Savannah, Ga. (Sep. 28, 2013) --- Delaware State led by 15 points midway through the fourth quarter and held off a late Savannah State surge in a 24-22 victory in the MEAC opener for both teams at Ted Wright Stadium this evening.
The Hornets (1-3; 1-0 MEAC) won for the first time this season and were victorious in a MEAC opener for the first time since 2008. Savannah State fell to 1-4 and 0-1.
DSU led 24-9 after a 31-yard touchdown pass from Cory Murphy to freshman Aris Scott with 8:11 left in the fourth quarter. The scoring pass was Murphy's second of the game and first for Scott as a collegian.
Savannah State quarterback Antonio Bostick threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to pull the Tigers to within 24-22. The Tigers failed to tie the game after the second touchdown when Bostick's two-point pass was deflected by the Hornet defense with 1:51 left in the game.
DSU sealed the win when Murphy hit Milton Williams for a first down on a 12-yard pass with 1:26 left to play.
After a scoreless opening quarter, Savannah State broke though first when John Barron finished off a 10-play, 48-yard drive with a 28-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead with 7:49 left in the second quarter.
On the first play from scrimmage after the SSU field goal, Delaware State snapped a six-quarter scoreless drought and grabbed its first lead of the season when Dae-Hon Cheung broke off a 61-yard touchdown run to put the Hornets in front 6-3. It was the longest run of Cheung's career and the team's longest play of the season. Mitchell Ward's extra point kick gave DSU a 7-3 lead with 7:31 left in the second quarter.
Savannah State answered with a score of its own on the ensuing possession to regain the lead. Quarterback Leon Prunty capped off a six-play, 72-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 9-7 lead with 4:39 to go before halftime. SSU failed on a two-point run following the touchdown.
Delaware State regained the lead on its first possession of the second half. Ward's 37-yard field goal gave DSU a 10-9 lead with 11:27 left in the third.
On the ensuing kickoff, Ward's line drive kick nailed one of the up-men on the Savannah State return team. The live ball caromed back in the direction of the Hornet kickoff team before being recovered by Ward at the DSU 25.
It took six plays for the Hornets to capitalize on the break. Murphy connected with Malik Golson on a 53-yard touchdown pass on a crossing pattern to complete the 75-yard drive. Golson took the pass in stride at the SSU 30-yard line and outran three defenders along the Delaware State sideline to the endzone for his third touchdown catch of the season. Ward's extra point kick gave the Hornets a 17-9 lead with 9;26 to play in the third quarter.
Murphy shook off a slow start to complete 8-of-19 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Golson had two catches for 84 yards, while Williams (41 yards) and Scott (40) each had two receptions.
The Delaware State defense recorded six sacks, the most since tallying eight against Florida A&M in 2005. The Hornets did not have a sack in their first three games this season.
Cory Scott and Terrick Colston led DSU with 10 tackles each.
Scott had two backfield tackles, including a sack, a forced fumble and two pass break-ups. Colston also had two fumble recoveries and a break-up.
Rodney Gunter and Alex Perry had 1.5 sacks each for the Hornets.
DSU will play its first home game of the season next Saturday (Oct. 5) against defending MEAC champ Bethune-Cookman. The Parents' Day contest will kick off at 2:00 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
STINGERS
Ward has nailed 38 straight extra-point kicks since the 2011 season … Delaware State is now 3-0 all-time vs. Savannah State (2001, '02, '13) … This was the first meeting between the teams since Savannah State joined the MEAC in 2011 … Cheung's 61-yard touchdown run was the Hornets' first rushing touchdown this season.
