Dover, Del. (Nov. 5, 2011) --- North Carolina Central recorded seven sacks and two interceptions en route to a 14-7 win over Delaware State at Alumni Stadium this afternoon. The Eagles snapped a six-game losing streak to notch their first MEAC win of the season (1-5). NCCU improved to 2-7 overall.
The Hornets dropped their seventh in a row to fall to 2-7 and 0-6.
The loss overshadowed a career day by Delaware State wide receiver Travis Tarpley, who tied a school record with 11 catches for a career-high 162 yards.
North Carolina Central's Andre Clark scored each of his team's touchdowns, including the game-winner in the third quarter.
Delaware State advanced to the NC Central 23 on the final possession of the game, but Hornet quarterback Nick Elko was sacked by Stephen Young on the last play of the game. Young had 2.5 sacks among his seven tackles in the contest.
After a scoreless first quarter, Delaware State struck first when Elko connected with Justin Wilson on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 10:04 left in the second quarter. The touchdown capped off an eight-play, 79-yard drive. Jaashawn Jones rushed for 48 yards on six carries to highlight the 4-minute-21 second drive. Mitchell Ward's extra point kick gave the Hornets a 7-0 lead.
North Carolina Central evened the contest right before the half. A one-yard touchdown run by Clark capped off a 12-play, 57-yard drive for the Eagles. Oleg Parents extra point kick tied the score at 7-7 with 1:14 left in the second quarter.
NCCU used an 11-play scoring drive to take the lead for good. Clarke ended the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, and Parent's extra point kick gave the Eagles a 14-7 lead with 4:07 left in the third quarter. Idreis Augustus rushed for 23 yards and Clarke collected 15 during the drive. Augustus led all players with 161 yards rushing on 24 carries.
North Carolina Central's Malik Cromartie had two interceptions in Eagle territory to halt potential Delaware State scoring drives.
Elko completed 22-of-36 passes for 244 yards. Wilson had seven catches for 75 yards for the Hornets.
NCCU quarterback Michael Johnson connected on 18-of-29 passes for 161 yards.
Delaware State was led defensively by linebacker Quentin Ferguson, who had a game-high 17 tackles (8 solo). Ferguson has 35 tackles in the last two games. Linebacker Davon Moore had a career-high 10 tackles for the Hornets.
Defensive back Marc Lewis was high man for NCCU with eight tackles, each unassisted.
The Hornets return to action next Saturday (Nov. 12) at Hampton, while NC Central returns home next week to face Florida A&M.
STINGERS
Tarpley is one of three players to hold the DSU record with 11 receptions in a game ... Darius Jackson had 11 catches on three occasions (once in 2009 and twice this season) and David Jones was the first to achieve the mark in 1990. ... The Hornets' seven-game losing streak is its longest since dropping its first eight games in 2003, Elko has 179 completions this season, the second best single-season mark in team history ... Rahsaan Matthews holds the team record for single-season completions with 191 in 1998.
