Delaware State Lavan won't get complacent with good start

Photo: Head Coach Al Lavan, Delaware State University.

By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal

Coach says No. 17-ranked Hornets have areas needing improvement

DOVER -- Tyron Hurst avoided the heat. He simply stayed inside. Meanwhile, his coach at Delaware State, Al Lavan, ventured outside to answer questions about his football team while at a local restaurant this week.

Lavan pulled off his suit jacket and sat down.

"Are you sure you want to sit in the sun?" Lavan said with a grin. "I'm getting too old for that. At this age, I need shade."

Whether he likes it or not, Lavan is stuck in the sun these days. Today, the 61-year-old reaches the midpoint of his team's season against North Carolina A&T with his program in its best shape since the late 1980s.

The Hornets are tied for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference lead with Norfolk State at 3-0 and are 4-1 overall and ranked No. 17 in the NCAA Division I-AA poll, their highest ranking since 1993. They are trying to go 4-0 to start the MEAC schedule for the first time since 1989, when they reached 5-0.

What's behind the early success? Several things, according to Lavan.

Pass protection. Line coach Jeff Braxton arguably has the best group in recent DSU history. Adrian Brown, Jeremy Breath and Nick Richmond anchor a front line that has allowed just three sacks of quarterback Vashon Winton this season.

Photo: #2 Vashon Winton, QB 6-2 195 Jr., Chicago, IL (Simeon HS) and #77 Adrian Brown, OL, 6-6/327Jr. ,
Baltimore, MD (Hudson Valley CC) (Randallsstown HS)

Pressuring the opposing QB. The Hornets defensive line has been equally successful, recording 12 sacks in a new scheme under new coordinator Ray Petty. The defense has placed less emphasis on blitzing than in previous seasons, but has gotten more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Still, Hurst, a sophomore defensive lineman, and Lavan believe that improvements must be made if Delaware State is to win its first MEAC title since 1991 and make the I-AA playoffs for the first time in school history.

"There are some little things we need to tweak," Hurst said.

Even with his team in the race for the MEAC title, Lavan pointed to several areas on which the team has begun to focus. Among them:

Sustaining long offensive drives. Lavan said he's discouraged by the lack of long drives, which he considers to be possessions lasting at least six plays.

Under Lavan, the Hornets have been known as a team that can score quickly when needed. But to have true success, Lavan said, an offense needs to have quick-strike ability and be able to grind out long drives.

"In the end, it shows you're controlling the football," Lavan said. "It's still about real estate."

One statistical indication of DSU's lack of sustained drives is its league-low 64 first downs. Morgan State is first with 118. DSU has had fair success on first-down plays and is dependable on second down with its running game. Beyond that, drives often sputter.

Third-down conversions. Through five games, DSU is 12-of-59 on converting third downs. Lavan said that if not for the punt team's 35.5 net yards per attempt, the defense would feel much more pressure from opponents. Punter Josh Brite has averaged 38.9 yards per kick.

The Hornets' time of possession, a byproduct of their failure on third downs, ranks fourth in the MEAC at 31:26 per game.

"This speaks more to execution," Lavan said. "When you do sustain drives, that shows you've executed well."