2013 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
HORNETS (0-3; 0-0 MEAC) vs. SAVANNAH STATE "TIGERS" (1-3; 0-0 MEAC)
SAT., SEP. 28, 2013 - 6:00 p.m.
TED WRIGHT STADIUM (8,500) - SAVANNAH, GA.
THE GAME
Delaware State wraps up a season opening four-game road swing with a visit to Savannah State in the 2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener for each team. The Hornets fell to 0-3 this season after a 51-0 loss to FCS No. 1 North Dakota State last Saturday. DSU was held to 189 total yards in the contest, including just 34 on the ground. The Hornets have also suffered losses to No. 4 Towson (Sep. 14) and Delaware (Sep. 7), each on the road, this season.
Savannah State is 1-3 this season. The Tigers are coming off a 77-7 loss to FBS Miami (Fla.) last weekend. SSU has also fallen to Georgia Southern (Aug. 31) and FBS Troy (Sep. 7) this season. The Tigers defeated Division II Fort Valley State 27-20 for their lone win of the season in their home opener on Sep. 14
Savannah State is in its third season as an official member of the MEAC.
THE SERIES (DSU leads 2-0)
The Hornets and Tigers are meeting for just the third time, and first since Savannah State joined the MEAC. The teams did not meet during Savannah State's first two years in the league (2011, '12).
Delaware State won the previous meetings between the teams, 45-22 in 2001 in Savannah, Ga.; and 41-9 in 2002 in Dover, Del. Ben Blacknall was head coach of the Hornets during those years. Savannah State was a Division II program during those earlier meetings against DSU.
HORNETS IN MEAC
Delaware State, a charter member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), is in its 44th season of league play. The Hornets have an all-time record of 124-144-1 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.
Delaware State was tied for third place in the MEAC with a 5-3 mark in 2012. Savannah State was winless in the league last season (0-8) and is 1-15 in
MEAC contests since officially joining the league in 2011.
Delaware State has been picked to finish eighth in the 2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings, according to a poll of league head coaches and sports information representatives.
The Hornets received a total of 201 points in the preseason poll. Bethune-Cookman is the overwhelming favorite to win its second straight MEAC championship. The Wildcats collected 16 of 21 first place votes and 480 points in the poll.
Delaware State exceeded the preseason MEAC expectations in 2012. The Hornets were tied for third in the final standings with a 5-3 record after a 10th place prediction in the preseason poll last season.
Savannah State has been picked to finish 11th in the league this season. The Tigers garnered 52 total points, although they did receive one first place vote.
The Hornets were 2-2 in MEAC road games last season.
