2022 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 5
DELAWARE STATE "Hornets" (2-2 / 0-0 MEAC)
VS.                                                                                                                              
ROBERT MORRIS "Colonials"  (0-3 / 0-0 BIG SOUTH)
SAT., OCT. 1, 2022 (6:02 p.m. kickoff)
Alumni Stadium (7,000) - Dover, Del.
Live Video: MEAC Digital Network (ESPN+)                                                                                                                    Live Audio - HSRN.com (DSU broadcast)
Live Stats - DSUHornets.com
THE GAME
Delaware State wraps up a three-game homestand with a visit by Robert Morris of the Big South Conference in the first-ever meeting between the teams. The Hornets (2-2) are coming off a 26-13 loss to Merrimack of the Northeast Conference (NEC) last Saturday. Keyed by seven quarterback sacks, Merrimack held Delaware State to just 164 total yards in the contest. The Hornets totaled just 70 yards rushing in the contest, after subtracting 60 yards on the seven sacks of Delaware State back-up quarterback C.J. Henry (r-fr.) by the Warriors. Henry was starting in place of two-year starting quarterback Jared Lewis (jr.), who has missed the last seven quarters due to injury. Henry threw for 132 yards in the game, completing seven of his passes on 19 attempts, many under heavy pressure. The Warriors led 14-0 before the Hornets got on the board on a short field goal by Nathan Wilson (fr.) in the second quarter. Merrimack led 23-6 when Delaware State scored an early fourth quarter touchdown to stay in the game. Henry connected with Devin Curry on a 32-yard pass to the Merrimack three-yard line, and running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon reached the endzone from three yards out on the next play to complete the eight-play, 80-yard drive. The extra point kick by Wilson cut the Warriors' lead to 23-13 with 12:04 left to play.

Robert Morris (0-3) is seeking its first win of the season. The Colonials are coming off a 45-3 loss to East Tennessee State last week. In its previous contest (Sep. 10), Robert Morris put up a good fight in a 31-14 loss to Miami of Ohio of the FBS Mid-America Conference.

THE SERIES (First meeting)
This is the first meeting between the Hornets and Colonials, one of two Big South teams on Delaware State's 2022 schedule. The Hornets will face Big South member Campbell in their season finale on Nov. 20 at Alumni Stadium. Robert Morris will visit Campbell on Oct. 15. Delaware State is 22-25-1 all-time vs. current members of the Big South Conference, all against North Carolina A&T while the Aggies were members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

IN THE NIGHT TIME
This will be Delaware State's first night game at Alumni Stadium since back-to-back evening contests against Delaware (Apr. 10) and South Carolina State (Apr. 17) during the Covid-19 impacted 2020 season, which was played in 2021. Since lights were installed at Alumni Stadium in 2006, the Hornets are 5-7 in home evening contests.

INJURY REPORT
Delaware State has yet to announce the status quarterback Jared Lewis (jr.) for this week. Lewis has not played since the first quarter of the 35-19 win over Virginia Lynchburg on Sep. 17 due to an undisclosed injury. Lewis started in each of the Hornets' three games, connecting on 20-of-39 passes (51.2%) for 345 yards with three touchdowns without an interception. Delaware State linebacker Kamari Jackson (sr.) is likely out for the season due to a knee injury, while running back Michael Chris-Ike (jr.) has missed the last two games and is expected to be out for at least the next couple of weeks.    

HORNETS QB HONORED BY MEAC
Delaware State quarterback C.J. Henry (r-fr.; Newark, Del.) was honored by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for his play off the bench in the Hornets' 35-19 victory over Virginia Lynchburg on Sep. 17. Henry was selected as the MEAC Football Rookie-of-the-Week after completing nine-of-14 passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns in a little more than three quarters as a reserve. He connected with Rahkeem Smith for his first collegiate touchdown pass from 27 yards out in the first quarter. Henry also threw touchdown passes of 15 yards to Nico Stout in the second quarter and 25 yards to Jerrish Halsey in the fourth quarter. A former Delaware Gatorade Football Player-of-the-Year, Henry led Hodgson Vo-Tech to a 12-0 overall record and state Division I championship as a junior in 2019.

CAREER GAMES FOR HALSEY, INGE
The Hornets' 35-19 victory over Virginia Lynchburg on Sep. 17 was highlighted by career performances by wide receiver Jerrish Halsey (sr.) and running back Wade Inge (so.). Halsey, a former Wesley College player, had seven catches for 134 yards (both career-highs) and two touchdowns. He scored the Hornets first touchdown of the game on a 68-yard pass from Jared Lewis . Inge rushed for a career-best 106 yards on 18 carries, with a long of 25 yards, last week.

DELAWARE STATE RETURNS TO HBCU TOP 10 POLL
Delaware State's 2-2 start has propelled it back into the Top 10 of a poll of Historically Black College and University teams. The Hornets are No. 10 in the latest Press Box to Press Row HBCU Coaches Poll for the second straight 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.