2014 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 9
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY “HORNETS” (2-6/2-2 MEAC) VS.
HAMPTON “PIRATES” (1-6/ 0-3 MEAC)
SAT., OCT. 25, 2014 (2 p.m.)
ALUMNI STADIUM (7,000) - DOVER, DEL
“BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY”
THE GAME
Delaware State takes on Hampton University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game. The Hornets (2-6; 2-2 MEAC) are trying to bounce back from a 33-20 loss to North Carolina A&T last week. Delaware State gave up touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams in the first 22 minutes to trail 24-0 at the half. The Hornets scored a season-high 20 points in the fourth quarter. Delaware State running back Jamaal Jackson rushed for a career-high 100 yards in the contest. Defensively, Hornet safety Davon Moore tallied a career-best 16 tackles while Terrick Colston had an interception for the fourth straight game.
Hampton (1-6; 0-3 MEAC) brings a three-game losing streak into the contest. The Pirates are coming off a 21-13 loss to Norfolk State last week. Hampton held Norfolk State to just two yards rushing, but allowed 335 passing yards in the contest. Hampton led 10-7 after a second quarter touchdown, but the Spartans regained the lead for good with a touchdown less than a minute before halftime. Jorrian Washington rushed for a game-high 85 yards on 21 carries for the Pirates.
THE SERIES (Hampton leads 25-14-1)
This will be the 40th meeting between the Hornets and Pirates. Hampton won the last contest, 30-7 on its home field in 2013, to open up a 25-14 series lead. The Pirates rushed for 225 yards in last year's meeting, including 127 and a touchdown from Jorrian Washington. The Hornets posted a 35-27 win the last time the teams met at Delaware State in 2012. DSU racked up a season-high 512 total yards, including 212 rushing in the contest.
HORNETS/PIRATES IN THE MEAC
Delaware State is currently seventh in the MEAC with a 2-2 league mark. Hampton is eighth among the nine teams eligible for the 2014 conference title at 0-3. Bethune-Cookman leads the MEAC at 3-0.
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 131-149-1 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.
Hampton was ranked seventh in the preseason MEAC 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 2-2 in MEAC home games last season.
