DSU Takes on Winston-Salem State in Final Road Game of '09

The Delaware State Hornets hit the road for the final time this season, traveling to Winston-Salem, N.C., to take on the Winston-Salem State Rams on Saturday, Nov. 7. Game time is 1 p.m. DSU enters this weekend's game looking to snap a current two-game, road-losing skid. The Hornets are coming off a tough 52-10 loss at No. 10 South Carolina last weekend. The Bulldogs tallied 513 yards of total offense, handing the Hornets their worst conference loss since a 50-8 defeat at the hands of Bethune-Cookman during the 1998 season (Oct. 10, 1998).

Saturday marks the ninth meeting all-time between DSU and WSSU and only the third meeting in the last 50 years between the two squads. Delaware State and Winston-Salem State began playing each other in 1942 and continued to square off until 1950. The two teams renewed the series in 2007 with each team winning on the other's home field. Last season WSSU downed the Hornets 27-26 during the Hornets' final home game of the 2008 season (Nov. 8, 2008).  Delaware State looks to avenge last year's one-point loss as the Hornets try to improve their record at Bowman Gray Stadium (1-0).

DSU comes into this weekend's contest averaging 254.57 yards of total offense (No. 106 in the nation) and 15.43 points-per-game (No. 101 nationally). Delaware State gained 225 yards of total offense and was held to 10 points versus the Bulldogs last weekend. Defensively, the Hornets are allowing 438.00 yards-per-game of total offense (No. 113 in the nation) and are allowing 28.57 points-per-game (No. 87 in the nation). DSU's defense allowed 513 yards of total offense, including 316 yards through the air as SCSU put up 52 points versus the Hornets.

The Hornet offense is led by quarterback Anthony Glaud, who will be making his seventh start this Saturday. Glaud comes into this week's game averaging 132.7 yards of offense through the air. Completing 57.8 percent of his passes this season (89-of-154), the Sicklerville, N.J., native has tallied 786 passing yards and a pass efficiency rating of 103.29. Glaud completed 8-of-15 passes for 68 yards and one interception versus South Carolina State.

Jaashawn Jones is looking to make his third-career start on Saturday. Jones enters this week's game as the Hornets' leading rusher, gaining 242 yards on 56 carries. Jones is second on the team (behind Glaud) with two rushing touchdowns. Joining Jones in the backfield will be freshman James Rosseau. Rosseau comes into the WSSU game with 70 yards on 15 carries. The Philadelphia, Pa., native is coming off his best game to date, rushing for 50 yards on 10 carries versus the Bulldogs.

Sophomore Darius Jackson leads all DSU receivers, recording 29 catches for 324 yards this season. The Quincy, Fla., native is averaging 11.2 yards-per-catch and 46.3 yards-per-game. Jackson in No. 4 in the conference in receptions-per-game (4.14) and ranks No. 8 in the MEAC in reception yards-per-game. Larrone Moore grabbed four passes for 30 yards last weekend to increase his season total to 21. The Hyattsville, Md., native is second on Hornet roster in receptions (21), registering 191 yards on the season. Moore is also a threat on special teams, averaging 26.6 yards-per-kick return (No. 15 in the nation). Moore is coming off a record day, notching 210 yards on six kick returns, including a 90-yard return for a touchdown versus the Bulldogs. The 90-yard return was the fourth-longest in DSU history.

Nick Lochner continues to be one of the top punters in the MEAC, averaging 40.0 yards-per-punt. The Webster, N.Y., native booted four punts for 180 yards, including two for 50 yards-or-more versus SCSU. Lochner currently ranks No. 3 in career punting average (39.5), No. 8 in career punting yards (3,749) and No. 10 in career punting attempts (95) in the DSU record books.

Defensively, the Hornets are led by defensive tackle Andre Caroll, who enters this week's game with 44 total tackles (22 solo). Caroll also leads the team with five tackles for loss. The Neptune, N.J., native recorded six tackles versus the Bulldogs and has had six-or-more tackles in each of the team's last four games. DSU has recorded 12 sacks this season. Mike Gable is among the team leaders in sacks (2.0). The DSU linebacker has registered 39 tackles (22 solo) this season, including four tackles for loss. Gable tallied six tackles (5 solo), including a sack last weekend. Safety Jerome Strums comes into Saturday's game with 36 total tackles (13 solo) and two interceptions. The Hornet secondary has picked off eight passes this season, returning three for a touchdown.

Game Notables

            - Saturday will mark the final road game for this Hornets this season. 

            - Head Coach Al Lavan owns a 36-27 record all-time as the Hornets' head coach.

            - Saturday marks Lavan's 35th road game at DSU

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

            - Saturday marks Coach Lavan's 64thgame as DSU head coach.

            - Delaware State and Winston-Salem State have spilt their last two meetings.

            - The Hornets enter Saturday's game having scored points in 60-straight games (dating back to Oct. 2, 2004).

            - DSU is 103 on date of Nov. 7 (dating back to 1969)

A Quick Look at Winston-Salem State

Winston Salem State enters this week's contest riding a five-game, home-losing skid, dating back to last season. The Rams are coming off a 16-13 overtime loss to Hampton last Saturday. WSSU is averaging 209.4 yards of total offense-per-game and 10.75 points-per-game. The Rams' defense is allowing 304.5 yards of total offense-per-game and 21.75 points per-game. Winston-Salem State has not scored more than 16 points in any of its first eight games this season.

The Rams are led by quarterback Jarrett Dunston, who enters this weekend's game with an 89.82 pass efficiency rating this season. Dunston has completed 40.0 percent of his passes (46-of-115) for 557 yards and five touchdowns.

Dunston's top target is Omar Kizzie, who enters Saturday's game with 15 catches for 147 yards. Kizzie averages 18.4 yards-per-game and 9.8 yards-per-reception. Lamar Whidbee is also another popular target recording 12 catches for 155 yards this season.

In the backfield, Cedrick Hickman is WSSU's top rusher. Hickman has recorded 262 yards on 63 carries and two touchdowns. Hickman is averaging 4.2 yards-per-carry and 367.4 yards-per-game.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Rams are led by Akeem Ward, who has tallied 51 total tackles (39 solo), including seven and one-half tackles for loss and two sacks. Chedrick Marshall is second on the team in tackles with 45 (23 solo). Wayne Noble rounds out the Rams' top tacklers recording 40 tackles (24 solo) on the season. Noble has also registered one of the team's two interceptions this season.

The Last Meeting

Winston-Salem State scored the game-winning touchdown with less than five minutes to play, then stopped Delaware State on fourth down and a foot on the Hornets' final possession in a 27-26 victory at Alumni Stadium. The Rams won their second in a row to improve to 3-6 on the season, while the Hornets fell to 3-6 after dropping their third straight. Winston-Salem State trailed 26-14 before outscoring DSU 13-0 over the last 21 minutes of the game.

The Rams trailed 26-21 before quarterback Jarrett Dunston capped off a 12-play, 56-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge on fourth-down to give WSSU a 27-26 lead with 4:19 left to play. A two-point pass following the touchdown was unsuccessful. On the ensuing possession, Delaware State drove 52 yards to the Rams' 20-yard line. The drive was aided by a pass interference call on Winston-Salem State with the Hornets facing a third-down-and-22 on their 16-yard line.

Kareem Jones also had a 29-yard run during the drive. Delaware State faced a fourth-down and less-than-a-yard at the Winston-Salem 20 with 38 seconds left, but Vashon Winton was stopped short on a quarterback keeper up the middle, setting off a celebration on the Rams' sideline.

Delaware State opened the scoring on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Winston to Kareem Jones on the game's first possession. The big play in the drive was a 45-yard pass from Winton to Larrone Moore to the Winston-Salem 19. Jones also rushed for 21 yards during the drive, part of his career-best 230 yards in the game, the fifth-highest total in team history.

Winston-Salem scored 14 unanswered points, including touchdown runs by Willie Wilson (four yards) and Dunston (eight yards) to open up a 14-7 lead in the first quarter. A 27-yard field goal by Riley Flickinger and a safety on a bad punt snap by the Rams pulled Delaware State to within 14-12 with 9:49 left in the second quarter. The Hornets regained the lead when Winton connected with Erick Jones on a nine-yard touchdown pass with 6:33 left in the second quarter. The extra point by Flickinger gave DSU a 19-14 lead. Delaware State stretched its lead to 26-14 when Winton and Moore teamed up on a 14-yard scoring pass with 32 seconds left in the first half.

Winston-Salem State pulled to within 26-21 on a nine-yard touchdown run by Nicholas Copper with 6:10 left in the third quarter.

Delaware State - Winston-Salem State History

            - Saturday's contest will mark ninth meeting between DSU and WSSU.

            - The Hornets and Rams have split their last two meetings.

            - Head Coach Al Lavan owns a 1-1 record all-time versus Winston-Salem State.

            - Prior to the 2007 season, DSU and WSSU have not met since the 1950 season.

            - DSU has never shut out the Rams. The Rams shut out the Hornets, 18-0, during the 1950 season.

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

            - Winston-Salem State has never won two-straight games over Delaware State.

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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 3-6.

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

            - Improve DSU's record to 5-3-1 versus the Rams.

            - Snap a two-game, road losing streak.

            - Snap a six-game non-conference losing streak.

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 42-39.

            - 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, 179,187 fans have been to a DSU game.

            - Delaware State has not been shut out in 60-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.

'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".  

60 and Counting

The Delaware State Hornets scored 10 points versus the South Carolina State Bulldogs to extend the team's consecutive games scored streak to 60. 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 four games on Nov. 7. In those contests the Hornets have registered a 1-3 record. The last time DSU played on Nov. 7, the Hornets fell to North Carolina A&T, 47-15, in Dover, Del., during the 1998 season. Below is a listing of DSU's Nov. 7 games.

1998 - L, 47-15 vs. North Carolina A&T (Dover, Del.)

1992 - L, 24-10 vs. North Carolina A&T (Dover, Del.)

1987 - W, 41-9 vs. North Carolina A&T (Dover, Del.)

1981 - L, 13-7 at Salisbury State (Salisbury, 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 23-straight games. Francis Adjei and Avery Grant have each had at least one tackle in 18-straight games. Defensive tackle Andre Caroll has had a tackle in 17-consecutive games.

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