Daytona Beach, FL – This was a game that both teams needed to stay in the MEAC title race and it was the Hornets of Delaware State University who came up with the big plays scoring 12 points in the final four minutes of the game for big 33-31 win over the Wildcats of Bethune Cookman.  The win snapped a two game slide for the Hornets and improved their record to 3-2 and 2-1 in the MEAC, while the Wildcats fell to 3-3 and 2-2 in the MEAC. “It’s thrilling to me about this group of guys, because they have not always played well, but they never given up in one game,” said Hornet Head Coach Al Lavan.

 

The tone was set in the first quarter with BCC taking their first drive 74 yards for a score and DSU answered with an 84 yard scoring drive on their first possession.  At the half the Wildcats held the total offensive yard edge 195 to 162 and held the lead 17-14.  By surprise though, BCC did the most damage through the air with 168 yards passing and was held to just 27 yards on the ground.

 

BCC got their first score when P.J. Smith ran it in from six yards out with 10:41 left in the first.  DSU answered when Vashon Winton (6’2, 195, R-SO-QB/Chicago, IL) connected with Shaheer McBride (6’3, 200, JR-WR/Chester, PA) for a 16 yard strike with 5:07 left in the first.  The Wildcats got the lead back on Jesus Cortez’s 25 yard field goal with 12:22 left in the half and the Hornets answered with a 12 yard scoring run by Emmanuel Marc with 7:34 left.  It was BCC that regained the lead with 3:17 left in the half on a one yard run by Chauncey Hampton.

 

After stopping the Wildcats on downs on their first possession of the second half, the first big mistake of the game got the Hornets on the board when Jerome Strums (6’0, 180, R-FR-CB/Windsor,CN) blocked Adam Ward’s punt and Josh Pope (6’1, 190-R-FR-LB/Philadelphia,PA) recovered the ball in the end zone for the score with 13:30 left in the third..  The four point lead was shorted lived when Jimmie Russell connected with Eric Weems for a 57 yard strike, giving them a 24-21 lead with 11:29 left in the third.

 

In the fourth, the Wildcats extended their lead to 10 (31-21) when Justin Brannon 12 yard run with 6:34 left, which completed a seven play 54 yard drive.  The Hornets were not done, scoring 12 points in the final four minutes of the game for the win.  First it was Emmanuel Mark scoring his second touchdown of the game from 20 yards out, but the extra point was blocked.  Needing a touchdown for the win, DSU’s defense stopped the Wildcats on downs and took over on their 35 yard line and drove 65 yards in five plays when Vashon Winton connected with Derrick McNeil (5’9, 180, JR-WR/Petersburg, VA) from 18 yards out with 1:01 left in the game.  Josh Pope got his second big play of the game intercepting BCC’s Jimmie Russell which sealed the victory for the Hornets.

 

For the game the Hornets held the Wildcats to 81 yards on the ground, but gave up 304 yards in the air, while picking up 325 yards of total offense themselves.  Winton completed 17 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.  Marc led all rushers with 81 yards on 15 carries, with two going in for touchdowns.