2015 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 4
DELAWARE STATE “HORNETS” (0-3; 0-0 MEAC)
VS.
MORGAN STATE “BEARS ” (1-2; 1-0 MEAC)
SAT., OCT. 3, 2015 (2 p.m.) - PARENTS' & FAMILY DAY
ALUMNI STADIUM (7,000) - DOVER, DEL.
LIVE VIDEO STREAMING: DSUHORNETS.COM
THE GAME
Delaware State welcomes long-time rival Morgan State to Alumni Stadium in the 2015 MEAC opener for the Hornets. DSU has been idle since a 31-30 loss to Chowan on Sep. 19. The Hornets nearly overcame a 21-point deficit, but came up short in the final minute. Delaware State to within 31-30 on a seven-yard touchdown pass from second-string quarterback Gil Rivera to Kamal Abrams with 59 seconds left to play, but the Hornets failed to tie the game when the extra point kick was wide. Jamaal Jackson ran for 76 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown for the Hornets. Jackson leads DSU with 136 yards rushing this season. Esayah Obado and Rivera each threw a touchdown pass for the Hornets. Obado's scoring toss to Malik Golson was the first of his career. For the season, Obado has completed 26-of-56 passes for 303 yards and a touchdown. Golson is the DSU's top receiver with none catches for 94 yards. Jackson has six catches (69 yards) and Abrams five (64 yards) for the Hornets. Defensively, Delaware State inside linebacker Malik Harris has a 38 tackles, including 20 solo stops. He had a career-high 15 vs. FBS Kent State on Sep. 12. Safety Terrick Colston is second on the Hornets with 31 tackles. He also has one of three defensive touchdowns for DSU this season, scoring on a fumble recovery vs. Kent State. Cornerbacks William Burton (fumble) and J.R. Robinson (interception) also have defensive scores for the Hornets this season.
Morgan State is coming off a 21-13 win over Howard in its MEAC opener at Soldier Field in Chicago last weekend. Quarterback Moses Skillon completed 16-of-29 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bears. Morgan State also rushed for 208 yards in the contest, led by Lamont Brown's 75. Skillon also added 64 yards on the ground. The Bears' defense held Howard to 260 total yards, while keeping the Bison offense out of the endzone. For the season, Skillon has connected on 36-of-69 passes (52.2%) for 429 yards and two touchdowns. He ranks fourth in the MEAC in total offense at 186.0 yards per game. Brown is the Bear's top rusher with 143 yards (47.7 ypg).
THE SERIES
This is the 59th meeting between the Hornets and Bears. It is Delaware State's second oldest rivalry (70 games vs. Howard). Morgan State has won the last two meetings to open up a 34-24 series lead. The Bears won last year's contest 69-7 in Baltimore, Md. The last time the teams met at DSU, Morgan State posted a come-from-behind 31-26 victory in 2013. The Bears scored the winning touchdown on a four-yard run by quarterback Seth Higgins with 46 seconds left to play.
HORNETS IN THE MEAC
Delaware State, a charter member of the Mid-Easter Athletic Conference, is in its 45th year of league play. The Hornets have an all-time record of 131-153-1 in MEAC contests. DSU has won or shared six league championships. The Hornets claimed outright MEC titles in 1985, 1989 and 2007, while sharing the crown in 1987, 1988 and 1991.
DSU was 2-6 in the league in 2014; and has been picked to finish 10th in the 2015 race, according to a poll of league head coaches and sports information
representatives.
This week's opponent, Morgan State, was one of five teams to share the 2014 MEAC title with a 6-2 league record. The Bears earned the MEAC's automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs last season. MSU has been picked to finish fifth in this year's race.
