2019 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 2
DELAWARE STATE “HORNETS” (0-1/0-0 MEAC)
VS.
LINCOLN “LIONS” (0-1/0-0 CIAA)
SAT., SEP. 14, 2019 (4:00 p.m.)
ALUMNI STADIUM (7,000) - DOVER, DEL.
YOUTUBE- DSU TV
Live Audio - HSRN.com (DSU broadcast)
THE GAME
Delaware State plays the first of seven 2019 home games against old rival Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. The Hornets opened the season with a 31-13 loss to Delaware in the First State Classic on Aug. 29. The Hens scored 28 unanswered points after DSU opened up a 6-3 second quarter lead, the first time the Hornets led in the nine-year history of the series between the state's two NCAA Division I programs. Lincoln suffered a 57-13 loss to Lock Haven in its season opener on Sep. 5.
THE HORNETS
DSU passed for 231 yards in the opener at Delaware, including 137 by freshman signal caller Tylik Bethea, who came of the bench to complete 10-of-18 passes, including a fourth quarter touchdown to fellow freshman Bizzett Woodley after a hand injury to starting QB Shayne Smith (r-jr.). Bethea is listed as the starter for Saturday's Lincoln contest. Smith is out indefinitely. He completed four-of-12 passes for 94 yards before the injury at Delaware. Veteran wide receivers Trey Gross (jr.) and Kwannah Kollie (fr.) are off to a good start to the season. Gross had four catches for 81 yards, including a 36-yard grab, while Kollie hauled in four passes for 60 yards (long 28) in the opener. In addition, Jordan Hannah (jr.) had a game-high 39 yards catch in the opener. The Hornets rushed for 113 yards on 38 attempts (3.0 ypr) at Delaware. Starting tailback Bryant Dallas (sr.) led the way with 48 yards on 18 carries, while Richard Harris (sr.) rushed for 40 yards on six attempts, including a team-high 28 yard run. Defensively, Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection Jahad Neibauer (sr.) led all players with 11 tackles in the opener, including nine solo stops and two behind the line-of-scrimmage in the opener at Delaware. Linebacker Brooks Parker (so.) had a career-best 10 tackles (seven unassisted), including 2.5 in the Blue Hen backfield. Lineman Christian Johnson (gr.) had the Hornets' lone sack (-7), while defensive back Juwain Granger (jr.) recorded three pass break-ups in the opener. Brandon Carswell (gr.), playing his first game for DSU after transferring from
Savannah State, had two tackles and two blocked hits in the season opener at Delaware.
THE LIONS
Lincoln scored a touchdown on its first offensive possession to trail 7-6, but allowed 38 consecutive points to fall behind 45-6 in its opener at Lock Haven. The Lions allowed 616 total yards, including 393 passing, while totaling 270 yards of offense. LU running back Charles Edward-Smalls rushed for 60 yards (long) on 10 caries to average 6.0 yards per attempt in the contest. Quarterback Eban Jackson connected on 12-of-26 passes for 159 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Cornerback Keenan Reid had a team-high 12 tackles (8 solo), while linebackers Islam Abdul-Rabb and Mike Johnson added 11 each in the season opener.
THE SERIES (DSU leads 12-10-1 )
The former rivals are meeting for the first time in 59 years. The Hornets and Lions met 23 times from 1924-to-1960, with Delaware State winning 12 games to 10 for Lincoln. The teams played to a scoreless tie in 1950. Delaware State brings a series-best seven game win streak into the 2019 contest. The last time the teams met, in 1960, the Hornets came out on top 34-6. Lincoln won seven of the first 10 series games, including five in a row from 1942-to-1947.
