2022 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 9   
DELAWARE STATE "Hornets" (4-4 / 1-2 MEAC)
VS.                                                                                                                        
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE "Bulldogs"  (3-5 / 1-1 MEAC)
SAT., NOV. 5 2022 (1:32 p.m. kickoff)   
Dawson Bulldog Stadium (22,000) - Orangeburg, SC   
Live Video: MEAC Digital Network (ESPN3)                                                                                                                   
Live Audio - HSRN.com (DSU broadcast)
LiveStats - DSUHornets.com
 
THE GAME
Delaware State looks to keep alive its hopes for a winning season with a MEAC contest at league preseason favorite South Carolina State. The Hornets (4-4; 1-2 MEAC) have dropped their last two games, including a 28-21 homecoming loss to North Carolina Central in their most recent outing on Oct. 29.  NC Central's offense scored the game-winning points in the final minute, and its defense broke up a potential touchdown pass in the endzone on the final play of the game to seal the victory. The game featured four lead changes in the second half, the last two coming in the final four minutes. Delaware State grabbed its second lead of the game, 21-20, on a 44-yard pass from C.J. Henry to Rahkeem Smith with 3:54 left to play. The Hornets attempted a two-point play after the touchdown, but Henry's pass was intercepted in the endzone. Smith scored all three Delaware State touchdowns, two by the pass and the other on a run play. He caught three passes for 55 yards and had two rushes for 47 yards in the game. Defensively, Delaware State defensive back Romell Harris-Freeman had two interceptions, while linebacker Brooks Parker led all players with eight tackles, including four solo stops. Individually, Delaware State running back Marquis Gillis is fourth in the league with a 61.3 yards per game average (490 total). Gillis is also tops on the Hornets with four rushing touchdowns.  Wide receiver Jerrish Halsey is tops on the team and second in the MEAC in receiving yards at 62.8 yards per game (377 total). He is also tied with Rahkeem Smith for the team lead with four touchdown catches. Parker is eighth in the league in tackles at 6.4 per game (35 total), while Harris-Freeman and fellow defensive back Andrew Reese are tied for fifth in the MEAC with two interceptions each. The Hornets need to win two of their last three games to secure their first winning season since 2012 (6-5).  
Defending MEAC champ South Carolina State (3-5; 1-1 MEAC) is coming off a 41-14 thumping at the hands of Morgan State last weekend. The Bulldogs only trailed 17-14 after three quarters, but were outscored 24-0 in the final 15 minutes. SC State committed six turnovers in the game, three interceptions and three lost fumbles. The loss was SC State's first to Morgan State since 2014.

THE SERIES (SCSU leads 33-17)
This is the 51st meeting between the long-time conference rivals, who first met in the inaugural season of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 1971. South Carolina State has won five  straight and seven of the last eight meetings to open up a 33-17 series lead. Last year, the Bulldogs posted a 13-7 victory over the Hornets in Dover, Del. Delaware State outgained the SC SU 244-235 in total offense, but was plagued by two turnovers and several penalties that halted promising drives or nullified big plays. The Hornets trailed 13-0 before scoring their lone touchdown on a 55-yard punt return by Charles Peeler in the third quarter. The last time the teams played at South Carolina State, the Bulldogs pulled out a 17-9 win during the Covid-affected spring 2021 season. The last three meetings, and four of the last six, have been determined by eight points or less. Delaware State's last win in the series was in 2017 (17-14) in Dover, Del.