2014 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 6
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY “HORNETS” (1-4/1-0 MEAC) VS.
(#17/#17)) BETHUNE-COOKMAN “WILDCATS” (3-1/ 0-0 MEAC)
SAT., OCT. 4, 2014 (4 p.m.)
MUNICIPAL STADIUM (10,000) - DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.
THE GAME
Delaware State plays its first MEAC road game of the season at league preseason favorite Bethune-Cookman. The Hornets (1-4; 1-0 MEAC) posted their first win of the season last week, topping Savannah State 35-10 in their conference opener at Alumni Stadium. DSU
scored four touchdowns in the first quarter, including three in a one-minute-14 second span, en route to the win. The Hornets scored their first touchdown on a 44-yard fumble return by linebacker Kareem Leaver in the first quarter. Delaware State also reached the endzone on a 16-yard run by fullback Lamar Shaw, a five-yard pass from Gilbert Rivera to Malik Golson and a 44-yard catch and run by Milton Williams III during a 74-second span in the quarter to open up a 28-0 lead.
Williams III scored his second touchdown of the game on a pass from reserve QB Marlon Kelly in the fourth quarter. The Hornet receiver had five catches for 75 yards in the contest.
The Hornets rushed for a season-high 204 yards in the game
Bethune-Cookman (3-1; 0-0 MEAC), ranked 17th among all FCS schools, is playing its
MEAC opener after narrowly escaping with a non-conference victory last week. The
Wildcats needed two fourth quarter touchdowns and a stop on a two-point try to hold off Florida Tech 34-33 last Saturday. BCU trailed 27-20 before scoring twice in the final
quarter to open up a 34-27 lead. Florida Tech pulled to within 34-33 on a touchdown with 19 seconds left to play. The Panthers went for the win on a two-point try but Bethune-Cookman
came up with the stop. Wildcat quarterback Quentin Williams completed 16-of-28 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 31 yards and a score in the contest. The performance earned him MEAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors.
THE SERIES (DSU leads 19-17)
This will be the 37th contest between the teams. Bethune-Cookman has won the last three meetings, although the Hornets hold a 19-17 lead in the series. The Hornets and Wildcats are meeting for the second straight year. Bethune-Cookman won last year's contest 21-7 at DSU's Alumni Stadium. DSU scored first on a seven-yard Corey Murphy to Malik Golson touchdown pass in the second quarter. The Wildcats tied the game on a touchdown later in the quarter. Bethune-Cookman pulled ahead on a third quarter touchdown and added an insurance score with 4:40 left to play. The last time the teams met at BCU, the Wildcats posted a 47-24 win on Oct. 9, 2010. Delaware State won six straight in the series from 1992-to-'97; and four straight from 2005-to-'08.
HORNETS IN MEAC
Delaware State is one of four teams at 1-0 in the MEAC after one week of conference play this season. 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 130-147-1 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.
