2014 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
Delaware State University Hornets (0-4; 0-0 MEAC)
vs. Savannah State Tigers (0-3; 0-0 MEAC)
Sat., Sep. 20, 2014 – 6 p.m.
Alumni Stadium | Dover, Del.
THE GAME
Delaware State welcomes Savannah State to Alumni Stadium in the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener for each team. The Hornets are trying to rebound from a 59-0 loss to FBS Temple at Lincoln Financial Field last week. The Owls scored three touchdowns-two on special teams-in the first nine minutes and never looked back. Some good news for DSU in the Temple contest were interceptions by defensive backs Ronald Robinson and William Burton, the first two picks of the season for the Hornets. Robinson now has five interceptions in his career. The Hornets are looking to get its offense in gear this season. DSU is averaging 199.5 yards per game, 129.5 by the pass and 70 on the ground. Quarterback Gilbert Rivera, a junior college transfer (E. Los Angeles College) who joined the Hornets at the start of summer camp, has taken the majority of snaps this season in place of injured starter Esayah Obado. Rivera has completed 52-of-96 passes (54.2%) for 507 yards and two touchdowns. He has thrown five interceptions, including three at Temple last week. Delaware State receiver Milton Williams III is second in the MEAC in receiving yards (69.0 pg) and fourth in receptions at 4.8 per contest (19 total). Defensively, the Hornets are allowing 415.2 yards per game, including 245.5 on the ground.
Savannah State (0-3; 0-0 MEAC) has been idle since a 42-28 loss to Fort Valley State on Sep. 13. The Tigers have also suffered losses to Middle Tennessee State (7-61) and Georgia Southern (9-93) this season. SSU is averaging 243.0 yards per game to rank eighth in the MEAC. The Tigers are fifth in the league in passing yardage at 145.7 per game. Savannah State quarterback Tino Smith is ninth in the MEAC in passing efficiency with a 102.5 passer rating. Smith has completed 22-of-37 passes (59.5%) for 174 yards. He has thrown one touchdown and one interception. On defense, Savannah State is allowing 534.3 yards per game to rank last in the MEAC.
THE HEAD COACHES
Delaware State | Kermit Blount (Winston-Salem State, 80): Blount is in his fourth season as head coach of the Hornets. He has a 14-23 overall record (11-13 MEAC) at DSU. Now in his 21st year as a collegiate head coach, he has a career record of 105-110-3 (.482). Prior to accepting the DSU post, he was 91-87-3 in 17 years as head coach at Winston-Salem State University. Blount led WSSU to two CIAA championships and three league title game appearances. He was named CIAA Coach-of-the-Year in 1999 & 2000. Blount is 3-1 vs. Savannah State, including 1-0 as head coach of the Hornets.
Savannah State | Earnest Wilson III (Texas Tech, '89) is in his second season as head coach of the Tigers. He is 1-14 overall at SSU. Prior to taking the Savannah State job, Wilson was an assistant coach at fellow MEAC member Hampton University. Before joining Hampton, Wilson was offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and wide receiver coach at Jackson State University in 2010 and 2011. He is 0-1 vs. Delaware State.
THE SERIES (DSU leads 3-0)
The Hornets and Tigers are meeting for the second straight year; and for the first time at DSU since 2002. Delaware State won the 2013 meeting 24-22 in Savannah, Ga. Delaware State led by 15 points midway through the fourth quarter and held off a late Savannah State surge. The Tigers came up short on a potential game-tying two-point pass with 1:51 left in the contest. Delaware State also defeated SSU 45-22 in 2001 in Savannah, Ga.; and 41-9 in 2002 in Dover, Del. Ben Blacknall was head coach of the Hornets at the time. Savannah State was a Division II program during those earlier meetings against DSU.
