DOVER (November 10, 2009 ) --- The Delaware State Hornets host the Norfolk State Spartans this weekend as DSU looks to continue its dominance over NSU on Military Appreciation Day. The Hornets come into Saturday's contest having won six-straight and nine of the last 10 over the Spartans. DSU is coming off a 24-21 win at Winston-Salem State (Saturday, Nov. 7) and is looking for its first winning streak of the season. Saturday's game will mark the first of two-straight to close out the 2009 season. The Spartans come into Alumni Stadium riding a two-game winning streak and are currently third in the MEAC standings. NSU has never won at Alumni Stadium (0-6), including a 28-21 overtime loss on Nov. 10, 2007, resulting in Delaware State's sixth MEAC Championship. This weekend's game marks the 17th meeting between the two teams and 12th contest as members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

DSU is coming off a 24-21 win at Winston-Salem State last weekend. The Hornets forced five turnovers and jumped out to a 24-7 lead over the Rams en route to the teams' third win of the season. Delaware State enters this week's game looking to extend its winning streak over the Spartans to seven games. The Hornets currently rank No. 104 (nationally) in total offense, averaging 254.63 yards of total offense-per-game. Scoring 16.50 points-per-game, DSU is looking to score 20-or-more points in its second-straight game. Delaware State's defense enters this weekend's game allowing 414.63 yards of total offense-per-game (No. 108 in the nation) and 27.63 points-per-game (No. 84 nationally).

The Hornets are led by quarterback Anthony Glaud, who comes into Saturday's game averaging 128.3 yards-per-game through the air. Glaud has completed 55.4 percent (97-of-175) of his passes this season with four touchdowns and six interceptions. The Sicklerville, N.J., native has also scored four rushing touchdowns this season. Glaud rushed for a one-yard score versus the Rams of Winston-Salem last weekend which proved to be the game-winning score as the Hornets won their second road win of the year.

Redshirt sophomore Jaashawn Jones is coming off his second-career, 100-yard game on the ground, carrying the ball 35 times for 143 yards versus the Rams. The 35 attempts was one shy of tying the school record for carries in a single game (36- Fabian Thorne on 10/21/95). Jones leads all DSU rushers with 385 yards on 91 carries and three rushing touchdowns this season. The Asbury Park, N.J., native is averaging 4.2 yards-per-carry and 64.2 yards-per-game. Backing up Jones will be James Rosseau. Rosseau, a freshman from Philadelphia, Pa., enters Saturday's game with 75 yards on 18 carries in three games played.

Sophomore Darius Jackson comes into this game as the team's leading receiver, recording 30 catches for 353 yards. Jackson is averaging 44.1 yards-per-game and 11.8 yards-per-reception. Zach Charles, who ranks second on the team in catches, led all Hornets with four catches for 32 yards last weekend at Winston-Salem State. Charles has tallied 22 catches for 165 yards this season, including two touchdown receptions. Larrone Moore rounds out the DSU receivers with 20-or-more catches. Moore enters this week's game with 21 catches for 191 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Hornets are led by linebacker Ahmad Harris, who has recorded 47 tackles (24 solo) this season. Harris was credited with five tackles last weekend and comes into this week's game having started in every game this season for DSU. Andre Caroll leads the team in tackles for loss (5.5). The Neptune, N.J., native has registered 46 total tackles (22 solo) in 2009, including one sack. The Hornets have totaled 13 sacks this season and led by senior Tyron Hurst. Hurst enters this week with a team-high three sacks. The Dover, Del., product picked up his third sack of the season during last week's win over Winston Salem State. Defensive back Jerome Strums leads all DSU players with three interceptions. The Windsor, Conn., native has recorded nearly one-third of the teams' total picks (10). Strums enters this week's game with 38 total tackles (15 solo), two pass breakups and one fumble recovery. The fumble recovery - the first of his career - was a 21-yard return for a touchdown during last week's victory. Strums has scored two defensive touchdowns this season.

The DSU special teams are led by place kicker Riley Flickinger and punter Nick Lochner. Flickinger leads the Hornets in scoring (30 points) with five field goals and 15 extra point conversions. Flickinger has converted 15-straight extra-point tries. Lochner comes into the Norfolk State game averaging 39.3 yards-per-punt. The Webster, N.Y., native is second in the MEAC in punting, placing 15 of his 46 total punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

Kick return duties are handled by two of the conference best. Moore comes into Saturday's game as the MEAC's top returner, averaging 26.57 yards-per-kick return. Moore has returned 14 kicks for 372 yards and one touchdown. Leading the Hornets in return yardage is redshirt freshman Travis Tarpley. Tarpley has recorded 409 yards on 16 returns for an average of 25.6 yards-per-return. Tarpley ranks third in the conference.

Game Notables

            - Saturday will mark the first of two home games to close out the 2009 season. 

            - Head Coach Al Lavan owns a 37-27 record all-time as the Hornets' head coach.

            - Saturday marks Lavan's 30th home game at DSU

            - Lavan is looking to improve his home record as DSU's head coach - 19-10

            - Saturday marks Coach Lavan's 65th game as DSU head coach.

            - Delaware State has never lost to Norfolk State at Alumni Stadium.

            - The Hornets enter Saturday's game having scored points in 61-straight games (dating back to Oct. 2, 2004).

            - Saturday is Military Appreciation Day.

            - DSU is 4-2 on date of Nov. 14 (dating back to 1969).

            - DSU owns a 84-64 record at Alumni Stadium (dating back to September 6, 1980)

A Quick Look at Norfolk State

Norfolk State is currently on a two-game winning streak, having downed Morgan State (31-23) last weekend and Howard (41-6) two weeks ago. The Spartans are averaging 345.56 yards of total offense-per-game (No. 52 nationally) and are scoring 27.11 points-per-game (No. 39 in the nation). On the defensive side of the ball, NSU is allowing 264.33 yards of total offense-per-game (No. 9 in the nation) and 19.33 points-per-game (No. 26 nationally).

The Spartans are led by quarterback Dennis Brown. Brown comes into this week's game with 1694 yards and 15 touchdowns on 58.0 percent (127-of-219) passing. Brown has a 138.26 passer rating and is averaging 188.2 yards-per-game through the air. Brown has also scored five rushing touchdowns this season, gaining 371 yards on 104 attempts.

Running back DeAngelo Branche leads Norfolk State with 748 yards on the ground on 135 carries. Branche has scored seven touchdowns and is averaging 5.5 yards-per-carry.

Chris Bell is the Spartans top receiver, tallying 37 catches for 734 yards and 10 touchdowns. Bell is averaging 19.8 yards-per-catch and 81.6 yards-per-game. P.J. Hayden is second on the team in receiving, recording 432 yards on 26 catches and four touchdowns.

Defensively, the Spartans are led by Anthony Taylor, who enters this week's game with 67 tackles (36 solo) and 10.5 tackles for loss. Taylor has registered 4.5 sacks this season and four quarterback hurries. Terrell Whitehead is second on the team in tackles with 56 (30 solo). Whitehead has recorded two interceptions and two pass breakups this season. On the year, the Spartan defense has 11 interceptions and has forced four fumbles.

The Last Meeting

For the second-straight season, Delaware State (4-6, 4-3 in MEAC) came from behind to beat  Norfolk State (4-7, 3-5 in MEAC), 34-28. DSU scored 27 unanswered points for the sixth-straight win over NSU. A one-yard touchdown run by Jaashawn Jones with 26.2 seconds left in the game sealed the Hornet's victory and maintained Head Coach Al Lavan's perfect record versus the Spartans (5-0). Quarterback Vashon Winton finished the day with 176 yards through the air and a touchdown. The running back duties were split between seniors Chris Strother (18 carries for 81 yards) and Kareem Jones (16 carries for 71 yards) who both added big runs when the team needed it. Strother carried the entire load during the tail end of the third quarter and all of the fourth, after K. Jones suffered an ankle injury.

The game-winning drive, in which Strother accounted for 30 yards on four carries, including an 18-yard run to the NSU two-yard line with time winding down, went for 58 yards on five plays and ate up thee-minutes-17 seconds.

Delaware State - Norfolk State History

            - Saturday's contest will mark 17th meeting between DSU and NSU.

            - The Hornets have won six-straight game over the Spartans.

            - Head Coach Al Lavan owns a 5-0 record all-time versus Norfolk State.

            - NSU has never won at Alumni Stadium (0-6).

            - Of the Spartans three total win over the Hornets, NSU's largest margin of victory is 12 points. Delaware State's most decisive win was 30 points (2001).

            - DSU has won nine of the last 10 meetings with the Spartans.

            - Delaware State has scored 20-or-more points in 14-consecutive games versus Norfolk State.

            - Delaware State holds a 9-2 record versus Norfolk State in MEAC competition.

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 A Delaware State Win Would...

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

            - Give Head Coach Al Lavan his 38th-career win at Delaware State.

            - Give Coach Lavan his 20th home victory as DSU head coach.

            - Improve DSU's 2009 record to 4-6.

            - Give the DSU football program its 333rd victory all-time.

            - Improve DSU's record to 14-3 versus the Spartans.

            - Give DSU its second-straight home victory.

            - Improve Lavan's MEAC record to 32-13.

            - Give Anthony Glaud his fourth win as a starting quarterback.

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 47-45.

            - 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, 183,897 fans have been to a DSU game.

            - Delaware State has not been shut out in 61-straight games.

            - Delaware State is 12-4 in the month of November 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.

Lavan  Looking to Remain Perfect

Head Coach Al Lavan enters this weekend's game owning a perfect 5-0 record versus the Norfolk State Spartans. Lavan is 2-0 at home versus the Spartans, winning the 2007 MEAC Championship following a 28-21 overtime win in the last meeting at Alumni Stadium. The Hornets have out-scored the Spartans under Lavan, 133-76, scoring 30-or-more points in four of the last five outings.

Scoop & Score

On Saturday, Nov. 7, senior Jerome Strums returned a fumble 21 yards for a touchdown versus the Winston-Salem State Rams. The score was the first fumble recovery for Strums and the first fumble recovery for a touchdown by a DSU player since Reggie McCoy returned a fumble 19 yards versus Delaware (Nov. 23, 2007).

Workhorse

Redshirt sophomore Jaashawn Jones carried the ball 35 times for 143 yards versus the Winston-Salem State Rams on Saturday, Nov. 7. The 35 carries ranked tied for second all-time at Delaware State for rushing attempts-per-game. Jones tied former DSU running backs Kareem Jones (35 carries, 230 yards versus Winston-Salem State - Nov. 8, 2008) and Mike Murray (35 carries for 169 yards versus Howard - Nov. 23, 1991).

Strums and Maloney Earn MEAC Player of the Week Honors

Defensive back Jerome Strums was been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Defensive Player of the Week while offensive lineman Mike Maloney garnered the MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week for the week ending Nov. 8.

Strums recorded two turnovers (one interception and one fumble recovery) during DSU's 24-21 win over Winston-Salem State (Nov. 7). The Windsor, Conn., native scooped up a botched pitch and returned it 21 yards to give the Hornets a 14-0 lead with just under six minutes left in the first quarter. The fumble recovery was the first of Strums' career and marked the second defensive score for the 6-foot defensive back. Strums also made an acrobatic catch to record his third interception of the season and sixth of his career. Strums recovered two of the Rams five total turnovers on the day.

This is Strums' first player of the week honor.

Maloney received a grade of 98 percent this past weekend, leading the DSU offensive line, which played a big part in Jaashawn Jones' second-career 100-yard rushing game (35 carries for 143 yards). Maloney registered 11 pancake blocks while allowing no sacks in 69 total plays.  The senior right tackle committed no penalties in his 20th-consecutive start. Maloney leads all offensive linemen with 52 pancake blocks and an 86 percent grade for the season.

This honor marks the first for Maloney.

61 and Counting

The Delaware State Hornets scored 24 points versus the Winston-Salem State Rams to extend the team's consecutive games scored streak to 61. 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 six games on Nov. 14. In those contests the Hornets have registered a 4-2 record. The last time DSU played on Nov. 14, the Hornets defeated Norfolk State, 36-25, in Dover, Del., during the 2003 season. Below is a listing of DSU's Nov. 14 games.

2003 - W, 36-25 vs. Norfolk State (Dover, Del.)

1998 - L, 46-43 vs. Hampton (Dover, Del.)

1992 - L, 49-27 at Liberty (Lynchburg, Va.)

1987 - W, 22-20 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Pine Bluff, Ark.)

1981 - W, 13-7 at Central State (Wilberforce, Ohio)

1970 - W, 21-15 at UMES (Princess Anne, Md.)

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 24-straight games. Francis Adjei and Avery Grant have each had at least one tackle in 19-straight games. Defensive tackle Andre Caroll has had a tackle in 18-consecutive games.

On the offensive side of the ball, Darius Jackson has caught a pass in 10-straight contests.

100-Yard Rushers

On Saturday, Nov. 7, Jaashawn Jones rushed for 143 yards on 35 carries, marking the 177th time (since 1970) a DSU running back recorded 100-yards in a game.

Jones recorded his first-career 100-yard outing on 17 carries for 107 yards with one touchdown (Morgan State - Oct. 24).

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.

'Moore' All-Purpose Yards Than Anyone Else in 2009

Larrone Moore registered a season-high 240 all-purpose yards versus the South Carolina State Bulldogs (Oct. 31). The 240 yards tied Phil Anderson (Nov. 12, 1994) for the seventh-most in a single game in DSU history. The Hyattsville, Md., native returned six kicks for 210 yards and caught four passes for 30 yards versus the Bulldogs.

More on Moore

Larrone Moore recorded the fourth-longest kick return in Delaware State history with a 90-yard return for a touchdown during the Hornets' game at South Carolina State (Oct. 31). Moore became the fourth player in Delaware State to register a return of 90 yards-or-more and became the first to return a kickoff for a touchdown since Brandon Hudson did it versus North Carolina A&T (10/13/07).

DSU Suffers Bad Loss at S.C. State

The South Carolina State Bulldogs racked up 513 yards of total offense versus the Delaware State Hornets on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Bulldogs scored 52 points and handed DSU its worse conference loss since a 50-8 loss to Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 10, 1998. 

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".