The Delaware State football team travels to Orangeburg, S.C., to take on the first-place South Carolina State Bulldogs (6-1, 4-0) on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Hornets are coming off a 35-22 win over the Morgan State Bears during DSU's homecoming last weekend. The loss was the Bears' first in the conference this season and dropped MSU to third in the MEAC standings. Delaware State is looking to put together its first winning streak of the season and knock off its second-straight unbeaten team in conference play. The Bulldogs are the first ranked opponent (No. 10) for the Hornets this year and will be the team's fifth road game of the 2009 campaign.

DSU is looking to avenge a 23-17 loss to the Bulldogs last season and will be attempting to record its third win in the last four years versus SCSU. The last three meetings between Delaware State and South Carolina State have been decided by six points or less.

The Hornets enter this week's game averaging 259.50 yards of total offense-per-game (No. 101 in the nation) and are scoring 16.33 points-per-game (No. 100 nationally). DSU is coming off its most productive game, scoring 35 points versus the Morgan State Bears. Delaware State rattled off 281 yards of total offense, including 131 yards on the ground. Defensively, the Hornets are allowing 425.50 yards of total offense-per-game (No. 113 in the nation) and 24.67 points-per-game (No. 65 nationally). The DSU defense forced three turnovers last weekend, improving the Hornets forced turnover total to 12.

Quarterback Anthony Glaud is coming off his second-career victory as DSU's starting signal caller. Glaud completed 16-of-26 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns versus the Bears. The Sicklerville, N.J., native also rushed for his third touchdown of the season during the win. On the season Glaud has a passer efficiency rating of 106.01 (No. 83 in the nation), recording 728 yards on 81-of-139 passes and four touchdowns.

Redshirt sophomore Jaashawn Jones is expected to make his second-career start this weekend. Jones is coming off his first-career 100-yard rushing game, registering 107 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. Jones has recorded 192 yards on 41 carries and two touchdowns this season. Backing up Jones will be walk-on running back James Rosseau. Rosseau made his DSU debut last weekend, taking the field following an injury to freshman Nick Williams. Rosseau tallied 20 yards on five attempts versus the Bears.

For the eighth-straight week, sophomore Darius Jackson leads all DSU receivers with 26 catches for 281 yards. Jackson is coming off game-high five receptions for 77 yards versus MSU. Redshirt freshman Donnell Dixon grabbed his first-career touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Glaud late in the first half of last weekend's game. Dixon finished the game with three catches for 46 yards and one touchdown. Dixon enters the week with six catches for 79 yards and one touchdown. Zach Charles, Larrone Moore and Erick Jones round out the Delaware State receivers who have produced 10-or-more catches this season. Charles enters Saturday's game with 18 catches for 133 yards and a team-high two touchdowns. Moore has 17 catches for 161 yards while Jones has notched 13 receptions for 104 yards.

The DSU defense is led by defensive tackle Andre Caroll, who has recorded 38 tackles (18 solo) this season. Caroll is coming off an 11-tackle performance versus Morgan State. Caroll has registered five tackles for loss, one sack and has forced one fumble this season. Linebacker Ahmad Harris is second on the squad with 36 total tackles (18 solo). Harris notched seven tackles during DSU's 35-22 win over MSU last week. Reigning Defensive Player of the Week Avery Grant recorded his first-career interception during last week's victory. Grant picked off a pass by Carlton Jackson and returned it 15 yards for a score. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native recorded seven tackles to improve his season total to 35 (19 solo).

On special teams, Delaware State is led by punter Nick Lochner, who booted four punts for an average 42.2 yards-per-punt, including a career-long 70-yard blast versus the Bears on Saturday. Placekicker Riley Flickinger enters this week's game having made 11-straight extra-point attempts. Flickinger is 3-for-8 in field goal attempts this season. Travis Tarpley leads DSU in kick return yards (318), recorded 12 kick returns for an average of 26.5 yards-per-return this season. Tarpley ranks No. 12 in the nation and No. 2 in the conference in kick returns.

Game Notables

            - Saturday will mark Homecoming for the South Carolina State. 

            - Head Coach Al Lavan owns a 36-26 record all-time as the Hornets' head coach.

            - Saturday marks Lavan's 34th road game at DSU

            - Lavan is looking to improve his road record as DSU's head coach - 17-16

            - Saturday marks Coach Lavan's 63rd game as DSU head coach.

            - Delaware State has won three of the last four games with the Bulldogs.

            - The Hornets enter Saturday's game having scored points in 59-straight games (dating back to Oct. 2, 2004).

            - DSU is 2-3 on date of Oct. 31 (dating back to 1969)

A Quick Look at South Carolina State

South Carolina State enters this week's game coming off a 21-9 win at Hampton on Saturday, Oct. 24. The Bulldogs are perfect in MEAC play and are ranked No. 10 in both the Sports Network Top 25 and AFCA Coaches Top 25 polls this week. SCSU is riding a three-game winning streak and has not lost in conference play in 15-straight games. Delaware State handed S.C. State its last loss (17-16 in 2007). The Bulldogs only loss this season was a 38-14 loss at South Carolina (Oct. 3). SCSU enters this week's game averaging 337.29 yards of total offense-per-game (No. 56 in the nation) and 27.43 points-per-game (No. 35 nationally). Defensively, the Bulldogs are allowing 265.57 yards of total offense-per-game (No. 11 nationally) and 17.29 points-per-game (No. 19 in the nation).

The Bulldogs are led by All-America candidate Will Ford. Ford enters this week's game with 568 yards on 113 carries and four touchdowns. Ford is averaging 81.1 yards-per-game. Joining Ford in the backfield is Travil Jamison, who has recorded 200 yards on 61 carries and four touchdowns.

Malcolm Long enters Saturday, completing 113-of-168 passes for 1267 yards and nine touchdowns. Long has also rushed for three scores.

Long's favorite target is Oliver 'Tre' Young, who has grabbed 35 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns.

The South Carolina State defense is led by David Erby and Julius Wilkerson. Erby has recorded 57 tackles (39 solo) with one sack and two forced fumbles. Wilkerson has produced 50 tackles (33 solo) with 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.     

The Last Meeting

Delaware State nearly overcame a 20-point deficit before falling to South Carolina State 23-17 at Alumni Stadium. The first-place Bulldogs won their fifth straight game to improve to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the MEAC. The Hornets lost their second in a row to fall to 3-5 and 3-3. South Carolina State led 23-3 after Travil Jamison's one-yard touchdown run with 5:00 left in the third quarter. Delaware State scored 14 unanswered points to pull to within 23-17, but failed to complete the comeback when its final possession ended in South Carolina State territory in the closing moments of the game.

Delaware State - South Carolina State History

            - Saturday's contest will mark 39th meeting between DSU and SCSU.

            - The Hornets have won three of the last four versus the Bulldogs

            - Head Coach Al Lavan owns a 2-3 record all-time versus South Carolina State.

            - DSU handed SCSU its last conference loss (17-16 on Oct. 27, 2007).

            - DSU holds a 4-6 record versus South Carolina State in the last 10 meetings.

            - The last three outings between DSU and SCSU have been decided by six points or less.

            - DSU holds a 6-13 record versus South Carolina State in Orangeburg, S.C.

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 A Delaware State Win Would...

            - Give the Hornets their second road win of the season.

            - Give Head Coach Al Lavan his 37th-career win at Delaware State.

            - Give Coach Lavan his 18th road victory as DSU head coach.

            - Improve DSU's 2009 record to 3-5.

            - Give the DSU football program its 332nd victory all-time.

            - Improve DSU's record to 23-16 versus the Bulldogs.

            - Snap a two-game, home losing streak.

            - Give DSU its first winning streak of the season.

Inside the Numbers

            - The 2009 Delaware State roster consists of 32 freshmen and 13 sophomores and only 38 juniors and seniors.

            - DSU's opponents have a combined record of 37-34.

            - Four DSU opponents are listed in this week's FCS National Polls.

            - Entering the 2009 season, the most people to see Delaware State play in a single season is 111,096. To date this season, 157,930 fans have been to a DSU game.

            - Delaware State has not been shut out in 59-straight games.

            - Delaware State is 16-8 in the month of October under Al Lavan.

           - Two DSU receivers are listed at 6-foot-3 or taller. Freshman Justin Brewton is 6-foot-4 and senior Erick Jones is 6-foot-3.

            - The tallest player on the DSU roster is redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Nail Muradymov (6-foot-7)

            - The shortest players on the DSU roster are Nafis Pickett, James Rosseau and Travis Tarpley (5-foot-7).

            - The heaviest player on the DSU roster is senior offensive lineman Mike Maloney (325 lbs).

            - 19 newcomers (players who prior to this season have not taken the field in a DSU uniform) are listed on this week's depth chart.

            - The Hornets allowed a school-record 727 yards of total offense versus the Michigan Wolverines.

Hornets Win Fifth-Straight Homecoming Contest

With DSU's 35-22 win over Morgan State on Saturday, Oct. 24, the Hornets have now won five-straight homecoming contests. Delaware State's last homecoming loss came at hands of South Carolina State on Oct. 30, 2004 (28-14). During the Hornets win streak, DSU has outscored its opponents, 180-81, including two games of 40 points-or-more.

Running Backs Running Thin

The Hornets enter this week's game with a depleted running back corps. Following an injury to true freshman Nick Williams (vs. Morgan State - Oct. 24), DSU is down to one running back on scholarship. This week's two-deep lists redshirt sophomore Jaashawn Jones ahead of walk-on James Rosseau.

DSU's starting running back Jason Randall entering the season went down with a knee injury during the Hornets' game at Hampton (Sept. 26). Redshirt sophomore Tahree McQueen stepped in and replaced Randall for two games before suffering a season-ending injury at Michigan (Oct. 17). With the injury to McQueen, Williams was called upon and made his first-career start versus Morgan State. During that game Williams went down with an injury and is listed as "out".  

59 and Counting

The Delaware State Hornets scored 35 points versus the Morgan State Bears to extend the teams' consecutive games scored streak to 59. The Hornets have not been shut out since a 49-0 loss to Southern Illinois on Sept. 25, 2004.

On This Date

Dating back to the 1969 season, Delaware State has played in five games on Oct. 31. In those contests the Hornets have registered a 2-3 record. The last time DSU played on Oct. 24, the Hornets fell to South Carolina State, 31-14, in Dover, Del., during the 1998 season. Below is a listing of DSU's Oct. 31 games.

1998 - L, 31-14 vs. South Carolina State (Dover, Del.)

1992 - L, 28-7 vs. South Carolina State (Dover, Del.)

1987 - W, 28-7 at South Carolina State (Orangeburg, S.C.)

1981 - L, 24-7 vs. Towson (Dover, Del.)

1970 - W, 44-10 vs. Millersville (Dover, Del.)

Grant Named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week

Defensive back Avery Grant was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Defensive Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 25.

Grant helped lead DSU to its first home victory of the 2009 season, registering seven total tackles and recording his first-career interception versus the Morgan State Bears on Saturday, Oct. 24. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native picked off a pass by Carlton Jackson late in the fourth quarter and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown to seal the Hornets victory. One of the top tacklers on the squad, Grant's seven tackles versus the Bears, tied his season high and improved his 2009 total to 35 tackles.

This is Grant's second-career player of the week honor and first of the 2009 season.

100-Yard Rushers

On Saturday, Oct. 24, Jaashawn Jones became the 176th running back at DSU (since 1970) to rush for 100 yards, following a 107-yard performance versus Morgan State. Jones recorded his first-career 10-yard outing on 17 carries with one touchdown.

Earlier this season, Tahree McQueen rushed for 102 yards at Hampton (Sept. 26). McQueen broke the century mark on 21 carries for his first-career 100-yard game.

DSU's record for most rushing yards in a game is held by Gene Lake, who registered 336 yards on 33 carries versus Liberty on Nov. 10, 1984.

Consecutive Streaks

A number of DSU Hornets enter this Saturday's game riding consecutive streaks. Mike Gable comes into this week's game recording a tackle in 22-straight games. Francis Adjei and Avery Grant have each had at least one tackle in 17-straight games. Defensive tackle Andre Caroll has had a tackle in 16-consecutive games.

On the offensive side of the ball, Darius Jackson has caught a pass in eight-straight contests.

The Big House Sets DSU Record

On Saturday, Oct. 17, Delaware State took the field at Michigan Stadium in front of a crowd of 106,304. Prior to this outing, the largest crowd to see DSU play was 29,713 on Sept. 2, 2006 when the Hornets took on Florida A&M at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. Entering this season, the single-season record for attendance for DSU is 111,096 during the 2007 season. Below is a listing of Delaware State's top single-game attendances.

1.         106,304 - at Michigan (Oct. 17, 2009)

2.         29,713 - vs. Florida A&M (Sept. 2, 2006) - Ford Field; Detroit, Mich.

3.         26,216 - at Florida A&M (Oct. 30, 1999)

4.         25,180 - at Morgan State (Oct. 24, 1998)

5.         23,500 - at Southern (Nov. 9, 1985)