DOVER (September 22, 2008) - The Delaware State Football Team returns home to host the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (2-1, 0-0 NEC) in a non-conference showdown at Alumni Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Delaware State enters Saturday's game coming off a 24-3 loss at Kent State (Sept. 13). The Hornets are led offensively by quarterback Vashon Winton, who after two games, is tied for second in the nation in scoring (12.00 points-per-game) and has compiled 266 yards through the air on 32-of-51 passing. Winton has also gained 117 yards on the ground on 12 carries, including a career-best 39-yard scramble at Kent State (Sept. 13). The Chicago, Ill., native has already totaled five touchdowns on the season, including four on the ground.

Bowling Green transfer Anthony Glaud made his Hornet debut two weeks ago, registering 159 yards on 13-of-21 passing versus the Golden Flashes. Glaud was able to rack up 148 of the team's 349 total yards of offense.

On the ground, the Hornets are led by redshirt senior Chris Strother, who registered his first-career 100-yard rushing game during DSU's 35-28 (OT) win versus Florida A&M (Sept. 4). Strother had a banner night versus the Florida A&M Rattlers, registering a career-high 139 yards on 32 carries. He also grabbed four passes for 31 yards. In all, the Miami, Fla., native compiled 170 all-purpose yards on the night. His 32 carries tied the third-most all-time by a Delaware State Hornet (Fabian Thorne, 11/19/94). Strother followed that up with a solid performance at Kent State, gaining 60 yards on 11 carries. He also caught four passes for 24 yards. On the season, Strother has notched 199 yards on the ground and ranks 22nd in the nation in yards rushing-per-game (99.50).

On the defensive side of the ball, Delaware State is led by defensive back James Romain, who has totaled 15 tackles on the season. The 5-foot-11 senior also leads the team in pass breakups (4) and notched his first interception of the season (second of his career) during the Hornets' 24-3 loss at Kent State.

Game Notables
- The Hornets enter the game riding a nine-game home winning streak.
- For the second-straight season, DSU is playing a first-time opponent for the third game of the year.
- DSU holds a 1-0 record versus teams from the Northeast Conference. The Hornets downed St. Francis (Pa.), 63-28, on Sept. 9, 2006.
- Delaware State has two members of its squad who hail from the Constitution State (Connecticut). Defensive back Jerome Strums and wide receiver Justin Wilson are both from Windsor, Conn (approximately 40 miles north of New Britain, Conn. - Home of the Blue Devils). - Strums and Wilson attended the same high school as CCSU defensive back Nick Delgado (Windsor HS).
- Al Lavan is looking to improve on his home record at Delaware State (12-5, .706).
- Coach Lavan holds a 1-0 record all-time versus the NEC.
- Saturday marks Coach Lavan's 48th game as DSU head coach.
- Saturday's game will mark Vashon Winton's 36th-career start.
- Winton has registered at least one run of 30-or-more yards in each of the last two games, including a career-best, 39-yard run at Kent State (Sept. 13).

A Quick Look at Central Connecticut State
Central Connecticut State makes its first-ever trip to Dover to face its first-ever MEAC opponent. The Blue Devils enter Saturday's contest with a 2-1 record, including a 35-23 victory over North Carolina Central last week (Sept. 20). The Blue Devils have registered four-straight winning seasons including two under current coach Jeff McInerney.

CCSU enters Saturday's game ranked ninth in the nation in rushing offense and is led on the ground by junior James Mallory. Mallory is the nation's second-leading rusher heading into the fourth week of the college football season. Mallory has recorded 541 yards on 74 carries, averaging 7.3 yards-per-carry. The Blue Devil running back has found the end zone three times this season and is averaging 180.30 yards-per-game.

Central Connecticut has gone through the season using two different quarterbacks. Junior Aubrey Norris, listed first on the CCSU two-deep, has thrown for 214 yards on 18-of-30 passing with three touchdowns. Joining Norris in the Blue Devil backfield is junior Hunter Wanket. The 6-foot-4 signal caller has tallied a passing efficiency of 119.93, completing 15-of-30 passing for 195 yards and two touchdowns.

The team's leading receiver Nick Colagiovanni has grabbed nine receptions for 149 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, the Blue Devils are led by pair of linebackers in Jeff Marino and Mike Cooke. Marino has registered 26 total tackles to lead the team. Just behind Marino is Cooke, who has tallied 25 tackles on the season.

Delaware State - Central Connecticut Series History
- Saturday's contest will mark the first-ever meeting between Delaware State and Central Connecticut State
- The Hornets are 1-0 all-time versus team's in the Northeastern Conference.
- DSU routed St. Francis (Pa.), 63-28, on September 9, 2006 at Alumni Stadium.
- The Blue Devils have never played a school from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

A Delaware State Win Would...
- Improve the Hornet's record to 2-1.
- Extend DSU's home-winning streak to 10 games.
- Give Coach Lavan his 32nd-career win at Delaware State.
- Give Coach Lavan his 13th home victory as DSU head coach.
- Would move Delaware State to 2-0 all-time versus the NEC.
- Would improve Vashon Winton's record as a starter to 27-9.
- Would extend DSU's regular-season, FCS winning streak to 11 games.

A Delaware State Loss Would...
- Give the Hornets their first losing record in three years (Oct. 1, 2005).
- Give DSU its first home loss since Oct. 14, 2006.
- Snap a nine-game home winning streak.
- Be the 18th loss of Coach Lavan's career.
- Mark the first time DSU has lost back-to-back games since the 2006 season.

Home Sweet Home
During his five years as Delaware State head coach, Al Lavan has accumulated a record of 12-5 at Alumni Stadium. Lavan has guided the Hornets to perfect home records twice (2005, 2007) and has lost only one home game in the last three years. Lavan's only losing season at home took place during his first season at the helm (2004). The Hornets finished that season with a 2-4 record at home.

Hornets at Home (under Lavan)

Motivation
Defensive back James Romain had plenty of motivation during the Hornets contest at Kent State. Billboards and posters throughout the Ohio town depicted Romain getting beat on a touchdown reception during the team's 2007 meeting. Romain, who registered his first-career interception during that contest, made sure that last he would not be "posterized" again. Romain proved to be the Hornet's defensive MVP during this season's meeting (Sept. 13), collecting his second-career interception, breaking up two passes and tallying a team-high nine tackles.

Home Streak Moves to Nine
With the Hornets' 35-28 (OT) win over the Florida A&M Rattlers (Sept. 4), Delaware State has improved its home-winning streak to nine games. The streak, which dates back to Oct. 14, 2006, includes a conference winning-streak of seven games. In fact, DSU has won 15-of -its-last-16 home contests, dating back to the 2004 season.

Team Honors
Each week the Delaware State Hornets football team will select its Most Valuable Players from each game. Below is a listing of those selections:

Week 2 (at Kent State - Sept. 13, 2008)
Offensive MVP - Chris Strother
Defensive MVP - James Romain
Special Teams - Zacharri Charles

Week 1 (vs. FAMU - Sept. 4, 2008)
Offensive MVP - Chris Strother
Defensive MVP - Jerome Strums
Special Teams - Nick Lochner