Dover, Del. (Oct. 25, 2014) --- Delaware State was plagued by three turnovers, another special teams miscue and nine penalties in a 23-0 MEAC loss to Hampton at Alumni Stadium this afternoon.
The Hornets dropped their second straight game to fall to 2-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play this season. The Pirates won their first MEAC contest of the season (1-3), while improving to 2-6 overall.
DSU passed for 203 yards, but was held to 34 yards rushing. Hornet quarterbacks were sacked seven times in the contest, totaling losses of 32 yards.
Hampton rushed for 263 yards on 47 attempts (5.6 ypc), while passing for 143 yards.
The game was scoreless for the first 28 minutes, although Delaware State had the best scoring opportunity in the early going.
On the first possession of the game, Hornet defensive end Gabe Sherrod intercepted a pass by Hampton's Jerrell Antoine and returned the ball 27 yards to the Pirates' 25 yard line.
The Hornets advanced to the Hampton 12 before a sack and two negative rushing plays moved the ball back the Pirate 24.
DSU placekicker Mitchell Ward missed a 41-yard field goal attempt to end the drive.
Hampton drove nearly the length of the field to get on the scoreboard first. Starting from the two yard line following a 49-yard punt by Delaware State's Jeremiah McGeough, the Pirates drove 98 yards on seven plays for the first touchdown of the game. Eric Carter capped off the march with a four-yard touchdown run to give Hampton a 6-0 lead with 1:22 left in the second quarter. Carter rushed for 55 yards during the drive, including a 51-yard romp to the DSU 4. Hampton's Anthony Prevost failed on the extra point kick following the score.
Hampton stretched its lead on a touchdown midway through the third quarter. Antoine connected with Rashawn Proctor on a 56-yard scoring pass with 7:34 remaining in the third quarter. The extra point kick by Prevost gave the Pirates a 13-0 lead.
Hampton took advantage of a Delaware State special teams error to score their third touchdown.
One play after receiving the ball at the DSU three yard line following a bad punt snap, Jerrell rushed to the endzone with 2:33 left in the third quarter. Prevost nailed the extra point kick to stretch the Pirate lead to 20-0.
Hampton closed out the scoring on a field goal as time expired in the third quarter.
The Hornets could get no closer than the Hampton 31 yard line in the second half.
Delaware State used two quarterbacks for the second week in a row. Starter Marlon Kelly completed nine-of-19 passes for 76 yards. He was intercepted twice.
Gilbert Rivera started the second half for the Hornets. He was 15-for-25 for 127 yards with an interception before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with an injury.
Jamaal Jackson was DSU's leading rusher for the second straight game, tallying 52 yards on 18 carries.
Milton Williams III had a season-high nine catches for 78 yards for the Hornets.
Hampton's Jorrian Washington rushed for a game-high 142 yards on 23 carries, while Carter chipped in 113 yards and a touchdown on 10 attempts.
Antoine connected on 13-of-25 passes for 143 yards for the Pirates. He threw one touchdown and was intercepted once.
Free safety Davon Moore led the Hornet defenders with 11 tackles, including seven solo stops. He also had a forced fumble and pass break-up.
Linebacker Alex Perry had eight tackles (four unassisted), including 2.5 behind the line-of-scrimmage.
Hampton linebacker Joshua Thorne had 19 tackles, highlighted by three sacks and three other stops in the DSU backfield. He also had an interception and 42-yard return.
The Hornets are back in action next Saturday (Nov. 1) at Howard University. Game time is 1 p.m. at Greene Stadium in Washington, D.C.
