2016 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 3   
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY “HORNETS” (0–2; 0-0 MEAC)                                                             VS.                                                                               
MISSOURI “TIGERS”  (1-2; 0-1 SEC)
SAT., SEP. 24, 2016 (4 p.m. ET)
MEMORIAL STADIUM - FAUROT FIELD  (71,168) - COLUMBIA, MO.
SEC NETWORK/WatchESPN

THE GAME
Delaware State (0-2) travels to SEC country to face the Missouri Tigers. The Hornets have been idle since a 34-20 home-opening loss to FCS Monmouth on Sep. 10. DSU trailed 27-0 before scoring the next 20 points to get back into the game. Monmouth answered with a nearly eight minute touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to seal the win. The Hornets scored their first touchdown on a career-best 64-yard run by Brycen Alleyne (so.) in the third quarter. It was DSU's first rushing touchdown of the season. The Hornets also scored touchdowns on a 46-yard pass from Daniel Epperson (jr.) to wide receiver Jerimiah Williams (jr.) and on a blocked punt return by Brock Nichols (fr.). Alleyne rushed for a career-high 94 yards in the contest. He ranks fourth in the MEAC in rushing yards per game (60.5) and seventh in total rushing yards (121). Delaware State head coach Kenny Carter again used Epperson and Kobie Lain at quarterback in the Monmouth contest. Lain was the starter, completing six-of-12 passes for just 20 yards (long 10), while Epperson was three-of-seven for 77 yards and the touchdown to Williams. He also threw his fifth interception of the season in the game. Hornet receiver Aris Scott (sr.) was held to one catch for 19 yards vs. Monmouth. Defensively, Delaware State allowed 206 yards rushing in the game, down from the 395 surrendered in the opener at Delaware on Sep. 1. DSU is averaging 202.5 yards per game in its two outings, 79.5 pg on the ground and 123.0 by the pass. Opponents have averaged 464.0 yards per game on the Hornet defense so far this season, including 300.5 pg rushing.   

Missouri (1-2) is trying to bounce back from a tough-luck 28-27 loss to #20 Georgia in its SEC opener last Saturday. The Tigers led 27-21 before the Bulldogs scored a touchdown and kicked the game-winning extra point with 89 seconds left to play. Missouri advanced to the 50-yard line on its final possession, but turned the ball over on a fumble with 1:10 left. The Tigers outgained the Bulldogs 471-409 in total yardage, including a 376-308 advantage in passing yards. The Missouri defense held Georgia All-America candidate running back Nick Chubb to just 63 yards rushing on 19 carries (3.3 ypc) in the game. Mizzou quarterback Drew Lock (so.) completed 23-of-38 passes for 376 yards (long 79) and three touchdowns, although he was also intercepted three times in the contest. Tiger wideout J'Mon Moore had eight catches for 196 yards and two
touchdowns vs. Georgia. For the season, Lock has connected on 70-of-126 passes (55.6%) for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns (three INTs) in three games. He is first in the SEC and fourth among all FBS quarterbacks in passing yards and passing yards per game (368.7). He's also tops in the league and 10th in the nation in passing yards per completion (15.8) Ish Witter is the team's leading rusher with 169 yards on 48 carries (56.3 ypg). Moore has a team-high 18 catches for 320 yards (106.7 ypg) and two touchdowns entering this week's action. He is the SEC leader in receiving yards and receiving yards per game.    

THE SERIES (First meeting)
This is the first meeting between the teams. It's also Delaware State football's first trip to the state of Missouri.

PLAYING WITH THE BIG BOYS
The Missouri contest will mark the third time in four years that Delaware State is stepping up a competition level in a game. This will be the first meeting between the Hornets and FBS Tigers. This is also Delaware State's first contest against a team from the Southeast Conference (SEC), arguably the top league in major college football. 

Since 2012, the Hornets have suffered a 45-13 setback to FBS Kent State (2013), a 59-0 loss to Temple at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL's
Philadelphia Eagles (2014); and a 38-14 defeat at the hands of Cincinnati (2012). Prior to 2013, a 2009 visit to Michigan was the Hornets' most recent contest against a FBS foe. The Wolverines won 63-6 before a crowd of more than 106 thousand at the “Big House.”

Delaware State is 1-6 all-time vs. FBS/Div. I-A opponents. The only win was a 52-26 upset of Akron in 1987.