GAME NOTES: NCCU Football at Delaware State

THE GAME
North Carolina Central University "Eagles" vs. Delaware State University "Hornets" 

THE KICKOFF
Saturday, October 27, 2018 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m.

THE SITE
Alumni Stadium (7,000 capacity / Astro Turf) - Dover, Del.

THE RECORDS
N.C. Central (3-3 overall, 2-1 MEAC); Delaware State (0-7 overall; 0-4 MEAC)

GAME NOTES

MEDIA COVERAGE
Audio: NCCU Sports Network "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (internet stream). Broadcast starts at 1:40 p.m. (Jonathan Duren, play-by-play).
TV:  ESPN3 (WatchESPN).

QUICK HITS
• Saturday will be Delaware State's homecoming game.
• NCCU leads the series against Delaware State, 18-6. The Eagles have won nine of the last 10 contests, including five straight.
• First-year Delaware State head coach Rod Milstead was an offensive line coach at NCCU in 2013.
• Delaware State has the second-best rushing attack in the MEAC with an average of 170.0 ground yards per contest.
• The Eagles were ranked No. 1 in the nation (Division I-FCS) in turnovers lost with just one before losing two fumbles at Norfolk State, which dropped the Eagles to second in the nation - still best in the MEAC.
• NCCU leads the conference and ranks 19th in the NCAA Division I-FCS in tackles for loss with an average of 7.5 per game.
• NCCU tops the MEAC and ranks fifth in the nation in third-down conversion percentage defense (.280).
• NCCU boasts the top red-zone offense in the MEAC, scoring 91.3 percent of the time. The Eagles are 21-of-23 inside the 20-yard line, with 14 touchdowns and seven field goals.
• NCCU senior defensive lineman Darius Royster already has more tackles for loss than last season's team leaders (Roderick Harris and Antonio Brown with 8.5). Royster owns 10.0 takedowns behind the line of scrimmage (2nd in MEAC, 12th in FCS) and three forced fumbles (1st in MEAC, 3rd in FCS).
• NCCU senior safety Davanta Reynolds, the Preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team (Second Team), ranks third in the MEAC with 49 tackles (8.2 per game).
• Since the start of the 2012 season, NCCU has scored 38 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including three defensive scores last year and two this season.
• NCCU is under the direction of first-year head coach Granville Eastman, who accepted the interim role after Jerry Mack left to be the offensive coordinator at Rice.
• NCCU received votes in the STATS FCS Top 25 preseason poll.
• NCCU returns just nine starters (6 offense, 3 defense), but boasts nine members of the Preseason All-MEAC Team: First Team - DB Davanta Reynolds, RB Isaiah Totten, OL Nick Leverett, DL Kawuan Cox; Second Team - TE Josh McCoy, OL Andrew Dale, DL Randy Anyanwu; Third Team - WR Xavier McKoy, and DB De'Mario Evans.

ABOUT NCCU FOOTBALL
NCCU won three consecutive MEAC championships from 2014-16, and represented the MEAC in the 2016 Celebration Bowl versus Grambling in the Georgia Dome.
NCCU Recent Records:
2017: 7-4 overall, 5-3 MEAC
2016: 9-3 overall, 8-0 MEAC – MEAC champions
2015: 8-3 overall, 7-1 MEAC – MEAC co-champions
2014: 7-5 overall, 6-2 MEAC – MEAC co-champions

THE SERIES
This will be the 25th meeting in the series between the Eagles and the Hornets since the teams first played in 1945. NCCU leads the series against Delaware State, 18-6. The Eagles have won nine of the last 10 contests with wins in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2004, 2003, 1996 and 1979, while DSU won the 2010 meeting 29-7.

NCCU vs. Delaware State Series Results:
10/28/2017 - NCCU 42, DSU 14 (Durham, N.C.)
11/5/2016 - NCCU 38, DSU 19 (Dover, Del.)
11/7/2015 - NCCU 43, DSU 10 (Durham, N.C.)
11/3/2012 - NCCU 23, DSU 20 - 2OT (Durham, N.C.)
11/5/2011 - NCCU 14, DSU 7 (Dover, Del.)
11/6/2010 - DSU 29, NCCU 7 (Dover, Del.)
9/11/2004 - NCCU 26, DSU 23 (Dover, Del.)
9/20/2003 - NCCU 21, DSU 14 (Durham, N.C.)
9/21/1996 - NCCU 21, DSU 16 (Atlantic City, N.J.)
10/13/1979 - NCCU 31, DSU 26 (Durham, N.C.)
10/14/1978 - DSU 16, NCCU 13 (Dover, Del.)
10/15/1977 - DSU 23, NCCU 0 (Durham, N.C.)
10/16/1976 - NCCU 27, DSU 6 (Dover, Del.)
10/18/1975 - NCCU 16, DSU 14 (Durham, N.C.)
10/19/1974 - NCCU 7, DSU 0 (Dover, Del.)
10/13/1973 - NCCU 32, DSU 7 (Durham, N.C.)
10/14/1972 - DSU 14, NCCU 10 (Dover, Del.)
10/16/1971 - NCCU 34, DSU 3 (Durham, N.C.)
10/7/1950 - NCC 13, DSU 0 (Dover, Del.)
10/22/1949 - NCC 27, DSU 0 (Durham, N.C.)
9/25/1948 - NCC 14, DSU 0 (Dover, Del.)
9/27/1947 - DSU 7, NCC 0 (Durham, N.C.)
9/28/1946 - NCC 32, DSU 6 (Durham, N.C.)
9/29/1945 - DSU 13, NCC 12 (Durham, N.C.)

THE LAST MEETING
(NCCU 42, Delaware State 14 - Durham, N.C. - Oct. 28, 2017) NCCU celebrated homecoming with a 42-14 victory over Delaware State in front of a capacity crowd of 14,117 fans inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. NCCU senior wide receiver Jacen Murphy collected 10 receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns. NCCU amassed 401 yards of total offense with quarterback Chauncey Caldwell accounting for 252 total yards and four scores. The Durham, North Carolina native completed 17-of-29 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 10 yards and a pair of trips to the end zone. Defensively, NCCU recorded four sacks and three interceptions. Safety Davanta Reynolds picked off his fourth interception of the season and added four tackles and a pass break-up. Cornerback De'Mario Evans tallied six takedowns and an interception, while defensive end Kawuan Cox added six stops with two sacks.

THE LAST MEETING IN DELAWARE
(NCCU 38, Delaware State 19 - Dover, Del. - Nov. 5, 2016) NCCU scored touchdowns in all three phases of the game to hand Delaware State University a 38-19 defeat at Alumni Stadium.

LAST WEEK
NCCU 36, Norfolk State 6 (Norfolk, Va.) - NCCU amassed five takeaways (3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries) and six sacks, and connected on the second-longest pass play in school history during a 36-6 conference road victory over Norfolk State at William "Dick" Price Stadium. Among NCCU's five takeaways was a red-zone interception by NCCU senior safety Jaquell Taylor midway through the third quarter, keeping the Spartans off the scoreboard. Two plays later, Eagles quarterback Chauncey Caldwell connected with tight end Sherman McLeod for a 93-yard touchdown reception, the second-longest pass play in school history, to push the Eagles ahead 19-0. NCCU recorded 388 yards of total offense, including 200 yards rushing, to average 5.7 yards per play, while Norfolk State managed 301 total yards for an average of 3.8 yards per play. Caldwell accounted for 241 yards of total offense for the Eagles with 188 passing yards and 53 yards rushing, including a 5-yard touchdown scamper in the second quarter. Sophomore running back Isaiah Totten registered 108 ground yards with a 35-yard score in the fourth quarter, along with three receptions for 23 yards. Sophomore Nique Martin tallied six receptions for 44 yards for the Eagles. Defensively, sophomore linebacker Branden Bailey posted a game-high 11 tackles, junior lineman Tavon Lofties chipped in five tackles with two sacks, senior linebacker King Kiaku contributed six takedowns with two pass break-ups and a fumble recovery, and senior lineman Randy Anyanwu added a sack and a blocked punt. NCCU interceptions were recorded by Taylor, senior safety Davanta Reynolds and redshirt freshman linebacker Patrick Connor, who also recovered a fumble. Redshirt freshman kicker Adam Lippy made all three field goal attempts with a long kick of 38 yards, while also converting three extra-point kicks. NCCU entered the contest ranked No. 1 in the nation in turnovers lost with just one interception in the first game of the season. On Saturday, the Eagles lost two fumbles.

S.C. State 30, Delaware State 19 (Orangeburg, S.C.) - South Carolina State scored two touchdowns after blocking punts and another on an interception return in a 30-19 win over Delaware State at Oliver C. Stadium. Delaware State won the total yardage battle, 410-404, highlighted by a 217-136 edge in passing yards, but was plagued by critical miscues. In addition to the blocked punts and interception return for touchdown, the Hornets were set back by another interception that went in and out of a receiver's hands and two holding penalties that negated 30-plus-yard passing gains.
THE COACHES
NCCU: Granville Eastman (Saint Mary's, 1992) is in his first season as a college head coach. With 20 years of collegiate coaching experience to his credit, Eastman joined the NCCU staff in January 2014, serving as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and safeties coach until his promotion to interim head coach on Dec. 8, 2017. Prior to joining NCCU, Eastman spent nine seasons (2005-13) as the defensive coordinator at Austin Peay State University in Clarkesville, Tennessee. During his 11 total seasons at APSU, he coached defensive backs and linebackers, and also served as special teams coordinator (2003-04) and interim head coach (winter 2013). Eastman coached four seasons (1999-2002) at Tiffin University in Ohio, including the last three seasons as defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, while working with defensive backs and defensive line during his tenure. A native of Toronto, Canada, Eastman secured his first coaching position at York University in his hometown, where he spent two seasons (1994-95) working with defensive backs. He then served as a defensive graduate assistant for three seasons (1996-98) at Arkansas State University, earning a master's degree in sociology in 1999. Eastman was a two-time all-city defensive back at Stephen Leacock High School in Toronto before attending Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, where he was a three-year letterman as a defensive back. Twice Saint Mary's played in national title games while he was there. Eastman earned his bachelor's degree from Saint Mary's University in 1992.

Delaware State: Rod Milstead (Delaware State, 1992), a former DSU Hornet All-America offensive lineman and National Football League standout, is in his first season as head coach at his alma mater. This is his first collegiate head coach position. Milstead served as Delaware State's offensive line coach in 2014 and held the same position at North Carolina Central in 2013. Following his playing career with the Hornets, Milstead competed for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins.

NCCU TRIO REGAINS WEEKLY MEAC AWARDS
For the second time in consecutive outings, three North Carolina Central University Eagles received weekly football awards from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for their performances during a 36-6 road victory over Norfolk State on Saturday, Oct. 20. NCCU sophomore quarterback Chauncey Caldwell (Durham, N.C.) has been named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Week, redshirt freshman kicker Adam Lippy (Tucker, Ga.) has been announced as the MEAC Specialist of the Week, and redshirt junior Nick Leverett (Concord, N.C.) has been selected as the MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week. The trio earned the same honors two weeks ago prior to the Eagles' off week, when NCCU rallied to beat Howard on Oct. 6. In this past weekend's win over Norfolk State, Caldwell amassed 241 yards of total offense and accounted for two touchdowns. He passed for 188 yards, including a 93-yard touchdown connection to tight end Sherman McLeod for the second-longest pass play in NCCU history, and rushed for 53 yards and a score. Lippy accounted for 12 points with three field goals and converted three extra-point kicks. Leverett helped pave the way for 388 yards of total offense and 36 points. He graded out at 98 percent with three pancake blocks, no sacks allowed and zero penalties.

EAGLES TURN DEFENSE, SPECIAL TEAMS INTO POINTS
Since the start of the 2012 season, the Eagles have demonstrated a knack for finding the end zone when the offense is off the field. In the past 75 games, NCCU has scored 38 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including two this season, three in 2017, three in 2016, six in 2015, five in 2014, nine in 2013 and 10 in 2012. In that time, the Eagles have made trips to the end zone on 14 punt returns, six kickoff returns, three blocked field goal returns, 11 interceptions and four fumble recoveries. 

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY EAGLES SPORTS INFORMATION