Delaware State a prime-time success

Photo: Delaware State's 6-3/200 senior WR, Shaheer McBride

By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal

Hornets pull away in second half for televised victory

DOVER -- At least one football coach in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference apparently has underestimated Shaheer McBride, even if he didn't want to admit it.

Bethune-Cookman coach Alvin Wyatt got well-acquainted with McBride, Delaware State's senior receiver, in the second half of the Hornets' 24-10 victory over the Wildcats on a muggy Thursday night at Alumni Stadium.

After the game, when Wyatt was asked about McBride's 111-yard, two-touchdown performance, the coach feigned ignorance toward the marquee player for the 20th-ranked Hornets (4-1 overall, 3-0 MEAC).

"I don't know who that is," Wyatt said.

When reminded that McBride was chosen the league's preseason offensive player of the year, Wyatt said, "We have a player of the year, and his name is [cornerback] Bobbie Williams."

Chances are, Wyatt had heard of McBride before. He's faced him three times, in fact. But Wyatt's tone may have had more to do with his frustration in trying to stop McBride.

McBride, DSU's all-time leader in receiving yards and receptions, scored the go-ahead TD with 12 seconds left in the third quarter. He added a 23-yard TD in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

"I just had to be patient and our offense would find me," said McBride, who had one catch for 20 yards in the first half. "They were doubling me at first. They had two corners on me."

"That's all right," DSU coach Al Lavan said when told of Wyatt's remarks. "Look at the scoreboard. I can only speak for me."

The Hornets had much on the line playing BCC. They wanted to make a good impression on ESPNU's national telecast. And they surely wanted to protect their ranking, DSU's highest position since it reached No. 17 in 1997.

The Wildcats' triple-option attack was led Kristian Pope

by quarterback Jimmie Russell, who rushed for 175 yards and one score. He also passed for 102 yards.

The loss gave the Wildcats (2-4) their first 0-4 record in the MEAC since 1997, Wyatt's first season.

"I thought we gave a gallant effort," Wyatt said.

DSU quarterback Vashon Winton was McBride's partner in subduing BCC. Winton ran for a TD in the second quarter, and found McBride at the goal line for a 37-yard TD to give the Hornets breathing room.

McBride's second score, which gave him his second multiple-touchdown game this season, ended a 74-yard drive in the fourth quarter.

DSU's second-half success offset a lackluster first half in which the Hornets mustered a paltry 56 yards.

"We couldn't do anything in the first half," Lavan said. "It was ugly."

The Wildcats looked like they would lead 7-0 at halftime, but let DSU back in the game with one play.

With BCC at its 5-yard line with 2:12 left in the second quarter, running back Justin Brannon fumbled when he was hit at the line by several DSU defenders. Linebacker Jackie Watkins recovered the loose ball to give DSU possession at the 7.

Three plays later, Winton leapt over his linemen from the 1, extending the ball past the goal line, to tie it 7-7 with 1:17 left.

The Wildcats, who had averaged 25 points in their first five games, were held scoreless until Russell orchestrated a long drive to start the second quarter.

The 80-yard march took 7:26 and ended with Russell's 3-yard TD run at the 8:51 mark. The Wildcats converted a key fourth down-and-1 play on a run by Brannon.

Bethune-Cookman had another prime touchdown opportunity in the third quarter that was thwarted by a steadfast Hornets defense.

Wildcats receiver Joe Singleton took the ball from Russell in the backfield on a reverse, but DSU linebacker Russell Reeves dropped Singleton for a 9-yard loss.

The Wildcats instead settled for a 39-yard field goal by Matthew Johnson for a 10-7 lead with 9:53 to play in the third quarter.

Bethune-Cookman's defense also came up with a TD-stopping effort.

Midway through the third quarter, DSU crafted a nine-play drive to tie the score 10-10 on Peter Gaertner's 23-yard field goal with 5:27 left.

But that came after the Hornets couldn't score a TD from the 5 after Winton's 34-yard pass to Derrick McNeil. BCC held on three plays, but a personal foul gave the Hornets a first down. The Wildcats held again, setting up the field goal.