Orangeburg, S.C. (Sep. 24, 2011) ---Delaware State managed just seven first downs and was outgained by more than 600 yards in a 69-0 loss South Carolina State in the MEAC opener for the Hornets at Dawson Bulldog Stadium this afternoon.
DSU dropped its second straight game, each by shutout, to fall to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the MEAC. South Carolina State improved to 2-2 and 2-0. The Bulldogs are lost their fourth straight game against the Hornets to open up a 26-15 series lead.
"There's not much to say other than we have a long way to go to be competitive against the caliber of teams we've faced the last two weeks," said DSU head coach Kermit Blount, whose team suffered a 45-0 loss to Delaware last week. "There's a lot of football to play this season, and my challenge is to keep our players focused on getting better each week.
South Carolina State outgained the Hornets 687-84. Delaware State was held to just 10 yards rushing and 74 through the air.
Bulldog quarterback Derrick Wiley completed 12-of-20 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for two scores.
Delaware State quarterback Nick Elko completed 16-of-33 passes for 74 yards. He was intercepted three times. Freshman receiver Milton Williams had a team-high five catches for 27 yards.
Jaashawn Jones was Delaware State's leading rusher with 13 yards on 11 carries.
S.C. State running back Jalen Simmons rushed for a game-high 127 yards on 11 carries. Delaware State quarterback Nick Elko completed 16 of 33 passes for 74 yards. He was intercepted three times. Joe Thomas returned an Elko interception 43 yards for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 41-0 lead in the third quarter. .
The Bulldogs led 7-0 after the first quarter, and added three scores in the second to take a 28-0 lead at the half.
Delaware State's deepest advance in the game was to the South Carolina State 24-yard line in the second quarter. DSU's Mitchell Ward attempted a 41-yard field goal when the drive stalled, but South Carolina State blocked the kick.
Wiley capped off a seven-play, 81-yard drive on the opening possession of the second half with a one-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a 35-0 lead.
STINGERS
Delaware State suffered its worst loss to a MEAC opponent ... The previous worst was a 52-0 setback to North Carolina A&T in 1980 ... South Carolina State's 687 total yards were the second most allowed all-time by the Hornets ... Michigan gained 727 yards in a 63-6 win over DSU in 2009 ... The Hornets played their second straight game without wide receiver Justin Wilson (ankle injury), the 2011 MEAC Preseason Offensive Player-of-the-Year ... ... Linebacker Brandon Harvey had a game-high 11 tackles for the Hornets ... Delaware State tied its season-high with two interceptions (Matt Scott, Anthony Frye) ... DSU returns to action next Saturday (Oct. 1) at Florida A&M.
