2022 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 7   
DELAWARE STATE "Hornets" (4-2 / 1-0 MEAC)
VS.                                                                                                                   
HOWARD "Bison"  (1-5 / 0-0 MEAC)
SAT., OCT. 22 2022 (1:02 p.m. kickoff)   
William H. Greene Stadium (10,000) - Washington, DC  
Live Video: MEAC Digital Network (ESPN+)                                                                                                                  
Live Audio - HSRN.com (DSU broadcast)
Live Stats - DSUHornets.com

THE GAME
Delaware State visits long-time rival Howard in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest. The Hornets have won their last two games to improve to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the MEAC, their best six-game record since the 2007 MEAC championship season. Last week's 28-7 win at Norfolk State was DSU's first in an official MEAC opener since a 35-14 victory over Savannah State in 2014. It also marked the Hornets' first official MEAC road win since defeating Norfolk State 13-10 in overtime that same year. Second string quarterback C.J. Henry (r-fr.), subbing for starter Jared Lewis (jr.), completed 14-of-19 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns, while the defense pitched a shutout for the first 48 minutes to highlight last week's win at Norfolk State. Halfback Marquis Gilis (r-fr.) contributed to the win by rushing for a career-high 123 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, the Hornets recorded thee sacks and held Norfolk State to just 93 yards rushing on 27 attempts. Delaware State also forced a turnover (interception) for the fifth time in its six games this season. The Hornets were fifth among all FCS teams in turnover margin (1.40 pg) enter last week's contest. Henry has started three games this season, completing 30-of-54 passes (55.6%) for a team-high 441 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. He has an efficiency rating of 157.1. Lewis also has three starts, connecting on 24-of-54 passes (44.4%) for 380 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions (121.9 eff.). Gillis is Delaware State's leading rusher with 359 yards on 70 carries (5.1 avg.) and three touchdowns. Jerrish Halsey (sr.) is Delaware State's top receiver with 15 catches for 319 yards (21.3 ypc) and four touchdowns, also a team-high.         
Howard (1-5; 0-0 MEAC) is playing its MEAC opener. The Bison are coming off a 41-25 loss to visiting Harvard in the Truth and Service Classic at Washington. D.C.'s Audi Field. The score was 17-17 at the break, but Harvard scored 24 unanswered points in the season half to take control of the game. Back-up quarterback Jaylon Torbert, starting his first career game, completing 19-of-26 throws for 207 yards and two TDs to go along with two interceptions.        

THE SERIES (DSU leads 40-38-1)
The Hornets and Bison are meeting for the 65th consecutive year and 80th time overall, making it Delaware State's oldest rivalry. The Hornets have won the last three meetings, including a 30-23 triumph in Dover, Del., last season. The teams met twice during the pandemic affected 2020 season (played in the spring of 2021), with Delaware State winning 17-10 (at DSU) and 37-28 (at Howard). In the fall 2021 meeting, Jared Lewis completed 14-of-22 passes for a (then) career-high 246 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winner to Trey Gross for 14 yards with 8:26 left to play.   

HORNETS REMAIN 9TH IN  HBCU TOP 10 POLL
Despite being idle last weekend, Delaware State has risen a spot in the Top 10 of a poll of Historically Black College and University teams. The Hornets are now ninth in the latest Press Box to Press Row HBCU Coaches Poll. Delaware State was No. 10 in the previous week. The Hornets also received votes in the "Box To Row" media poll. Jackson State, led by NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, is No. 1 in both polls. The MEAC is also represented in the BoxToRow coaches poll by North Carolina Central (5-1) at No. 2 and defending conference and HBCU champ South Carolina State at No. 10 (2-4).