NEWARK, Delaware - The Route 1 Rivalry will be rekindled at the University of Delaware in Newark this weekend as the Blue Hens once again welcome the Delaware State Hornets to Delaware Stadium.
After decades of never facing each other on the football field, the state's two top programs meet again this Saturday. The University of Delaware is coming off a season opening win over West Chester last Thursday, 41-21. Delaware State also won their season opener last week, topping Virginia Military Institute 17-10.
This is the third time the in-state rivals have met. The Hens have dominated the past three contests, winning by an average margin of 30 points. Last year, UD shut out DSU 45-0. But, Blue Hen head coach K.C. Keeler isn't taking the Hornets lightly. "They look a lot further along this year than last year," said Keeler Tuesday.
"They’re a lot more comfortable in their system." He says the DSU offense is made up of a solid core of seniors and even though the Hornets defense lost a number of upperclassmen, the team still has a lot of players who saw action on defense last season. "They had a lot of backups that were in the game early last year are playing against us this year, so it’s a pretty experienced team."
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Adjei shifts focus to stopping Delaware Hens
DOVER, Delaware — Delaware State led Virginia Military Institute by three points with less than four minutes to play in Saturday’s football season opener. The Keydets had a first-and-goal from the Hornets’ 4-yard line.
VMI handed the ball off to tailback David Turner, who went abolutely nowhere, thanks to DSU senior middle linebacker Ernest Adjei. His tackle forced VMI to kick a tying field goal and gave DSU the chance to score the winning touchdown on its next possession.
“It was great to see Ernest [Adjei] have that success and to be the leader that he is,” said Mike Ketchum, DSU’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. “That’s the way to step up when it counts.”
The funny thing is, Adjei, who was in on six tackles and had 2½ for loss against VMI, isn’t even thinking about that anymore. For Adjei and Delaware State, it’s all about traveling to Delaware Stadium on Saturday for the renewal of the First State rivalry at 3:30 p.m.
“Last week is over. We’ve got to get focused on Delaware,” said Adjei, who is 6-foot, 230 pounds. “That’s the opponent and it’s a very big game, so we’ve really got to focus on this week. We watched film when they played West Chester [last week] and we believe it’s doable. We’re focused.”
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Delaware State University Approaching Storm Marching Band performing at the
Rehoboth Beach Bandstand, Rehoboth, DE, 9/2/2012.
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