By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- There's a motto among Delaware State's football team that, essentially, says every player has one play just for himself.
No matter the game, no matter the circumstances, there's one play where anyone can become a star.
On a typically warm Saturday night in Florida, Alimayo Wilder got his chance to shine.
Wilder's second-quarter punt block served as a catalyst for the Hornets in their 20-7 victory over Florida A&M in their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener before 14,327 at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
For the second straight game, the Hornets started slowly. Quarterback Vashon Winton's passes weren't always on the mark and the team's running game became anemic behind Chris Strother, who started for the first time for an injured Kareem Jones.
Winton warmed up to complete 17-of-25 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Shaheer McBride caught five passes for 57 yards, tying the school record for career catches (160). Strother gained 35 yards on 11 carries and caught six passes for 73 yards. Peter Gaertner kicked field goals of 34 and 36 yards.
It started, however, with Wilder's game-changing play.
Courtesy of Wilder, a senior defensive lineman from Baltimore, the sound of a frenzied crowd decked out in obligatory orange and green turned into near silence for the game's duration.
"It's all about striving for excellence. That's what each play is about," Wilder said.
Delaware State recovered the blocked punt at the Rattlers 1-yard line, quickly scored its first touchdown and rode the momentum to its second straight victory and an unprecedented third in a row against FAMU.
"There's nothing like the death sound of a blocked punt," Hornets coach Al Lavan said.
The victory over FAMU (0-2, 0-1 MEAC) gives the Hornets (2-0, 1-0) an early boost in the race for the league championship. The Rattlers, picked fourth in the preseason, believed they were good enough to compete for the title.
The game-changing play came when FAMU's Wesley Taylor punted from his own 24-yard line. Before he could get his leg on the ball, Wilder zoomed in. The ball bounced backward, and DSU's Ryan Robinson grabbed it at the 1.
DSU's TD came when Winton found McBride on an 11-yard slant pattern.
"We really needed a big play, and he made the big play," Winton said of Wilder.
FAMU quarterback Albert Chester II, slowed by an ailing throwing arm, located Taj Jenkines in the back corner of the end zone for a 5-yard TD with 1:17 left to tie it 7-7.
But the Hornets responded by marching 57 yards on nine plays to set up Gaertner's 34-yard field goal for a 10-7 edge.
Winton threw another TD pass in the third quarter, a 19-yarder to William Griggs, that put DSU up 17-7 with 2:18 remaining.
"Everyone has a play," Lavan said. "Alimayo made one and so did Griggs. That's what you'll see from our team, different guys in different positions that give you a chance to win the game."
QUICK HITS
Strother's start
Chris Strother was uncertain he'd play at all earlier in the week. He certainly didn't expect to start Saturday night in his home state.
But just a week following running back Kareem Jones' 171-yard debut in the season opener, it was Strother's name that was called. And he helped Delaware State to a 20-7 victory at Florida A&M.
Jones, a junior transfer from Syracuse, was limited in the game by coach Al Lavan because of a strained knee suffered in last week's victory over Coastal Carolina.
Strother, a native of Miami who attended NCAA Division I-A Central Florida one season before transferring to DSU before the 2006 season, caught six passes for 73 yards. He rushed 11 times for 35 yards.
It felt good to Strother, whose family watched, including his 3-year-old son, Chris Strother Jr.
"I just wanted to do the best I could," he said. "It's not about me or Kareem. It's bigger than all that. This was a team thing."
Tasty Tallahassee
It's not all crazy around Florida A&M football in Tallahassee.
The festivities around Bragg Memorial Stadium might be among the coolest in college football. Especially if you like Southern food.
From turkey legs with lemon pepper to fish sandwiches and red velvet cake, Perry Street across from the stadium is filled vendors selling amazing food.
This and that
DSU will host FAMU next season for first time since 2002. In 2004, FAMU left the MEAC and tried to move to NCAA Division I-A. Last year, DSU and FAMU played at Detroit. ... Shaheer McBride tied Albert Horsey (1997-2000) as DSU's all-time leader in receptions with 160.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- There's a motto among Delaware State's football team that, essentially, says every player has one play just for himself.
No matter the game, no matter the circumstances, there's one play where anyone can become a star.
On a typically warm Saturday night in Florida, Alimayo Wilder got his chance to shine.
Wilder's second-quarter punt block served as a catalyst for the Hornets in their 20-7 victory over Florida A&M in their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener before 14,327 at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
For the second straight game, the Hornets started slowly. Quarterback Vashon Winton's passes weren't always on the mark and the team's running game became anemic behind Chris Strother, who started for the first time for an injured Kareem Jones.
Winton warmed up to complete 17-of-25 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Shaheer McBride caught five passes for 57 yards, tying the school record for career catches (160). Strother gained 35 yards on 11 carries and caught six passes for 73 yards. Peter Gaertner kicked field goals of 34 and 36 yards.
It started, however, with Wilder's game-changing play.
Courtesy of Wilder, a senior defensive lineman from Baltimore, the sound of a frenzied crowd decked out in obligatory orange and green turned into near silence for the game's duration.
"It's all about striving for excellence. That's what each play is about," Wilder said.
Delaware State recovered the blocked punt at the Rattlers 1-yard line, quickly scored its first touchdown and rode the momentum to its second straight victory and an unprecedented third in a row against FAMU.
"There's nothing like the death sound of a blocked punt," Hornets coach Al Lavan said.
The victory over FAMU (0-2, 0-1 MEAC) gives the Hornets (2-0, 1-0) an early boost in the race for the league championship. The Rattlers, picked fourth in the preseason, believed they were good enough to compete for the title.
The game-changing play came when FAMU's Wesley Taylor punted from his own 24-yard line. Before he could get his leg on the ball, Wilder zoomed in. The ball bounced backward, and DSU's Ryan Robinson grabbed it at the 1.
DSU's TD came when Winton found McBride on an 11-yard slant pattern.
"We really needed a big play, and he made the big play," Winton said of Wilder.
FAMU quarterback Albert Chester II, slowed by an ailing throwing arm, located Taj Jenkines in the back corner of the end zone for a 5-yard TD with 1:17 left to tie it 7-7.
But the Hornets responded by marching 57 yards on nine plays to set up Gaertner's 34-yard field goal for a 10-7 edge.
Winton threw another TD pass in the third quarter, a 19-yarder to William Griggs, that put DSU up 17-7 with 2:18 remaining.
"Everyone has a play," Lavan said. "Alimayo made one and so did Griggs. That's what you'll see from our team, different guys in different positions that give you a chance to win the game."
QUICK HITS
Strother's start
Chris Strother was uncertain he'd play at all earlier in the week. He certainly didn't expect to start Saturday night in his home state.
But just a week following running back Kareem Jones' 171-yard debut in the season opener, it was Strother's name that was called. And he helped Delaware State to a 20-7 victory at Florida A&M.
Jones, a junior transfer from Syracuse, was limited in the game by coach Al Lavan because of a strained knee suffered in last week's victory over Coastal Carolina.
Strother, a native of Miami who attended NCAA Division I-A Central Florida one season before transferring to DSU before the 2006 season, caught six passes for 73 yards. He rushed 11 times for 35 yards.
It felt good to Strother, whose family watched, including his 3-year-old son, Chris Strother Jr.
"I just wanted to do the best I could," he said. "It's not about me or Kareem. It's bigger than all that. This was a team thing."
Tasty Tallahassee
It's not all crazy around Florida A&M football in Tallahassee.
The festivities around Bragg Memorial Stadium might be among the coolest in college football. Especially if you like Southern food.
From turkey legs with lemon pepper to fish sandwiches and red velvet cake, Perry Street across from the stadium is filled vendors selling amazing food.
This and that
DSU will host FAMU next season for first time since 2002. In 2004, FAMU left the MEAC and tried to move to NCAA Division I-A. Last year, DSU and FAMU played at Detroit. ... Shaheer McBride tied Albert Horsey (1997-2000) as DSU's all-time leader in receptions with 160.
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