Delaware State 10, SC State 9

October 28, 2006

Dover, DE – This was the match-up to stay in the MEAC Championship race and it lived up to the pre-game hype of two teams battling down to the wire. In front of 2,512 chilled fans, with winds gusting at 29 mph, the Delaware State University Hornets held on for 10-9 win over the Bulldogs of South Carolina State University. The win kept DSU in a tie with two-time defending champion Hampton with a 5-1 conference slate and 6-2 overall, while SCSU dropped to 3-2 and 4-4 overall.

The Hornets took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards in seven plays, with Vashon Winton connecting with Shaheer McBride from 20 yards out for a 7-0 lead with 11:47 left in the first quarter.

Penalties played a major factor in the contest as both teams combined for 245 yards in penalties (DSU 10-122 yds – SCSU 11-123). Infractions kept drives alive on the Bulldogs first two possessions, leading to scores. On the Bulldogs first drive, a roughing the kicker penalty kept the drive alive setting up a 36 yard field goal by Michael Gaston with 7:05 left in the first. On their next possession a personal foul gave the Bulldogs a first and 10 at the DSU 24 and two plays later Cleveland McCoy connected with Spencer Miller from 28 yards out, giving them a 9-7 lead they held until the 4th quarter.

The Hornets junior kicker Josh Brite put the winning kick through the uprights from 30 yards out with 10:59 left in the game. Defense was the name of the game down the stretch when DSU's Russell Reeves stopped the Bulldog's Cleveland McCoy on a 4th and one giving the Hornets the ball with 1:35 left in the game. Reeves led all tacklers with a season high 16 (7 solo, 9 assisted).

SCSU was paced by DeShawn Baker who led all rushers with 161 yards on 28 carries and Vashon Winton led the Hornets completing 12 of 22 passes for 139 yards. As a team the Hornets held the Bulldogs to 46 yards in the air, but they still managed to out gain DSU in total offense 262 to 248 yards.

The Hornets will return to action next Saturday, hosting Concord (WV) at 1:00 PM.