By MARTY O'BRIEN, Daily Press
HAMPTON - Delaware State's players followed their 24-17 victory at Hampton University on Saturday by honoring the two students injured Sept. 20 in an on-campus shooting. The Hornets named the two students as their players of the game and will present each with a game ball.
Hornets' coach Al Lavan invited the school's band director and cheerleaders to join the players in the end zone on Saturday after the game. That's rare.
"We always end up in the end zone (during) the alma mater, but we don't invite anyone else other than the team," he said. "The end zone is pretty sacred ground for us.
"But we wanted them to know that the young lady and young man are Hornets, and we wanted to pay special recognition."
Lavan said the shooting did not negatively affect the team's attitude. The incident did leave a lasting impression among the Hornets.
"It brought our team together," tailback Kareem Jones said. "We're team. We're family. That's all we have, so we go out and play hard together."
Tight end Jeff Postell added, "I think it made us more focused on our goal at hand, and our goal always has been to win a (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) championship.
"It helped us realize how short life can be, and how quickly you can be here today, gone tomorrow. So it helped us focus our intensity toward our goal."
THEY'RE NO. 1
Hampton University entered Saturday's game ranked first in the latest SBN Black College football poll, with Delaware State at No. 2.
The Hornets likely will move into the top spot this week.
"It's basically up to you (media) guys where you want us to be in the polls," Hornets linebacker Russell Reeves said. "We're just going to keep on playing and give you something to rank us for."
THIS AND THAT
The Hornets' victory was their first at Armstrong Stadium since a 20-0 win in 1969. ... The Pirates lost for the first time in September since falling 41-6 at Villanova to open the 2003 season. HU had won 19 consecutive September games. ...
HU's Jahmal Blanchard entered the game leading the Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) with a 48.06 per punt average. He likely will stay at or near the top of the rankings after averaging 43.9 yards on seven punts against Delaware State. ...
Pirates tailback Kevin Beverly attempted to play for the first time since spraining an ankle on Sept. 8 in the season opener at Howard. But Beverly, who is also slowed by a sore toe, ran the ball only once for no gain before trotting back to the sidelines.
"We appreciate his courage, but we're going to wait until he is healthy to play him more," Pirates' coach Joe Taylor said. ...
The Pirates play a non-conference game next Saturday at Princeton.
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The Hornets (3-1) vaulted back into the Sports Network I-AA rankings at No. 20 on Monday.
DSU had fallen out of the Top 25 after losing to Divsion I-A Kent State the week before. But the Hornets jumped up five spots after downing Hampton, 24-17, on Saturday.
The Pirates, who were No. 13, fell to No. 21 with the loss. That makes DSU the highest-ranked Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team in the poll.
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