2014 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 12
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY “HORNETS” (2-9/ 2-5 MEAC)
VS. MORGAN STATE “BEARS” (6-5/ 5-2 MEAC)
SAT., NOV. 22, 2014 (1 p.m.)
HUGHES STADIUM (10,000) - BALTIMORE, MD.
THE GAME
Delaware State wraps up its 2014 season with a visit to long-time rival Morgan State in a contest that has MEAC championship implications. The Bears are one of four teams tied for second in the MEAC race with 5-2 league records; and could claim a share of the conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with a victory over the Hornets and some help this weekend.
Delaware State is hoping to spoil Morgan State's plans and end the season on a positive note. The Hornets have dropped their last four games, including a 41-7 home loss to Florida A&M in their most recent outing. The Rattlers scored touchdowns on their first two possessions and led 31-0 at the half.
Wide receiver Malik Golson and halfback Jamaal Jackson were bright spots for the Hornets in the contest. Golson had four catches for a career-high 121 yards, while Jackson led the Hornets in rushing for the fifth straight contest with a game-high 85 yards on 17 carries (5.0 ypc).
Morgan State kept alive its MEAC championship hopes with a 24-21 victory over South Carolina State last weekend. The Bears scored the winning touchdown on a nine-yard run by QB Moses Skillon with 58 seconds left to play. Skillon also completed 25-of-43 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns in the contest.
THE SERIES (Morgan State leads 33-24)
This is the 58th meeting between the Hornets and Bears. It is Delaware State's second oldest rivalry (70 games vs. Howard). Morgan State won the last meeting 31-26 at DSU in 2013 to open up a 33-24 lead in the series. The Bears scored the winning touchdown on a four-yard run by quarterback Seth Higgins with 46 seconds left to play in last year's meeting. Wide receiver Milton Williams III had a big day for the Hornets, catching nine passes for a career-best 179 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown. The last time the teams met at Morgan State, the Hornets posted a 28-23 victory in 2012. DSU quarterback Nick Elko completed 33-of-42 passes for a career-high 398 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Hornets in the contest.
HORNETS/BEARS IN THE MEAC
Delaware State is tied for seventh in the MEAC with a 2-5 league mark. Morgan State is tied with South Carolina State, Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina Central for second place in the league standings at 5-2. North Carolina A&T leads the MEAC at 6-1; and could win the title outright and an automatic berth to the FCS playoffs with a win at North Carolina Central on Saturday.
Morgan State could win a share of the title and playoff berth with a win over Delaware State; a loss by NCA&T (vs. NCCU); and wins by Bethune-Cookman (vs. Florida A&M), and South Carolina State (vs. Norfolk State)
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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 131-152-1 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 road games this season.
