Football 11/14/2009 7:00:00 PM DSU Athletic Media Relations

SPARTANS STORM BACK TO SHOCK HORNETS, 21-16

Dover, Del. (Nov. 14, 2009) --- Norfolk State scored 21 unanswered points in the last 11:48 of the game, including the winning touchdown with less than a minute left to stun Delaware State 21-16 at Alumni Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans trailed 16-14 when Dennis Brown connected with Chris Bell on a 39-yard touchdown pass for game-winning score with 49 seconds left. Bell caught the pass at the Delaware State 27, then avoided two would-be tacklers before sprinting into the endzone.

Delaware State drove to the Norfolk State 29 on its final possession, but Anthony Glaud's third-down pass was intercepted in the endzone by Norfolk State's Terrell Whitehead with nine seconds left to seal the win for the Spartans.

Norfolk State snapped a six-game losing streak to the Hornets to improve to 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the MEAC this season. Delaware State fell to 3-7 and 2-5.

"We moved the ball early in the game, but our inability to complete drives with touchdowns came back to hurt us," said Delaware State head coach Al Lavan, who fell to 37-28 at DSU (31-15 MEAC) and 5-1 vs. Norfolk State. "The Spartans are a very dangerous team, and they took advantage of their opportunities late in the game. Norfolk State made the plays when it counted most. The bottom line is, we just weren't good enough today."

Delaware State opened up a 16-0 lead on a touchdown pass from Glaud to Zach Charles with 1:00 minute left in the third quarter. The scoring pass was the fifth of the season for Glaud, while Charles grabbed his team-leading third touchdown reception.

DSU's Riley Flickinger kicked his career-best third field goal of the game, a 42-yarder, to give the Hornets a 9-0 lead with 11:57 left in the third quarter. The score was set-up by a 55-yard kickoff return by Larrone Moore to begin the second half.

Norfolk State began its comeback when Brown and Bell hooked up for an 18-yard touchdown pass to cut the Hornets' lead to 16-6 with 11:48 left in the third quarter. After the touchdown, Brown completed a two-point pass to P.J. Hayden to pull the Spartans to within 16-8.

Norfolk State pulled closer when DeAngelo Branche capped off a nine-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge to cut the Hornets' lead to 16-14 with 2:35 remaining. The Spartans attempted a game-tying two-point pass, but Brown's pass to Bell was batted away by DSU's Francis Adjei.

After Delaware State failed to get a first down on its next possession, Norfolk State began its game-winning drive at its own 23 with 2:13 left.

Brown completed 15-of-16 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for the Spartans.

Norfolk State won the total yardage battle, 334-to-319.

Jaashawn Jones rushed for 117 yards on 29 carries to lead the Delaware State offense, his second straight 100-yard game.

"This was a tough loss today," said Jones, who has rushed for 260 yards on 64 carries in the last two games. "Our games with Norfolk State always seem to come down to the wire. This time, they came back to beat us."

Delaware State overcame double-digit second half deficits to defeat the Spartans the last two years.

Charles had a team-high 77 receiving yards on three catches for the Hornets. Moore led DSU with seven receptions, but totaled just 23 yards.

Glaud game off the bench to complete seven of 14 passes for 81 yards for the Hornets. He had one touchdown pass and one interception.

Fabian Dunn and Andre Caroll led the Hornets with eight tackles each. Dunn was also credited with a sack, while Carroll shared a sack with Braheim Haywood.

Jerome Strums and Adjei had interceptions for the Hornets. Strums has a pick in each of the last two games, and lead the team with four.

"As always against Norfolk State, the game came down to the end, and this time they made the key plays," said Carroll.

The Hornets will wrap up the 2009 season at home against Howard next Saturday. The Senior Day contest kicks off at 1:00 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.

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