The Delaware State Hornets (0-1, 0-1 MEAC) travel 50 miles north to take on the Delaware Blue Hens (1-1, 0-1 CAA) this Saturday in the first-ever, regular season match up between the First State's two Division I institutions. Kickoff is slated for 12:00 p.m. with the game being broadcast on the SPORTSfever Television Network (WHYY in the state of Delaware).
The Hornets are coming off a tough loss at Florida A&M (21-12 on Sept. 5) and are looking to rebound with a win over the Blue Hens. Delaware won the first match between the two schools, downing the Hornets, 44-7 (Nov. 23, 2007), during the first round of the 2007 NCAA FCS Playoffs.
Delaware State will be led by redshirt junior quarterback Anthony Glaud, who will be making his second-career start at DSU. Glaud is coming off a 17-of-32 performance for 188 yards and one touchdown versus the Rattlers. The Sicklerville, N.J., native completed his first touchdown pass of the season with a 30-yard connection to Zach Charles (1 rec. 30 yds., 1TD). Glaud enters Saturday's game with a 112.8 efficiency rating.
Joining Glaud in the backfield will be junior running back Jason Randall. The 5-foor-11 Randall tallied his first-career touchdown on Sept. 5, registering 54 yards on 16 carries versus the Rattlers.
The DSU receiving corps is led by sophomore wideout, Darius Jackson. The Quincy, Fla., native is coming off a career day, recoding a team-high seven catches for 67 yards. Jackson leads the conference and ranks No. 16 in the nation in receptions-per-game (7.00). Speedster Larrone Moore notched three catches for 51 yards, including a team-high 36-yard catch in the season opener.
Defensively, the Hornets are looking bounce back from their season-opening performance. The DSU defense allowed 328 yards on the ground versus the Rattlers, ranking the Hornets No. 105 in rushing defense. The 300(+)-yard rushing outing by FAMU was the most allowed by a DSU defense since the Hornets faced the Blue Hens in 2007 (347 yards).
The Hornet defense is led by linebacker Mike Gable, who recorded a career-high 11 tackles (6 solo) on Sept. 5. Gable, who leads the conference in tackles-per-game, registered his second-career sack during DSU's outing at FAMU. Senior Ahmad Harris recorded a career-best eight tackles versus the Rattlers, while Brooklyn, N.Y., native Avery Grant tallied six tackles, including a team-high two tackles for loss at Florida A&M.
On special teams, the Hornets will look towards Travis Tarpley (64 all-purpose yards) and Tahree McQueen (36 all-purpose yards) to provide a spark. Punter Nick Lochner is coming off a seven-punt performance, averaging 38.9 yards-per-punt. The Webster, N.Y., native is picking up where he left off last season currently ranked No. 2 in the conference.
Game Notables
- Saturday will mark the first-ever, regular season meeting between the two teams.
- DSU is looking for its first-ever win over the Blue Hens.
- Head Coach Al Lavan holds a 0-1 record all-time versus the Blue Hens.
- The Hornets are looking to avoid their first 0-2 start since the 2004 season (Al Lavan's first year at DSU).
- Saturday marks Coach Lavan's 58th game as DSU head coach.
- Saturday will be Coach Lavan's 31st-career road game (16-14).
- Coach Lavan holds an 18-10 record in the state of Delaware.
- The game will be broadcast by the SPORTSfever Television Network and is expected to reach over five million households throughout the states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
A Quick Look at Delaware
The Blue Hens are coming off a 16-15 loss to the No. 1-ranked Richmond Spiders on Saturday, Sept. 12. Delaware had a chance for the victory however, a 23-yard field goal attempt was blocked with 38 seconds left in the game to give the Blue Hens their first loss of the season and extend Richmond's winning streak to 11 games.
Averaging 25.0 points-per-game the Blue Hens are led by Penn State transfer Pat Devlin. The 6-foot-4 junior quarterback has completed 58.7 percent of his passes (27-of-46) for 394 yards and two touchdowns. Devlin was harassed by the Richmond defense last week, completing 15-of-31 passes while throwing his first interception of the season and being sacked two times. Devlin scored the team's only touchdown of the game on a seven-yard rush.
In the backfield UD is led by redshirt freshman David Hayes, who has rushed for 88 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown. The Blue Hens are averaging 125.0 yards-per-game on the ground (ranked No. 58 in the nation).
The Blue Hen receivers are led by junior Mark Mackey, who has tallied 11 catches for 164 yards this season. The Harrisburg, Pa., native is averaging 82.0 yards-per-game. Mackey had six catches for 81 yards versus the Spiders.
On the defensive side of the ball, UD ranks No. 16 in the nation in total defense, allowing 214.00 yards-per-game. Delaware's leading tacklers are junior linebacker Benard Makumbi and defensive back Marcus Burley. Both Makumbi (Lowell, Mass.) and Burley (Richmond, Va.) have recorded 11 tackles. Burley has notched a team-high 10 solo tackles through the Blue Hens' first two games.
The Last Meeting (Nov. 23, 2007)
Omar Cuff rushed for a school-record 288 yards and four touchdowns to lead Delaware to a 44-7 win over Delaware State in the opening round of the 2007 Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) playoffs at UD Stadium. The nationally-televised contest (ESPN) was the first-ever meeting between the state's two Division I football programs, and Delaware State's first playoff appearance.
The loss snapped an eight-game win streak for Delaware State (10-2), which suffered its first defeat since a 38-7 setback to Kent State on September 15. Delaware (9-3) led 44-0 before the Hornets finally scored on a 19-yard fumble return by Reggie McCoy with 12:48 left to play.
Cuff, a senior, had two one-yard scoring runs and a 37-yard scamper in the first half. He had a two-yard touchdown run on the opening drive third quarter. Delaware rushed for 347 of its 536 total yards. The Hornets were held to 56 yards passing and 144 total yards. Delaware scored on each of its first five possessions to open up a 30-0 lead.
UD quarterback Joe Flacco connected with tight end Robbie Agnone on a 32-yard touchdown pass for the first score of the game. The Hens stretched their lead to 14-0 when Cuff's one-yard touchdown run capped off a five-play, 57-yard drive with 8:11 left in the first quarter. His second touchdown, also a one-yard run, gave Delaware a 20-0 lead with 1:53 left in the opening quarter.
After a 22-yard field goal by Jon Striefsky gave the Hens a 23-0 lead, Cuff capped off a 92-yard, 10-play drive with his third touchdown of the game. His 37-yard run gave Delaware a 30-0 lead with 7:00 left in the second quarter.
The Hens opened up a 37-0 lead when Cuff scored from two yards out to complete a 13-play, 91-yard drive to start the third quarter. Delaware State also hurt its cause by committing three turnovers, including an interception at the Delaware 10-yard line with 1:32 left in the first half.
Senior linebacker Russell Reeves was a bright spot for the Hornets, leading all players with a career-high 20 tackles, including nine solo stops. Josh Pope had 13 tackles, while Ryan Robinson and Ronn Spinner added 10 each.
Delaware State - Delaware Series History
- Saturday's contest will mark the second meeting all-time between Delaware State and Delaware.
- UD leads the series history, 1-0.
- The first meeting between these two teams took place during the first round of the 2007 NCAA FCS Playoffs.
- Nearly 50 miles separate the state's only two Division I programs.
- This contest will kick off the "Route 1 Rivalry" which is slated to continue in 2012.
- Delaware State began football in 1912, while Delaware first fielded a football squad in 1896.
- The winner of this Saturday's contest will be awarded the inaugural "First State Cup".
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A Delaware State Win Would...
- Give the Hornets its first-ever win over Delaware.
- Prevent the Hornets from starting 0-2 for the first time since 2004.
- Give Coach Lavan his 35th-career win at Delaware State.
- Give Coach Lavan his 17th road victory as DSU head coach.
- Improve DSU's 2009 record to 1-1.
- Give the DSU football program its 330th victory all-time.
- Give DSU the "First State Cup".
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 9-9.
- 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).
- The most people to see Delaware State play in a single season is 111,096. To date this season, 17,209 fans have been to a DSU game.
- 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.
- Delaware State is 8-11 in the month of September under Al Lavan.
- DSU leads the MEAC in passing offense (188.0 yards-per-game).
DSU-UD Connections
Despite only 50 miles separating the two schools, only a handful of players from each side have gone to the same high school. Below is a listing of the common high schools between DSU and UD.
Laurel HS (Delaware) -
Dover HS (Delaware) -
Concord HS (Delaware) -
DeMatha (Maryland/Washington DC) -
Saturday's Game On the Air
The SPORTSfever Television Network (STN) has reached an agreement with the University of Delaware and Delaware State University to televise this Saturday's game.
According to STN President and Owner, Gorden Blain, STN affiliates will be airing this game live to more than 5,000,000 households via a combination of cable, satellite and over-the-air broadcasts. "We have an agreement with WHYY to air the game live which provides total coverage in the State of Delaware and south Jersey, as well as southeastern Pennsylvania. The game will also be televised in the Wilkes-Barre-Scranton-Poconos market by WQMY (a My Network /Fox station), in the Harrisburg-Lancaster-York market by WGCB (an independent station), in western Pennsylvania by WQED (a public TV station) and FSN Pittsburgh (which also covers western, northwestern, central, northeastern PA, eastern Ohio, West Virginia)." The game will be rebroadcast at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 20th on WHYY-TV's Y Arts channel and FSN Pittsburgh will air the game on replay as part of its Monday Night College Football Game of the Week on September 21st at 7:30 p.m.
Lavan Suffers First-Ever Loss to Rattlers
Delaware State's season-opening loss to the Florida A&M Rattlers was the first-ever for Head Coach Al Lavan. In his sixth season with the Hornets, Lavan entered the 2009 season with a perfect 4-0 record versus the team from Tallahassee. In the first four meetings with the Rattlers, Lavan's squads averaged 25.0 points-per-game with an average margin of victory of eight points. This year's contest marked the first time a Lavan-coached team had not scored 20-or-more points versus FAMU (12). The loss also snapped DSU's longest winning streak versus FAMU (4).
Double-Digit Tackles
Through the team's first game, one Hornet has recorded 10-or-more tackles in a single game. Linebacker Mike Gable notched a career-high 11 tackles versus the Florida A&M Rattlers (Sept. 5). For his career, Gable has amassed 59 tackles. The school record for tackles in a single game is 23 held by Craig Parsley (vs. Howard on Nov. 18, 1989). Parsley finished his DSU career with 233 tackles (No. 8 all-time at DSU).
10-or-more-Tackles
Game of Firsts
During Delaware State's season-opener at Florida A&M (Sept. 5), eight players made their first-career starts at Delaware State. Anthony Glaud (QB), Nail Muradymov (OT), Darryl Hicks (OG), Jason Randall (RB), Braheim Haywood (DT), Joe Mendes (DE), Ahmad Harris (LB) and Greg Ligon (CB) each made their first-career starts.
Two players also recorded their first-career touchdowns in the contest. Randall recorded his first-ever rushing touchdown at DSU with a four-yard run in the fourth quarter. Zach Charles notched his first-career touchdown reception, following a 30-yard grab in the second quarter.
Returning to Delaware Stadium
Of the 83-man DSU roster, 12 Hornets took part in the 2007 NCAA FCS Playoff meeting with Delaware. Larrone Moore, Kellen Kemp, Nick Richmond, Steven Steinbacher and Tyron Hurst all started the game. Also seeing action were B.J. Conley, Mike Gable, Jerome Strums, Eric Sewell, Mike Maloney, Fabian Dunn and Andre Caroll.
"Flick" in the DSU Record Books
Senior place kicker Riley Flickinger registered 10 field goals during the 2008 season, putting the Gresham, Ore., native on the single-season records list at DSU (No. 5 all-time).
His 10 field goals also placed Flickinger on the school's all-time field goals converted list (No. 6).
Mike Gable (11 at Florida A&M) Erick Jones (DSU), Rob McDowell (UD), Mike Milburn (UD). Braheim Haywood (DSU), Sam Burrows (UD), Paul Worrilow (UD)Tyron Hurst (DSU), Carl Batson (UD). Kyle Brown (DSU), Cody Bristow (UD).
