2014 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 2
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY “HORNETS” (0-1/0-0 MEAC) VS.
DELAWARE “FIGHTIN BLUE HENS” (0-1/ 0-0 CAA)
SAT., SEP. 6, 2014 (6 P.M.)
DELAWARE STADIUM/TUBBY RAYMOND FIELD (22,000) - NEWARK, DEL.
AUDIO - HSRN.COM and SIRRIUS-XM 110
THE GAME
Delaware State travels 45 miles north of campus to take on the University of Delaware in the annual Route 1 Rivalry. The Hornets opened the 2014 season with a 52-21 loss at Monmouth last Saturday. DSU started the game with a bang when Aris Scott returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown just 16 seconds into the season. The Hornets also led 14-7 after a two-yard touchdown run by Malcom Williams midway through the first quarter. After Monmouth opened up a 21-14 lead, DSU tied the game on a 77-yard touchdown pass from fill-in starting quarterback Gilbert Rivera to wide receiver Milton Williams III with 9:32 left in the second quarter. Monmouth regained the lead on the next possession to pull ahead 28-21 at the break. The Hornets were outscored 24-0 in the second half. Monmouth won the total yardage battle 553-to-187. DSU was held to just 34 yards rushing on 19 attempts.
Rivera, a junior college transfer (E. Los Angeles College) who joined the Hornets this
preseason camp, completed 14-of-30 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown, while throwing two interceptions in his first Division I contest.
Williams III was a bright spot for the Hornets, catching six passes for 121 yards and the touchdown. Linebacker Willie Bolden led the Hornets with a career-high 10 tackles in the contest.
DELAWARE
Delaware is looking to rebound after a 62-0 loss at FBS Pittsburgh of the Atlantic Coast Conference in its season opener last Saturday. The Hens were outgained 501-to-57 in total offense in suffering their first shutout since 1996, a span of 220 games.
Delaware returns 13 starters from its 2013 club, which posted a 7-5 overall record and was fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 4-4 league mark. The Hens have been picked to finish sixth in the 2014 CAA race, while receiving votes in the major Football Championship Subdivision preseason polls.
THE SERIES
This will be the sixth meeting between the state's two Division I teams. Each game has been played at Delaware Stadium. The Hens have won the previous meetings by a combined score of 196-59. Delaware won the last contest 42-21 on Sep. 7, 2013. DSU outgained Delaware 341-to-328 in passing yardage and held the advantage in first downs (25-21) and time of possession (36:10-to-23:50); but was plagued by several Delaware big plays, three turnovers and two missed field goals in the contest. The Hens won the total yardage battle 456-to-440 in the contest. The Hornets trailed 14-7 before Delaware ran off 21 straight points to hold a 35-7 lead at the half. DSU quarterback Corey Murphy passed for 341 yards in last year's Delaware contest. The Hornets have passed for 639 yards in the last two games against the Hens. Delaware State has yet to hold a lead in the series.
DSU vs. UD all-time results
2007 Delaware 44 Delaware State 7 Newark, Del. (NCAA playoffs)
2009 Delaware 27 Delaware State 17 Newark, Del.
2011 Delaware 45 Delaware State 0 Newark, Del.
2012 Delaware 38 Delaware State 14 Newark, Del.
2013 Delaware 42 Delaware State 21 Newark, Del.
SCOTT HONORED BY MEAC FOR MONMOUTH RETURN
Delaware State University's Aris Scott (so.; Harrisburg, Pa.) has been honored by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for his 98-yard kickoff return touchdown on the opening play of the 2014 season at Monmouth last Saturday.
Scott has been named MEAC Co-Special Teams Player-of-the-Week for the return, the Hornets' first kickoff return touchdown since 2007.
North Carolina A&T's Tony McRae shared the MEAC special teams honor with Scott. McRae had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Aggies' 47-13 victory over Alabama A&M in the annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday.
Scott is the first Hornet to be named MEAC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week since placekicker Mitchell Ward last season. Ward earned the award after kicking a 26-yard game winning field goal as time expired in a 22-20 win over Howard.
