2014 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 11
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY “HORNETS” (2-8/2-4 MEAC) VS.
FLORIDA A&M “RATTLERS” (2-8/ 2-4 MEAC)
SAT., NOV. 15, 2014 (2 p.m.)
ALUMNI STADIUM (7,000) - DOVER, DEL.
MILITARY APPRECIATION/PARENTS' & FAMILY/SENIOR DAY
LOCAL RADIO - Hot County 107.7 (hotcountry1077.com)
THE GAME
Delaware State wraps up its 2014 home schedule against Florida A&M in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference battle of teams looking to snap three-game skids. The Hornets have been idle since a 17-10 loss at Howard on Nov. 1. DSU had its second-best offensive output of the season (321 total yards), but could find the endzone just once in the contest. Running back Jamaal Jackson was a bright spot for the Hornets, rushing for a career-high 107 yards and a touchdown. Delaware State quarterback Marlon Kelly completed 16-of-26 passes for a career-best 184 yards in the game.
Florida A&M is coming off a 34-17 home loss to MEAC co-leader South Carolina State last Saturday. The Rattlers trailed 13-0 before scoring 10 straight points to pull to within three. Florida A&M was outscored 21-7 in the second half. Rattler quarterback Damien Fleming put up solid numbers, completing 23-of-35 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns,
although he was intercepted once.
THE SERIES (Florida A&M leads 22-9)
This is the 31st meeting between the teams since the series began in 1977. Delaware State won the last contest 29-21 at Florida A&M in 2013 to snap a four-game losing streak to the Rattlers. The Hornets trailed 21-3 before scoring 26 unanswered points in last year's contest. Delaware State forced four Florida A&M turnovers, including three in the second half, in the 2013 meeting. The last time the teams met at Delaware State, the Rattlers pulled out a 24-22 win in 2012. The Hornets missed a potential game-tying two-point attempt following their final touchdown with 6:39 left in that contest.
HORNETS/RATTLERS IN THE MEAC
Delaware State is currently seventh in the MEAC with a 2-4 league mark. Florida A&M is also 2-4 in league play, but the Rattlers are ineligible for the 2014 league title. There's a three-way tie atop the MEAC standings. South Carolina State, North Carolina A&T and Bethune-Cookman are tied for the league lead at 5-1 each. North Carolina Central, Norfolk State and Morgan State are next at 4-2. 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 131-151-1 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 was 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 was the preseason favorite to win the crown. Delaware State is 1-2 in MEAC home games this season.
