2016 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 2
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY “HORNETS” (0- 1) VS.
MONMOUTH “HAWKS” (1-0)
SAT., SEP. 10, 2016 (5 p.m.)
ALUMNI STADIUM (7,000) - DOVER, DEL.
HALL-OF-FAME DAY
LIVE VIDEO STREAM: DSUHORNETS.COM
THE GAME
Delaware State (1-0) plays its 2016 home opener against the Monmouth Hawks of the Big South Conference. The Hornets are trying to bounce back from a 56-14 loss to Delaware in their season opener on Sep. 1. DSU allowed 395 yards rushing and four touchdowns, and were plagued by six turnovers in the game. The Hornets scored their two touchdowns in the second half on Daniel Epperson passes of six yards to Mason Rutherford and 13 yards to Brycen Alleyne. Rutherford, a transfer from San Bernardino JC (Cal.), caught six passes for a game-high 83 yards and a touchdown in his Hornet debut. Alleyne had 194 all-purpose yards in the game, including 141 on five kickoff returns, highlighted by returns of 50 and 47 yards. He also had four catches for 26 yards and 27 rushing yards on eight carries. The Hornets used both Epperson and Kobie Lain at quarterback in the contest. Epperson, also a San Bernardino JC transfer, started the game. He completed 13-of-26 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns, but threw four interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. Lain completed each of his two pass attempts for 31 yards. Safety Logan Wescott led the Hornet defense with 14 tackles, including eight solo stops, in the opener at Delaware.
Monmouth (0-1) rushed for 215 yards and three touchdowns, and its defense turned in a strong performance in a 23-21 road win against Lehigh in the Hawks' season opener last Saturday. Senior running back Lavon Chaney had 119 yards rushing on 25 carries while adding a team-high 74 yards receiving for 193 all-purpose yards in the contest. Chaney scored Monmouth's first and third touchdowns while fellow back Zach Welch had 87 yards on 18 carries with a third-quarter TD. Monmouth's defense held Lehigh's offense, which averaged 451 yards per game in 2015, to 239 total yards, including 80 yards on the ground. Monmouth QB Cody Williams completed 15-of-21 passes for 159 yards with one interception, while wide receiver Darren Ambush had a game-high seven receptions for 66 yards in the opener. Cheney caught three passes for 74 yards, including a 52-yard grab.
THE SERIES (Monmouth leads 1-0)
This will be the second meeting between the Hornets and Hawks. Monmouth won the first contest 52-21 in the 2014 season opener for both teams in W. Long Branch, N.J. The season couldn't have started any better for the Hornets as Aris Scott returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. The Hawks responded with a dominating offensive effort, racking up 553 total yards, 311 on the ground and 242 by the pass. Kwabena Asante had 152 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 22 carries, and two receptions for 27 yards and a score to lead the Hawks. Delaware State passed for 158 yards, but was held to 29 yards rushing on 19 carries. Gilbert Rivera was the starting quarterback for the Hornets in the contest. Rivera, a junior college transfer, completed 14-of-30 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown in his Division I debut. The Hornets were not flagged for a penalty for the only time in team history in the 2014 Monmouth contest.
HALL OF FAME DAY AT ALUMNI STADIUM
Three former football greats are among the 2016 Hornet Hall-of-Fame class
honored this weekend. The Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony was held last evening, and the new members will be recognized at halftime of Saturday's game. The class id headed by the late Joe Burton, a three-time All-MEAC First Team and Kodak All-America defensive back and the MEAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year in 1986. Two other defensive secondary greats, Thomas Douglas and Shelton Smith, have also earned DSU Hall-of-Fame recognition. Smith was also a MEAC championship wrestler.
The 2016 Hornet Hall-of-Fame class also includes Cassandra Joyner (volleyball), Francky Francois (wrestling), Harold Robinson (track & field), the late Dr. Jerome Holland (former DSU President), Clarence “Chet” Jordan (baseball), and Jimmie & Tina Strong (contributors).
Five great Delaware State teams also earned Hall-of-Fame recognition this
weekend.
