2014 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 7
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY “HORNETS” (1-5/1-1 MEAC) VS.
NORFOLK STATE “SPARTANS” (2-4/ 2-0 MEAC)
SAT., OCT. 11, 2014 (2 p.m.)
WILLIAM “DICK” PRICE STADIUM (30,000) - NORFOLK, VA.
THE GAME
Delaware State visits Norfolk State in a key MEAC contest. The Hornets (1-5; 1-1 MEAC) are trying to rebound from a 27-7 loss to Bethune-Cookman last week. The Wildcats opened up a 21-0 first quarter lead, due in part to DSU special teams mistakes, and were never seriously threatened. The Hornets pulled to within 21-7 when Terrick Colston intercepted a pass and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown with five seconds left in the opening quarter. It was the second INT return for a touchdown in his career and DSU's first since Nick
Williams in 2012 (79 at Howard).
Delaware State recovered two Bethune-Cookman fumbles in the second quarter, but failed to capitalize.
The Wildcats won the total yardage battle 435-to-168. The Hornets were held to 41 yards rushing and 127 yards through the air. Bethune-Cookman rushed for 237 yards.
Norfolk State (2-4; 2-0) is tied with South Carolina for the early lead in the MEAC race. The Spartans are coming off a 14-7 victory at Savannah State last Saturday. All of the points were scored in the first quarter. Norfolk State scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 15-yard touchdown run by Tyler Clark with 16 seconds left in the opening quarter. The Spartans held Savannah State to just 13 net yards rushing in the contest.
Norfolk State ranks sixth among all FCS in total defense at 271.0 yards per game. Spartan senior linebacker Lyndon Trail was selected as the MEAC's Preseason Defensive Player-of-the-Year.
THE SERIES (DSU leads 15-6)
The teams are meeting for the 20th consecutive year, and 22nd time overall. Delaware State won the last two contest to open up a 15-6 lead in the series. The Hornets have won last year's meeting 14-7 in Dover, Del. Norfolk State led 7-0 after a second quarter touchdown. Delaware State tied the game on a seven-yard touchdown run by Nagee Jackson in the third quarter; and scored the winning touchdown on a one-yard plunge by quarterback
Corey Murphy with 5:05 left to play t cap off an 18-play, 61-yard drive that consumed eight-minutes-42 seconds. The Hornets held NSU to just 19 yards rushing on 25 attempts in the contest. The DSU defense collected four sacks in the game. The last time the teams met at Norfolk State, the Hornets posted a 20-17 victory in 2012. The Hornets scored the game winning touchdown on a 23-yard pass from Nick Elko to Justin Brewton with 10:01 left to play. DSU sealed the win when free safety Davon Moore intercepted a pass at the Hornet 11 yard line with 29 seconds left to play. It was Moore's second interception of the game. His first, with 11:53 left in the fourth quarter, led to the Hornets' game-winning score.
Delaware State won six straight games between the teams from 2003 to '08.
HORNETS IN MEAC
Delaware State is tied with North Carolina A&T for sixth place in the MEAC at 1-1 after two weeks of conference play. A charter member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), DSU is in its 44th season of league play. The Hornets have an all-time record of 130-148-1 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 2013.
DSU has been picked to finish fifth in the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings, according to a poll of league head coaches and sports information
representatives. The Hornets received a total of 229 points in the preseason poll. Bethune-Cookman is the overwhelming favorite to win its third straight MEAC championship. The Wildcats collected 480 points in the poll.
Delaware State has exceeded MEAC preseason expectations in each of the last two years. The Hornets were tied for third in the 2013 conference race with a 5-3 record after an eighth place prediction by pollsters. In 2012, DSU was also tied for third in the final league
standings at 5-3 following a 10th place forecast by MEAC pollsters.
The Hornets were 3-1 in MEAC road contests last season.
