Newark, Del. (Sep. 8, 2012) --- Delaware State outgained host Delaware by 71 yards and won the time of possession battle by nearly 11 minutes, but was undone by key mistakes in a 38-14 loss to the #15 Hens in the First State Rivalry Tubby Raymond Field today.
The Hens, 2-0 this season, improved to 4-0 all-time in the battle between the state's two Division I football programs.
The Hornets (1-1) were plagued by two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, a blocked field goal attempt and several costly penalties.
Delaware State racked up 353 total yards in the contest, its best showing in four meetings against the Hens. The Hornets had 298 yards passing, but were held to 55 yards on the ground.
Delaware recorded 282 total yards, its fewest in the series with DSU. The Hens posted 155 yards passing and 127 rushing.
Delaware State appeared headed for a score on the opening drive of the game, but was denied due to a special teams mistake. The Hornets drove 63 yards on 12 plays to the UD 12-yard line, but Mitchell Ward's 29-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Delaware's Marcus Burley.
The Hornets had four first downs on the opening drive, two on third down completions from Nick Elko to Justin Wilson (seven yards) and Justin Brewton (nine yards).
After Delaware went three-and-out on its first possession, the Hornets embarked on another long drive into Blue Hen territory. DSU marched 54 yards on 11 plays to the Delaware 26 when another miscue resulted in the game's first score. Elko's third down pass to Wilson was tipped into the hands of Delaware's Ricky Tunstall, who avoided several would-be tacklers on a 91-yard return for a touchdown on the interception with 3:39 left in the first quarter. Sean Baner's extra point kick gave the Hens a 7-0 lead.
The Hornets outgained the Hens 135-to-37 and held a 12:19-to-2:41 time of possession advantage in the opening quarter.
Delaware opened up a 14-0 lead on touchdown early in the second quarter. The 9-play, 70-yard drive was capped off by a 14-yard scoring pass from Trent Hurley to Michael Johnson with 12:17 left in the second quarter. Hurley was 5-for-5 for 67 yards on the scoring drive.
After the Hornets failed to record a first down on their next possession, Delaware used a trick play to set up its third touchdown. The Hens lined up in punt formation on fourth-and-six at the DSU 39, but punter Rauley Zaragoza ran nine yards for a first down to the Hornet 30. On the next play, Hurley connected with tight end Nick Boyle for 27 yards to the DSU 3. Three plays later, Hurley scored on a one-yard plunge to give Delaware a three-touchdown lead. Baner's extra point kick put the Hens up 21-0 with 7:52 left in the second quarter.
DSU took advantage of a rare Delaware mistake to score its first touchdown in more than five quarters against the Hens.
Five plays after a roughing the punter call against Delaware kept a DSU drive going, Elko hit Justin Wilson for an 18-yard touchdown to cap off a nine-play, 66-yard scoring march. Ward's extra point cut Delaware's lead to 21-7 with 3:02 left in the second quarter. A key play in the drive was a 20-yard one-hand first down catch by Brewton to the UD 22. Elko completed each of his five pass attempts for 54 yards during the drive.
Delaware scored a touchdown on a 6-yard pass from Hurley to Jerel Harrison just before halftime to take a 28-7 lead at the break. The scoring play capped off an 11-play, 69-yard drive that was aided by two 15-yard personal foul penalties on the Hornets.
The Hens scored a field goal on the opening drive of the third quarter to open up a 31-7 lead.
Delaware State answered with a 13-play drive for its second touchdown of the game. Freshman running back Nagee Jackson capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge on fourth down for his first career score. Ward's extra point kick pulled the Hornets to within 31-14 with 5:04 left in the third quarter. . Elko was 3-for-3 for 22 yards, while freshman running back Dae-Hon Cheung had a five-yard run on third-and-one during the drive.
The Hens closed out the scoring when Hurley and Harrison connected for the second time in the game in the fourth quarter. The 18-yard touchdown pass and Baner's extra point gave Delaware a 38-14 lead with 3:00 left to play.
Elko completed 35-of-50 passes for 298 yards. Wilson had nine catches for 93 yards, each a game high. Terrick Colston and Davon Moore tied for the team high in tackles for the second straight game. Each had seven total stops.
The Hornets will return to action next Saturday (Sep. 15) against Big East power Cincinnati. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Nippert Stadium. It will be DSU's first contest against a FBS opponent since facing Michigan in 2009.
STINGERS
Wilson is now tied with Darius Jackson (2008-11) for third place with 138 career receptions at DSU ... Travis Tarpley had seven catches for 63 yards to move into seventh place on the Hornets' all-time list with 105 receptions ... The Hornets recorded their first sack of the season against Hurley in the third quarter.
