Sunday, September 9, 2007

Hornets top Florida A&M University


Hornets top Florida A&M; Jones and McBride go down with injuries

Delaware State News

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Sure, there were plenty of highlights for Delaware State in its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener Saturday night.

Wide receiver Shaheer McBride tied Albert Horsey for the school’s all-time receptions record. Quarterback Vashon Winton again proved that he can manage a game with his arm and legs. And kicker Peter Gaertner nailed two field goals, looking like he was back to his former All-MEAC form.

But DSU left Bragg Memorial Stadium after dispatching Florida A&M 20-7 with some key injuries that might cause concern.

Transfer running back Kareem Jones, who seemed like a mainstay in the Hornets opener last week, carried the ball only four times and left with an injury in the first quarter.


Later in the third, McBride, after catching five passes to tie the record, was sidelined with an injury.

Without Jones and McBride, though, DSU still escaped Tallahassee earning its third straight win over the Rattlers, who beat the Hornets 10 consecutive times from 1994-2003.

As DSU struggled to run the ball, the offense rested on Winton. The junior threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns on 17-for-26 passing.

With the game scoreless early in the second quarter, Winton found his favorite target — McBride — on a crossing route in the end zone. The score gave DSU a 7-0 lead with 10:00 remaining before halftime.

Moments later, Winton tossed his first interception of the season and FAMU (0-1, 0-2) capitalized to knot the score at 7 when quarterback Albert Chester II hit tight end Todd Jenkins in the end zone with 1:17 left.

Winton then performed the two-minute drill perfectly, marching the Hornets 57 yards to allow Gaertner to kick a 35-yard field goal, which gave DSU a 10-7 lead at the break.

In the third, and in McBride’s absence, Winton hit redshirt sophomore William Griggs for his first career touchdown. The score gave the Hornets a 17-7 lead with 12:29 left in the third. Gaertner later hit a 36-yard field goal in the fourth for the final margin.

So, even with the win, questions remain for DSU especially in the running game.

With Jones, who ran for 174 yards last week, out, Central Florida transfer Chris Strother became the featured back. He had only 35 yards on 11 attempts.

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