Delaware State hosts the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in the 2009 home opener for the Hornets. DSU enters this week's game looking to build off of the team's 21-6 win at Hampton two weeks ago (Sept. 26). A win for the Hornets would extend the team's winning streak over Bethune-Cookman to five games and move DSU to .500 (2-2) for the first time since Oct. 18, 2008 (3-3 following a 42-7 win over North Carolina A&T). Bethune-Cookman has struggled to start the season, dropping each of its first four games this year, including three-straight conference matches. The Wildcats have not won a game at Alumni Stadium since the 2003 season (27-13 win on Oct. 11, 2003). Last season, Delaware State snapped a three-game losing skid by beating Bethune-Cookman, 26-20, during the Wildcats' Homecoming (Oct. 11, 2008).

Delaware State enters Saturday's game with a 1-2 record (1-1 MEAC) following a 21-6 win over the Hampton Pirates at Armstrong Stadium on Sept. 26. The victory was the first of the season for the Hornets and snapped a two-game losing skid to start the season. On the year, DSU is averaging 298.00 yards-per-game in total offense (No. 76 nationally) and are allowing 406.00 yards-per-game in total defense (No. 98 nationally). Despite the low ranking in defense, the Hornets are allowing just 18.00 points-per-game, good for No. 27 in the nation.

DSU is led by quarterback Anthony Glaud, who completed 20-of-31 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown. Glaud also rushed for a score versus the Pirates. Glaud has now completed 20-or-more passes in two consecutive games improving his passing efficiency rating to 107.25 (No. 83 in the nation). The Sicklerville, N.J., native has completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 546 yards and two touchdown passes. Glaud has connected with 10 different receivers through the first three games and is averaging 182.00 passing yards-per-game and 201.00 yards of total offense-per-game (No. 52 in the nation and No. 3 in the MEAC).

Transfer running back Tahree McQueen is coming off his first-career 100-yard rushing contest, notching 102 yards on 21 carries at Hampton. McQueen also caught three passes for 25 yards for 127 all-purpose yards versus the Pirates. For his performance, McQueen earned MEAC Rookie of the Week honors (Sept. 28).

Sophomore Darius Jackson leads a DSU receiving corps which has caught 60 passes for 546 yards and two touchdowns and is averaging 9.1 yards-per-catch. Jackson comes into tonight's game as the team's leading receiver with 17 catches for 184 yards, ranking No 32 in receptions-per-game (5.67) and No. 72 in receiving yards-per-game (61.33), nationally. Larrone Moore has caught 12 passes for 113 yards and Erick Jones has registered 10 receptions for 68 yards. Jackson has caught a pass in five-straight games while Moore has grabbed a pass in six-straight contests. Jones has tallied at least two catches in seven-straight. DSU has three of the conference's top receivers in Jackson (No. 1), Moore (No. 7) and Jones (No. 9). Seniors Zach Charles (30 yds.) and Calvin Toliver (4 yds.) have recorded the team's two touchdown receptions.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Hornets are led by linebacker Mike Gable, who has recorded 24 tackles (12 solo), including a sack this season. Gable has led the team in tackling in each of the team's first three games. Gable is averaging 8.00 tackles per-game and is tied for No. 3 in the MEAC. Defensive back Avery Grant is second on the team with 19 total tackles (10 solo). The 6-foot-0 Grant has tallied two tackles for loss, including a sack in 2009. Cornerback Greg Ligon leads the team in interceptions after picking off two passes versus the Pirates two weeks ago. The interceptions were the first two of Ligon's career. Ligon is currently tied for No. 20 in the nation in interceptions-per-game (0.67).

Punter Nick Lochner earned MEAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors last week (Sept. 28) after recording six punts for 264 yards versus the Pirates on Saturday, Sept. 26, pinning Hampton deep in its own territory each time. On the day, Lochner recorded two punts of 50 yards-or-more, including a season-best 60-yard punt. Two of his punts were fair caught and three were inside the 20-yard line as Hampton returned three punts for a total of six yards. Lochner ranks No. 53 in the nation in punting (38.71 yards-per-punt).

Game Notables

            - Saturday will mark the 34th meeting between DSU and B-CU. 

            - DSU is looking to win the team's second-straight game.

            - Head Coach Al Lavan holds a 4-1 record all-time versus the Wildcats.

            - The Hornets are looking to move their record to .500 for the first time since Oct. 18, 2008 (2-2).

            - Saturday marks Coach Lavan's 60th game as DSU head coach.

            - Saturday will be Coach Lavan's 28th-career home game (18-9).

            - Saturday marks Coach Lavan's 19th-career conference home game (14-4).

            - The Hornets enter Saturday's game having scored points in 56-straight games (dating back to Oct. 2, 2004).

            - The Hornets enter Saturday's game having scored points in 78-straight MEAC games (dating back to Sept. 11, 1999).

            - DSU is 2-2 on date of Oct. 10 (dating back to 1969)

            - DSU looks to win its fifth-straight home opener.

A Quick Look at Bethune-Cookman

Bethune-Cookman enters Saturday's game still looking for its first win of the season. Bethune-Cookman dropped a 24-13 contest to Morgan State last week for its third home loss of the season.  The Wildcats have lost five-straight (dating back to the end of last season) and are in the bottom portion of the NCAA rankings in Passing Offense (No. 114), Total Offense (No. 112), Scoring Offense (No. 113), Turnover Margin (No. 117), Passing Efficiency (No. 118). The Wildcats are a run-heavy team as their system the "Wyattbone Offense" which mixes several variations of option attacks. B-CU averages 134.50 yards-per-game on the ground (No. 69 in the nation) and 98.75 yards-per-game through the air. The Wildcats are allowing 27.0 points-per-game - last in the MEAC.

Quarterback Maurice Francois is the team leader in both passing and rushing. Francois has recorded 229 passing yards, completing 21-of-47 with no touchdowns and four interceptions. On the ground Francois has tallied 147 yards on 60 carries with one touchdown.

Francois' favorite target is JeVaughn Reams, who has registered 15 catches for 172 yards. Reams is averaging 43.0 yards-per-game and 11.5 yards-per-reception.

Reggie Sandilands is the Wildcats leading tackler with 32 on the year (18 solo). Sandilands has registered seven tackles for loss and has recorded two quarterback hurries. Ryan Lewis is second on the team in tackles (30 totals, 18 solo) and leads B-CU with two interceptions. Lewis has notched 4.5 tackles for loss, including one sack.

The Last Meeting (Oct. 11, 2008)

Quarterback Vashon Winton rushed for two touchdowns and threw another to help the Hornets break their three-game losing streak with a 26-20 road win over Bethune-Cookman. With the victory the Hornets improve to 2-3 (2-1 in MEAC) on the season. 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 2:58 drive which covered 46 yards on six plays.

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 on 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 season . 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, booting a 20-yarder 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 stretched 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 Hornets could not convert the extra point due to a bad snap. The three-play, 91-yard drive was highlighted by a career-best 78-yard run by Chris Strother, who rushed for 95 yards in the first half. The Hornets found the end zone once again on a 17-yard reception by Erick Jones with 0:52 left on the second quarter clock. The touchdown was the first of Jones' career and extended DSU's lead to 26-10. The scoring pass was Winton's third of the season and 33rd of his career.

The Hornets ate up 4:42 on the clock on the 11-play, 61-yard drive. Bethune-Cookman cut into Delaware State's lead on 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. 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 Hornets' lead. The interception was Hudson's second of the season and his career. Bethune-Cookman 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, pulled the Wildcats to within 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 victory. The redshirt senior finished with 147 yards through the air to move into 18th place all-time on the MEAC career passing list. (4,904) He also finished with 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.

Delaware State - Bethune-Cookman Series History

            - Saturday's contest will mark the 34th meeting all-time between Delaware State and Bethune-Cookman.

            - DSU leads the series history, 19-14.

            - DSU has won four-straight over B-CU.

            - Over the last 10 games, the series is tied, 5-5

            - The Hornets are 12-4 all-time versus the Wildcats in Dover

            - DSU has scored in 27-straight games versus Bethune-Cookman while the Pirates have scored in three-consecutive contests.

            - The longest winning streak in this series is six-straight held by Delaware State (1992-1997).

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 A Delaware State Win Would...

            - Give the Hornets their 20th win over the Wildcats.

            - Give Head Coach Al Lavan his 36th-career win at Delaware State.

            - Give Coach Lavan his 19th home victory as DSU head coach.

            - Improve DSU's 2009 record to 2-2.

            - Improve DSU's 2009 MEAC record to 2-1.

            - Give the DSU football program its 331st victory all-time.

            - Improve quarterback Anthony Glaud's record as a starter to 2-2.

            - Give DSU its fifth-straight win over B-CU.

            - Improve Coach Lavan's record in home openers to 5-1.

            - Improve DSU's record in home openers to 26-15 (dating back to 1969)

Inside the Numbers

            - The 2009 Delaware State roster consists of 30 freshmen and 15 sophomores and only 38 juniors and seniors.

            - DSU's opponents have a combined record of 23-20.

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

            - The most people to see Delaware State play in a single season is 111,096. To date this season, 42,426 fans have been to a DSU game.

            - Delaware State has not been shut out in 56-straight games.

            - Delaware State is 9-12 in the month of September 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 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.

            - DSU is 25-15 in home openers (dating back to 1969).

McQueen and Lochner Earn MEAC Player of the Week Honors

Running back Tahree McQueen has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Week, while punter Nick Lochner earned the league's Special Teams Player of the Week honor for the week ending Sept. 27.

McQueen recorded his first-career 100-yard rushing performance during DSU's 21-6 win at Hampton on Sept. 26. The Paterson, N.J., native carried the ball a career-high 21 times for 102 yards for an average of 4.9 yards-per-game. McQueen also registered a career-best 18-yard rush versus the Pirates in just his third appearance with the Hornets. The 5-foot-10 running back also caught three passes for 25 yards. Both totals were a career-best. On the day, McQueen recorded 127 all-purpose yards.

This is McQueen's first player of the week honor.

Lochner recorded six punts for 264 yards versus the Pirates, pinning Hampton deep in its own territory each time. On the day, Lochner recorded two punts of 50 yards-or-more, including a season-best 60-yard punt. Two of his punts were fair caught and three were inside the 20-yard line as Hampton returned three punts for a total of six yards. Lochner ranks No. 47 in the nation in punting (38.7 yards-per-punt). Lochner also registered eight yards on the ground. On fourth-&-eight, Lochner took a botched snap and rushed for a first down, keeping DSU's drive going to start the second quarter. The drive resulted in the Hornets' first touchdown of the game.

The honor marks the first of the season for Lochner and the second of his career.

Home Openers

The Hornets enter this week's game looking improve their record in home openers to 26-15 (dating back to 1969). DSU has won 25 home openers, including four-straight. Head Coach Al Lavan is 4-1 in home opening games, dropping his debut, 51-0, to Massachusetts on Sept. 4, 2004.

This week's home opener also marks the latest start at home since the 1992 season. The Hornets hosted Towson on Oct. 10, 1992 in the team's home opener. DSU won, 27-13. Since the 1969 season, Delaware State has hosted its first home game in the month of October seven times (5-2).

The latest start to a DSU home slate took place during the 1972 season. That year Delaware State's first home game was on Oct. 14 - which in fact was the school's homecoming game versus North Carolina Central (W, 14-10).

Under the Lights

Since lights were installed at Alumni Stadium (winter of 2005), Delaware State has hosted seven games at night. The Hornets hold a 5-2 record under the lights in Dover. Last season, Delaware State split its two night games, defeating Florida A&M in overtime, 35-28 (Sept. 4), and falling to Central Connecticut State, 28-10 (Sept. 27).

The Hornets have hosted Bethune-Cookman at night, downing the Wildcats, 24-10, on Oct. 4, 2007 in front of a nationally televised audience (ESPNU).

The 3rd Quarter has Not Been Kind

The Hornets enter Saturday's game, scoring 50 points for an average of 16.7 points-per-game. Of the 50 points none have been scored during the third quarter. DSU's most-productive quarter has been the fourth (27 points).

Richmond Named Semifinalist for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy

Senior offensive lineman Nick Richmond has been selected as one of 154 semifinalists for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy (formerly known as the Draddy Trophy), endowed by HealthSouth, and the candidates for the 2009 NFF National Scholar- Athlete Awards as announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) this past Thursday (Oct. 1).

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. Renamed this fall in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal, the award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.

The NFF Awards Committee will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 29. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2009 NFF National Scholar- Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The Campbell Trophy winner, who will have his scholarship increased to $25,000, will be announced live at the NFF's Annual Awards Dinner on December 8 at the prestigious Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. A total distribution of $277,000 in scholarships will be awarded that evening.

Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to award post- graduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments. The William V. Campbell Trophy, first awarded in 1990, adds to the program's mystique, having previously honored two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist and a Heisman winner. The University of California's Alex Mack, a first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, was named the 2008 Campbell Trophy recipient.

On This Date

Dating back to the 1969 season, Delaware State has played in four games on Oct. 10. In those contests the Hornets have registered a 2-2 record. The last time DSU played on Oct. 10, the Hornets fell to Bethune-Cookman, 50-8, in Daytona Beach, Fla., during the 1998 season. Below is a listing of DSU's Oct. 10 games.

1998 - L, 50-8 at Bethune-Cookman (Daytona Beach, Fla.)

1992 - W, 27-13 vs. Towson (Dover, Del.)

1981 - L, 31-27 vs. Howard (Dover, Del.)

1970 - W, 20-0 at Howard (Washington, D.C.)

100-Yard Rushers

On Saturday, Sept. 26, Tahree McQueen became the 175th running back at DSU (since 1970) to rush for 100 yards, following a 102-yard performance versus Hampton. McQueen broke the century mark on 21 carries for his first-career 100-yard game.

The last DSU rusher to break the 100-yard barrier was Kareem Jones, who ran for 230 yards on 35 attempts versus the Winston-Salem Rams on Nov. 8, 2008. 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 19-straight games. Francis Adjei and Avery Grant have each had at least one tackle in 14-straight games. Defensive tackle Andre Caroll has had a tackle in 13-consecutive games.

On the offensive side of the ball, Larrone Moore has had a reception in six-straight games, while Darius Jackson has caught a pass in five-straight.

Wide receiver Erick Jones has caught two-or-more passes in seven-straight games.

56 and Counting

The Delaware State Hornets scored 21 points versus the Hampton Pirates to extend the teams' consecutive games scored streak to 56. The Hornets have not been shut out since a 49-0 loss to Southern Illinois on Sept. 25, 2004.