HAMPTON, Va. (September 26, 2009) --- Delaware State intercepted three passes and Tahree McQueen rushed for 102 yards to lead the Hornets to their first win of the season, 21-6, over Hampton in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Armstrong Field Saturday evening.
The Hornets won their second-straight at Hampton to improve to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the MEAC. The Pirates fell to 2-2 and 1-1.
Delaware State put the game out of reach with a touchdown on its third interception of the game. The Hornets led 14-6 when freshman defensive end Olusegun Ayanbiola picked off a deflected pass by Hampton's Herbert Bynes and returned it 13 yards with 1:10 left to play. The Hornets had three interceptions in a game for the first time since last season at Howard. Senior cornerback Greg Ligon picked off two passes for DSU, the first of his career.
"I'm really proud of our effort today," said Delaware State head coach Al Lavan, who improved to 35-24 overall and 30-11 in MEAC contests at DSU. "This is a tough place to play, and our kids really made some big plays at critical points in the game. The keys to the game were our ability to run the ball and force turnovers."
McQueen, a transfer from Cincinnati who was playing his third game with the Hornets, set a career-high in rushing yards. He entered the game in the first quarter after starting halfback Jason Randall left the game with a knee injury.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Hornets drew first blood on a 15-play, 80-yard drive that consumed more than seven minutes. Quarterback Anthony Glaud capped off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run with 10:22 left in the second quarter. The key plays in the drive were an eight-yard run by punter Nick Lochner to the DSU 46-yard line after he dropped the snap on a fourth down-and-seven, and a 24-yard pass from Glaud to Darius Jackson to the Hampton 13-yard line. The touchdown run was the second of the year for Glaud, and longest of his career. The extra point kick by Riley Flickinger gave the Hornets a 7-0 lead.
Following the Delaware State touchdown drive, Hampton drove 81 yards to the Delaware State 15, but Jordan Stovall's 33-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Nail Muradymov, his second field goal block of the season.
The Hornets stretched their lead to 14-0 on a four-yard touchdown pass from Glaud to tight end Calvin Toliver with four seconds left in the half. The touchdown was the first of Toliver's career.
The teams combined for 401 yards of total offense in the first half. Delaware State collected 210 yards on 36 plays, while Hampton racked up 191 yards on 27 plays.
Glaud completed 12-of-19 passes for 113 yards and touchdown, while Tahree McQueen rushed for 71 yards on 10 carries in the first 30 minutes for the Hornets.
Hampton scored its only points of the game on a 52-yard touchdown pass from Bynes to Isiah Thomas to pull to within 14-6 with 7:46 left in the third quarter. The score came one play after Delaware State thought it recovered a Hampton fumble, but the play was nullified due to an inadvertent whistle.
Hampton won the total yardage battle, 390-to-277.
For the game, Glaud completed 20-of-31 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown. Avery Grant and Mike Gable led the Hornets with six tackles each.
The Hornets are idle next Saturday (Oct. 3) and will return to action against Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, Oct. 10 in the 2009 home opener. Kick off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
STINGERS:
- Today's captains - Anthony Glaud (Offense), Nick Richmond (Offense), Mike Gable (Defense), Jerome Strums (Defense), BJ Conley (Special Teams)
- Anthony Glaud made his third-career start on Saturday.
- Glaud scored his second-career rushing touchdown with a 13-yard score with 10:22 left in the second quarter. The 13-yard rush was Glaud's longest of his career.
- Consecutive Starts - Francis Adjei (14), Andre Caroll (3), Zach Charles (3), Fabian Dunn (3), Mike Gable (5), Anthony Glaud (3), Avery Grant (3), Ahmad Harris (3), Darryl Hicks (3), Tyron Hurst (2), Darius Jackson (3), Kellen Kemp (26), Greg Ligon (3), Mike Maloney (15), Joe Mendes (3), Larrone Moore (3), Nail Muradymov (3), Jason Randall (3), Nick Richmond (26), Jerome Strums (14), Calvin Toliver (3).
- With the Hornets' touchdown in the second quarter, DSU has not been shut out in 56-straight games and 78-straight MEAC contests.
- Calvin Toliver recorded his first-career touchdown reception with a 4-yard catch from Anthony Glaud with 4.5 seconds left in the second quarter.
- Tahree McQueen rushed for a career-high 102 yards on 21 carries.
- Larrone Moore has caught at least one pass in six-straight games following a 5-yard reception early in the first quarter. Moore finished the day with four catches for 17 yards.
-Erick Jones led the Hornets with a career-high five catches (37 yards). Jones also has two-or-more receptions in seven straight games.
- Darius Jackson has caught a pass in five-straight contests。Jackson finished the day with four catches for 18 yards.
- Tyron Hurst recorded his first sack of the season and second sack of his career during the second quarter.
- Nail Muradymov registered his second field goal block during a 33-yard attempt by Hampton late in the second quarter.
- Thomas Threadgill (OL) appeared in his first-career game.
-Freshman DL Olusegun Ayanbiola had his first career interception, returning it 13 yards for a touchdown to give DSU a 21-6 lead with 1:10 left to play.
-CB Greg Ligon recorded first career interception with 12:38 left in fourth quarter. Ligon picked off his second-career pass later in the fourth quarter.
-Delaware State picked off three Hampton passes. First time DSU had three interceptions in a game since Nov. 22, 2008 at Howard (10-6 win).
