DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL - GAME 3
DELAWARE STATE "HORNETS" (1-1; 0-0 MEAC) VS.
CINCINNATI "BEARCATS" (1-0; 1-0 BIG EAST)
SAT., SEP. 15, 2012 (7:00 PM)
NIPPERT STADIUM (35,000) - CINCINNATI, OH
NATIONAL BROADCAST - ESPN3; WATCHESPN.COM
INTERNET RADIO - SFMSPORTS.NET
THE GAME
Delaware State sticks its toe into the major college waters with a visit to reigning Big East champ Cincinnati at historic Nippert Field. The Hornets are 1-1 on the season. DSU is coming off a 38-14 loss to FCS #15 Delaware in the "Route 1 Rivalry" last Saturday. The Hornets outgained the Blue Hens by 71 yards and won the time of possession battle by nearly 11 minutes, but was undone by key mistakes in the contest. Delaware State was plagued by two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, a blocked field goal attempt and several costly penalties. The Hornets racked up 353 total yards in the contest, its best showing in four meetings against the Hens. DSU had 298 yards passing, but was held to 55 yards on the ground. Delaware recorded 282 total yards, its fewest in the four-game series against the Hornets. The Hens posted 155 yards passing and 127 rushing. DSU quarterback Nick Elko completed 35-of-50 passes for 298 yards and touchdown. Delaware State opened the year with a 17-10 last minute win over VMI on Sep. 1.
Cincinnati opened its season with a 34-10 win over Big East rival Pittsburgh at Nippert Stadium on Sep. 6. The Bearcats scored a touchdown on their first play from scrimmage on a 58-yard run by George Winn and never looked back. UC led 14-0 after a touchdown with 10:04 left in the first quarter. Junior quarterback Munchie Legaux rushed for 117 yards and passed for 205 and two touchdowns in the contest. Winn added 95 yards on the ground.
DSU VS. UC, FBS OPPONENTS
This will be Delaware State's first contest against Cincinnati, although the Hornets have competed against a current member of the Big East conference. DSU played Connecticut in 1985 & '86 when the Huskies were a Division I-AA program. The Hornets won the first contest 24-14 in Storrs, Conn., and posted a 32-31 victory in Dover, Del., the following year.
Delaware State is 1-1 vs. current Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. The Hornets defeated Akron 52-26 in 1987. The Zips were coached by former Notre Dame head man and Ohio high school coaching legend Gerry Faust. It would be 22 years before DSU would face another FBS opponent. The Hornets' last contest against a major college team was a 63-6 loss to Michigan before 106,000 fans at Michigan Stadium in 2009. Current DSU starting quarterback Nick Elko made his first career start as a redshirt freshman in the Michigan contest. He completed 18-of-34 passes for 151 yards against the Wolverines.
