackles with six and one-half for a loss.
On the D-line, junior Joe Mendes leads all Hornets with three and one-half sacks (sixth in the conference and 81st in the nation). Senior Ronn Spinner, Jr., leads all defensive linemen with 32 total tackles (three for loss) followed closely by redshirt sophomore Andre Caroll, who has tallied 31 total tackles. Senior Alimayo Wilder leads the team with seven tackles for loss. Recording 30 tackles on the season, Wilder ranks 15th in the conference in tackles for loss.
In the secondary, sophomore Avery Grant is second on the team and 12th in the conference in totals tackles, following a career-best, 14-tackles performance versus the Bulldogs last weekend. Grant has registered 55 total tackles, including two sacks. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Grant notched six and one-half tackles for loss this season. Redshirt junior Jerome Strums picked off his third pass of the season last weekend, tying the Windsor, Conn., native for the team lead in interceptions with Brandon Hudson. Strums ranks 52nd in the nation and sixth in the MEAC in interceptions-per-game (0.38). Punter Nick
Lochner continues to shine in his first season with the Hornets. The Webster, N.Y., native is averaging 40.2 yards-per-punt this season. He has placed 15 of his 40 punts inside the 20-yard line in '08 and has boomed 11 punts for 50+ yards, including a career-best 64-yard punt last Saturday.
Game Notables
- The Hornets enter Saturday's game will be the final home contest for 20 DSU seniors.
- Saturday's contest will mark WSSU's first-ever trip to Alumni Stadium.
- DSU is looking to win its second-straight over the Rams..
- Head Coach Al Lavan holds a 1-0 record all-time versus the Rams.
- Coach Lavan is 3-1 all-time on Senior Day.
- Coach Lavan is looking for his fourth-straight Senior Day victory.
- Saturday marks Coach Lavan's 54th game as DSU head coach.
- Saturday's game will mark Vashon Winton's 42nd-career start.
- Winton ranks No. 14 all-time among MEAC quarterbacks (5,078 yards).
- Saturday will be Coach Lavan's 27th-career home game.
- DSU is looking to prevent its first losing season since the 2004 season.
- The Hornets are also looking to prevent their first losing record at home since the 2004 season.
A Quick Look at Winston-Salem State
Winston-Salem State enters this weekend's game following a 35-30 win at Hampton (Nov. 1). The Rams enter today's game averaging 15.0 points-per-game, while allowing 23.0 points-per-game. Offensively, Winston-Salem State is averaging 118.9 yards-per-game on the ground and 129.5 yards-per-game through the air. Redshirt freshman Nicolas Cooper leads the Rams with 301 yards on the ground this season. Averaging 4.4 yards-per-carry, Cooper has registered two rushing touchdowns. Sharing time with Cooper in the backfield is senior Roderick Fluellen. The 5-foot-8 Fluellen has run for 237 yards on 87 carries, including one touchdown.
Junior quarterback Jarrett Dunston has played in each of the team's eight games, throwing for 780 yards on 59-of-129 passing and three touchdowns. Dunston enters today's game with an efficiency rating of 94.90, averaging 97.5 yards-per-game passing. Dunston has also amassed 109 yards on the ground, scoring a team-high six rushing touchdowns.
Bryant Bane is the team leader in receptions (26). The redshirt senior is averaging 13.6 yards-per-reception with a team-high two touchdowns in '08. On defense, Winston-Salem State is surrendering 334.4 yards-per-game of total offense. Through the air, opposing quarterbacks are averaging 7.2 yards- per-pass and 202.5 yards-per-game. On the ground, WSSU is allowing 131.9 yards-per-game with the opposition finding the end zone on the ground 14 times.
The Rams are led by outside linebacker Marcus Coates. Coates has 46 total tackles this season, including three and one-half for loss. The team leader in sacks is freshman nose tackle Stephen Young. On the season, Young has tallied five sacks among his 30 total tackles.
Delaware State - Winston-Salem State Series History
- Saturday's contest will mark the eighth meeting all-time between Delaware State and Winston-Salem State.
- Delaware State leads the series history, 4-2-1.
- During the last meeting between the two teams, Delaware State downed Winston-Salem State, 23-20, at Bowman Gray Stadium (Nov. 3, 2007).
- Last season's meeting was the first between the two teams in over 50 years
- Saturday's game will mark the Rams first-ever trip to Alumni Stadium and the team's first trip to Dover since 1949.
- DSU owns the only winning streak in this series history, taking three-straight contests during the 1940s (?42, ?46, ?47). A
Delaware State Win Would...
- Snap a current twp-game losing skid.
- Extend DSU's winning streak over the Rams to two games.
- Give Coach Lavan his 34th-career win at Delaware State.
- Give Coach Lavan his 19th home victory as DSU head coach.
- Improve the Hornets to 4-1 on Senior Day under Coach Lavan.
- Improve Vashon Winton's record as a starter to 29-13.
- Improve DSU's 2008 record to 4-5.
- Give the DSU football program its 327th victory all-time.
- Prevent DSU from suffering its first losing season since 2004.
Senior Day
Saturday's contest versus the Winston-Salem State Rams will mark the final home game for 20 Delaware State Seniors. During the time (2005-2008) that this senior class has taken the field, the Hornets went 28-14 (22-7 MEAC), winning the school's first conference title since 1991. This senior class posted a 16-4 home record (12-3 in conference play) and helped lead DSU to its first-ever berth in the FCS Playoffs (2007).
Below are the 20 seniors who will be playing their final home game at Alumni Stadium this Saturday.
Adrian Brown (OL)
Eddie Brown (WR)
Quinton Brown (DB)
Kevin Conner (LB)
Jarin Giesler (LS)
Reshard Gresham (DB)
Donta Herrod (DB)
Eric Jackson (DL)
Kareem Jones (RB)
DJamal Kirby
