2012 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL - GAME 4
Delaware State Hornets (1-2; 0-0 MEAC)
vs.
Florida A&M Rattlers (1-2; 1-0 MEAC)
Sat., Sep. 22, 2012 - 6:00 p.m.
Alumni Stadium - Dover, Del.
"Faith & Family/Band Day"
THE GAME
Delaware State welcomes Florida A&M to Alumni Stadium in the 2012 MEAC opener for the Hornets. DSU is 1-2 overall. The Hornets also coming off a competitive 23-7 loss to reigning Big East champ Cincinnati last Saturday. Delaware State forced six Cincinnati turnovers and trailed by just 13 points (20-7) early in the fourth quarter. Running back Malcolm Williams rushed for 120 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown, to lead the Hornet offense. Florida A&M defeated Hampton 44-20 in its MEAC opener in Tallahassee, Fla., last week. The Rattlers are 1-2 overall. Running back James Owens rushed for 161 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Rattlers over Hampton. FAMU quarterback Damien Fleming completed 22 of 29 passes for 236 yards, connecting with five different receivers.
THE SERIES
This is the 30th meeting between the teams since the series began in 1977. Florida A&M has won the last three games to open up a 21-8 lead in the series. The Rattlers won last year's meeting 34-7 at Florida A&M's Bragg Stadium. Freshman quarterback Damien Fleming, making his first start, completed 14-of-29 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown to lead the Rattlers, which held a 394-to-181 advantage in total yards. Lenworth Lennon had five catches for 113 yards for the Rattlers. Delaware State scored its lone touchdown on a nine-yard pass from Nick Elko to freshman receiver Milton Williams with 11:37 left in the fourth quarter. The last time the teams met at Delaware State, Florida A&M came from behind to post a 17-14 victory in 2010. Florida A&M is 8-2 all-time at Alumni Stadium.
DSU BEGINS MEAC PLAY
Delaware State, a charter member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), is in its 42nd season of league play. The Hornets have an all-time record of 119-141-1 in MEAC contests. Delaware State has won or shared six MEAC championships. The Hornets claimed outright MEAC titles in 1985, 1989 and 2007, while sharing the crown in 1987, 1988 and 1991. Since winning the MEAC title with an 8-0 record in 2007, Delaware State is 11-26 in league contests, including a 7-12 mark at home. The Hornets have dropped their last three MEAC openers, including 2009 and 2010 contests against Florida A&M.
HORNETS AT ALUMNI STADIUM
Delaware State brings a two-game home winning streak into this weekend's contest. The Hornets opened the 2012 season with a 17-10 win over VMI at Alumni Stadium on Sep. 1. DSU was 2-3 at home in 2011. The Hornets are 90-91 at Alumni Stadium since it opened in 1980.
