DSU Hornets to Host NCA&T in Homecoming Contest

DOVER, Delaware -- Delaware State welcomes long-time MEAC rival North Carolina A&T to Alumni Stadium for the annual homecoming contest. The Hornets (2-5; 2-1 MEAC) are coming off a wild 13-10 overtime victory at Norfolk State last week.

Mitchell Ward tied his career-high with a 43-yard field goal for the winning points on DSU’s overtime possession. Hornet safety Davon Moore intercepted a Norfolk State pass in the endzone in overtime to set up the Hornets’ winning possession. It was Moore’s second interception of the game, giving him four picks in two career games at Norfolk State.

Delaware State trailed 10-0 when Terrick Colston blocked a punt, recovered the ball and ran three yards into the endzone for a touchdown to cut the Spartans’ lead to three points. Colston also contributed seven tackles (four solo) and an interception to the win. He is tied for second in the MEAC with three interceptions this season.

The Hornets tied the game at 10-10 on a 23-yard field goal by Ward with 6:36 left in the fourth quarter. Norfolk State attempted a potential game-winning field goal in the final minute of the fourth quarter, but DSU defensive lineman Gabe Sherrod blocked the kick to keep the Hornets alive.

North Carolina A&T (5-2; 2-1 MEAC) has won four of its last five games, including a 31-14 victory over Hampton in a nationally-televised contest (ESPNU) in its most recent outing on Oct. 9. The Aggies trailed 14-7 at the half, but outscored the Pirates 24-0 in the final 30 minutes. Tarik Cohen rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown (60 yards) on 24 carries to lead the NCA&T offense. He also had three receptions for 81 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown in the contest. Cohen is second in the MEAC in rushing with 767 yards (127.8 ypg). He was the MEAC’s 2013 Rookie-of-the-Year. The Aggies are tops in the league in scoring (31.7 ppg) and scoring defense (15.0 ppg).

THE SERIES (DSU leads 22-20-1)
This will be the 43rd on-the-field contest between the Hornets and Aggies. DSU has won the last two meetings to open up a 22-20-1 series lead. The Hornets have won eight of the last nine on-the-field contests in the series, including a 24-0 victory the last time the teams met at DSU’s Alumni Stadium in 2012. In the 2013 meeting between the teams in Greensboro, N.C., the Hornet defense held the Aggies to 102 total yards en route to a 12-7 victory. The teams did not meet in 2009, although NCA&T was awarded a victory due to a DSU forfeit.

HORNETS/AGGIES IN THE MEAC
Delaware State and North Carolina A&T are among five teams in a tie for third place in the MEAC standings with a 2-1 league record. South Carolina State, Morgan State and Norfolk State are also 2-1 in conference play. Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina Central are tied for the lead at 2-0.

A charter member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), DSU is in its 44th season of league play. The Hornets have an all-time record of 131-148-1 in MEAC contests. Delaware State has won or shared six MEAC championships. The Hornets claimed outright MEAC titles in 1985, 1989 and 2007, while sharing the crown in 1987, 1988 and 1991. Delaware State was tied for third place in the MEAC with a 5-3 mark in 2013.

DSU has been picked to finish fifth in the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings, according to a poll of league head coaches and sports information representatives. The Hornets received a total of 229 points in the preseason poll.  North Carolina was ranked third in the preseason MEAC poll. Bethune-Cookman is the overwhelming favorite to win its third straight MEAC championship. The Wildcats collected 480 points in the poll.

Delaware State has exceeded MEAC preseason expectations in each of the last two years. The Hornets were tied for third in the 2013 conference race with a 5-3 record after an eighth place prediction by pollsters. In 2012, DSU was also tied for third in the final league standings at 5-3 following a 10th place forecast by MEAC pollsters. 

The Hornets were 2-2 in MEAC home games last season.


HOMECOMING SUCCESS
Delaware State has enjoyed a fair amount of success on its homecoming in recent years. Since 1969, the Hornets are 33-12 on homecoming Saturday. DSU had a 10-game homecoming win streak from 1982 to ’91; and a six-game streak from 1975 to ’80.

The Hornets have won their last two homecoming games, including a 14-7 victory over Norfolk State last season. DSU defeated NCA&T 24-0 in the 2012 homecoming contest.

COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS