Hampton, Va. (Nov. 12, 2011) --- Delaware State committed seven turnovers, including a school-record six interceptions, in a 42-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) loss to Hampton at Armstrong Stadium this afternoon. The Hornets dropped their eighth straight game to fall to 2-8 overall and 0-7 in the MEAC, while the Pirates won for the third time in the last four games to improve to 6-4 and 4-3.
Delaware State trailed 14-6 after scoring its lone touchdown on a 16-yard run by Travis Tarpley with 12:56 left to play. The score capped off a 10-play, 81-yard drive.
Hampton scored 28 unanswered points in the last 8:41 of the game to put the Hornets away. Linebacker Lyndell Gibson scored the final touchdown of the game for the Pirates on a 43-yard interception return with 1:45 left to play. It was HU's second touchdown on an interception return of the game. Linebacker Delbert Tyler returned an interception by Delaware State quarterback Josh Bailey 40 yards for a touchdown to give the Pirates a 7-0 lead on the second play of the game.
Bailey, a former junior college quarterback who has competed at running back most of the season, played the entire game at QB for the Hornets. He completed 17-of-39 passes for 134 yards and six interceptions.
DSU redshirt junior quarterback Nick Elko sat out the contest after starting the first nine games of the season.
"We wanted to try something different after struggling on offense most of the season," said Delaware State head coach Kermit Blount. "Josh (Bailey) ran the ball well, but we made too many mistakes in the passing game. A couple of key penalties also put us in a bad position during the game."
Bailey led the Hornets with 84 yards rushing, tops on the team this season.
Justin Wilson had five receptions for 52 yards to lead the Hornets.
Delaware State's previous record for interceptions thrown in a game was five, which occurred seven times; most recently at Bethune-Cookman in 2000.
Jermond Colston and Brian Harvey had interceptions for the Hornets.
DSU will close out the 2011 season at home against Howard next Saturday (Nov. 19). Game time is 1:00 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
