DSU Hornets open with a bang

Photo: RB Kareem Jones 74 yard kickoff return

By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal

New running back Jones dominates in close win

DOVER -- Sure, there are lots of new faces wanting to make their case for stardom on the Delaware State football team.

But on a warm Saturday night, under the glow of Alumni Stadium's lights, the familiar faces also had their say in the team's season opener.

Syracuse transfer Kareem Jones made a splash as DSU's new headline running back. And quarterback Vashon Winton and receiver Shaheer McBride picked up right where they left off as the Hornets earned one of their biggest wins in more than two decades.

Avenging a loss two seasons ago on the road, Delaware State looked like a potential NCAA Division I-AA playoff contender in a 23-18 win over No. 23 Coastal Carolina before a packed house.

"It was all of them," a hoarse DSU coach Al Lavan said. "Vashon managed the game. McBride, he was himself. And Kareem, he surprised me."

The Hornets hadn't opened the season with a win over a Division I-AA nonconference opponent since 1986 against Southern University. And this one came against a team that earned a playoff berth last year.

Jones rushed for 171 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. He also returned a kickoff 74 yards.

"I was really surprised by his stamina," Lavan said. "His endurance is what set him apart. I didn't really expect to play him all the way to the end."

Winton and McBride connected for two third-quarter touchdowns as the Hornets took control.

Photo: DSU FB Adam Shrewsbury looks for yardage as Coastal Carolina's D.J. Rice (55) and Anthony Steele give chase Saturday night
















McBride finished with four catches for 81 yards. He broke the school's career record for receiving yards with 2,501, surpassing the 2,491 yards gained by Albert Horsey from 1997 to 2000. McBride has 155 career receptions, five shy of Horsey's record of 160.

DSU led 20-6 before CCU scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

All-American receiver Jerome Simpson played for Coastal Carolina despite being charged with simple assault and battery Thursday after he allegedly struck his girlfriend. Simpson caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Will Richardson to cut the lead to 20-12 with 11:04 left.

Peter Gaertner's field goal gave DSU a 23-12 lead before Coastal Carolina's Tommy Fraser broke through for a 5-yard TD run with 3:58 left. The Chanticleers failed on a two-point conversion attempt.

Coastal Carolina battled to the DSU 22-yard line on its final drive as time expired.

"We had burned one timeout accidentally, so we didn't have any left on that last drive," Chanticleers coach David Bennett said. "All we wanted to do was get out of bounds, and we couldn't do it.

"I said I thought [DSU] would compete for a MEAC [Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference] championship."

Simpson had three catches for 68 yards.

DSU put together 351 yards of offense against a highly touted CCU team that lost 36 seniors, but still is expected to challenge for a fourth straight Big South Conference championship.

Jones' 63-yard run in the first quarter gave DSU a 7-3 lead. The Hornets never trailed again.

Photo: DSU defender Brandon Hudson closes in on Coastal Carolina quarterback Ren McKinnon behind the line of scrimmage in second quarter.

If there was one criticism for the Hornets, it was that they didn't give Jones the ball often enough.

On one drive, with DSU moving on Jones' repeated gains, CCU recovered a fumble by backup Lennox Norville, who was in the game to give Jones a rest. On another drive where Jones was having his way against the CCU defense, the Hornets called for a pass. Eddie Brown dropped the ball in the end zone, and the drive fizzled.

The DSU defense came up with three big stops in the red zone.

On CCU's second possession, after a 51-yard punt return by Marrio Norman, the Chants were stopped on third-and-goal and settled for a field goal and a 3-0 lead.

DSU cornerback Akeem Green intercepted Ren McKinnon's pass in the end zone on another third-down attempt.

A third third-and-goal stop resulted in the Chants' second field goal.

DSU senior linebacker Russell Reeves played a big part in those stops, finishing with a team-high 12 tackles and a sack.

Winton, playing his first game since sustaining two broken bones in his left leg late last season, completed 7-of-12 passes for 84 yards and the two touchdowns to McBride.

The Hornets begin MEAC play at Florida A&M next Saturday.