2013 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
Delaware State University Hornets (1-3; 1-0 MEAC)
vs. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (3-1; 0-0 MEAC)
Sat., Oct. 5, 2013 - 2:00 p.m.
Alumni Stadium | Dover, Del.
THE GAME
Delaware State welcomes the defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Bethune-Cookman Wildcats to Alumni Stadium for the Hornets' 2013 home opener. DSU (1-3 overall; 1-0 MEAC) wrapped up a season-opening four-game road swing with a 24-22 victory over Savannah State in its MEAC opener in Savannah, Ga., last Saturday. The Hornets led by 15 points midway through the fourth quarter and held off a late Savannah State surge to earn their first win of the season. Quarterback Cory Murphy (sr.) threw two touchdown passes and tailback Dae-Hon Cheung (so.) rushed for 90 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown, to lead the Hornet offense last week. The Delaware State defense sacked Savannah State quarterbacks six times, the most by the team since recording eight at Florida A&M in 2005. Defensive backs Cory Scott (jr.) and Terrick Colston (so.) led the Hornets with 10 tackles each in the contest. Scott also two tackles for loss, including a sack, a forced fumble and two pass break-ups. Colston also recovered two Savannah State fumbles.
Murphy leads all MEAC quarterbacks in passing average at 220.2 yards per game. He has completed 77-of-146 passes (52.7%) for 881 yards and five touchdowns in his first season as the Hornet starter.
Bethune-Cookman (3-1; 0-0 MEAC) has been idle since a 54-6 loss to FBS Florida State on Sep. 21. The Wildcats opened the season with wins over Tennessee State (12-9), Virginia Union (66-7) and FBS Florida International (34-13) in their first three games. Wildcat junior Anthony Jordan is the top rusher in the MEAC at 75.5 yards per game (302 yards).
Delaware State is the No. 1 passing team in the MEAC at 232.2 yards per game, while Bethune-Cookman leads the league in rushing at 234.2 yards per contest.
THE HEAD COACHES
Delaware State | Kermit Blount (Winston-Salem State, 80): Blount is in his third season as head coach of the Hornets. He has a 10-16 overall (7-10 MEAC) at DSU. Now in his 20th year as a collegiate head coach, he has a career record of 101-103-3 (.488). Prior to accepting the DSU post, he was 91-87-3 in 17 years as head coach at Winston-Salem State University. Blount led WSSU to two CIAA championships and three league title game appearances. He was named CIAA Coach-of-the-Year in 1999 & 2000. Blount was 2-2 vs. Bethune-Cookman while at Winston-Salem State. This will be his first meeting against the Wildcats since coming to Delaware State.
Bethune-Cookman | Brian Jenkins (Cincinnati, '93) is in his fourth year as head coach of the Wildcats. His overall record of 30-9 is highlighted by MEAC championships in 2010 and 2012. Jenkins was named MEAC Coach-of-the-Year after each of those seasons. He was also selected as the Sheridan Broadcast Network Black College Coach-of-the-Year and American Football Coach Association Region II Coach-of-the-Year in 2010; and the FCS Region II Coach-of-the-Year in 2012. Jenkins is 1-0 vs. Delaware State (2010).
THE SERIES
This will be the 36th contest between the teams. Bethune-Cookman has won the last two meetings, although the Hornets hold a 19-16 lead in the series. The teams are meeting for the first time since the Wildcats posted a 47-24 win on Oct. 9, 2010 in Daytona Beach, Fla. BCU also won the last time the teams met at Alumni Stadium, 9-7, in 2009. Delaware State won six straight in the series from 1992-to- '97; and four straight from 2005-to-'08.
