14,327 at Bragg Memorial Stadium see Rattlers fall to Hornets in MEAC matchup

Photo: DSU blocks FAMU's Westley Taylor punt.

Delaware State's special teams hand FAMU its 4th consecutive 0-2 start.

Tim Linafelt, Special to the Orlando Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE - Florida A&M couldn't find a spark to ignite its offense, but junior quarterback Vashon Winton was Delaware State's, which handed the Rattlers a 20-7 loss Saturday in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Winton threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Hornets to their third consecutive victory against FAMU.

The loss also was the Rattlers' fourth consecutive 0-2 start.

After a scoreless first quarter, Delaware State's Alimayo Wilder blocked a punt to set up the Hornets on FAMU's 1-yard line. A play later, Winton found receiver Shaheer McBride in the end zone to give DSU a 7-0 lead.

"The real difference in the game was on special teams," FAMU Coach Rubin Carter said. "The blocked punt setting up Delaware State for a key first score -- those types of things have to be avoided in games."

FAMU responded later in the second quarter with its only score of the game: a 5-yard pass from Albert Chester to Taj Jenkins with 1 minute, 17 seconds remaining in the half.

It appeared the Rattlers would go into halftime with a tied score, but Delaware State quickly moved down the field, and Peter Gaertner's 34-yard field goal with 1 second remaining gave the Hornets a 10-7 lead.

DSU (2-0, 1-0 MEAC) opened the third quarter with a five-play, 49-yard drive, capped off by Winton's second touchdown pass of the night, a 19-yard strike to William Griggs. Another field goal by Gaertner, this one a 36-yarder, stretched the lead to 20-7.

"We just have to learn how to put together two halves of football," Carter said. "Defensively, we can't allow them to get the momentum back so quickly."

FAMU quarterback Chester was 19-of-34 for 172 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Running back Philip Sylvester led FAMU rushers with 39 yards on 11 carries.

The Rattlers, who host Howard next week, will look to avoid its first 0-3 start under Carter.

"We have to avoid that at all costs," Carter said. "We have to win the next ballgame, and our players understand that. That's the expectation, that's the standard."