Dover, Del. (Nov. 19, 2011) --- Nick Elko connected with Travis Tarpley on a 28-yard touchdown pass with 2:18 left in the game to lift the Hornets to a 39-36 MEAC win over Howard in the 2011 finale for both teams.
Howard's Parker Munoz attempted a potential game-tying 43-yard field goal on the final play of the game, but the kick fell short, touching off a Delaware State celebration on the field.
The Hornets snapped an eight-game losing streak to end the season with a 3-8 overall record and 1-7 mark in the MEAC. The Bison fell to 5-6 and 4-4. DSU also won its fifth straight over Howard.
Delaware State trailed 36-31 before embarking on its game-winning march. The Elko to Tarpley game-winning touchdown pass capped off an 8-play, 60-yard drive to give the Hornets a 37-36 lead. Elko hit Darius Jackson on the ensuing two-point pass to stretch the DSU lead to three.
Tarpley's winning catch was his 13th of the contest, setting a new team record for receptions in a game. He was among three players who held the previous of 11. The redshirt junior also ended the season with a school-record 66 receptions. The previous record of 59 was set by Justin Wilson last season.
Tarpley had 150 receiving yards in the contest. In addition, he had 44 yards rushing en route to a career-best 239 all-purpose yards in the game. His rushing total included a career-best 45-yard run, tops for the Hornets this season. Tarpley entered the contest as the MEAC leader in all-purpose yards per game.
Elko completed 28-of-44 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Tarpley.
Wilson had eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, marking the second time this season that the Hornets had two players with at least 100 receiving yards in a game.
Delaware State racked up a season-high 412 yards of total offense. The 39 points scored were the most by the Hornets since a 53-43 win over Howard in the 2010 finale.
Howard freshman quarterback Greg McGhee completed 20-of-26 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. Bison tailback Terrence Leffall had a game-high 94 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 34 carries.
The opened the scoring on a 35-yard Mitchell Ward field goal on the opening possession of the game.
Leffall and McGhee had first quarter touchdown runs to give the Bison a 14-3 lead.
Delaware State's Jaashawn capped off five-play, 66-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to cut Howard's lead to 14-10 with 2:39 left in the first quarter. Elko completed a 28-yard first down pass to Wilson and a 21-yarder to Darius Jackson during the drive.
Jones scored his second touchdown of the game on a three-yard run to give the Hornets a 24-21 lead with 2:48 left in the second quarter.
Howard responded with 15 unanswered points to open up a 36-24 lead.
Delaware State pulled to within 36-31 when Elko and Tarpley connected on a 38-yard scoring pass with 12:09 left in the game.
DSU linebacker Brandon Harvey led all players with 16 tackles, including five backfield stops. Hornet defensive back Joe Boyd had a career-high 10 tackles, each unassisted.
