ORANGEBURG, S.C. (October 31, 2009) --- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference leader South Carolina State racked up more than 500 total yards in a 52-10 win over Delaware State before 21,257 delighted homecoming fans at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Bulldogs won their fourth straight game to improve to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the MEAC. SC State has won 16 straight league games since the 2007 season. The defending MEAC champions were ranked 10th in the latest SportsNetwork and AFCA Coaches polls of Top 25 Football Championship Subdivision teams entering the contest.
The Hornets fell to 2-6 overall and 2-4 in the MEAC.
The 42-point margin was the Bulldogs' largest over the Hornets since a 52-6 victory in 1979.
"South Carolina State is an outstanding team, and my greatest fear this week was realized," said Delaware State head coach Al Lavan, who fell to 2-4 vs. South Carolina State and 38-28 in MEAC games. "We gave the Bulldogs a short field for most of the first half, and they took advantage of every opportunity. South Carolina State showed everyone why they are the best team in our league."
South Carolina State scored on its first five possessions of the game, including touchdown passes of 24 and 80 yards by Long to Young, rushing touchdowns of 13 yards by Will Ford and two yards by Long and a 37-yard field goal by Blake Erickson. The Bulldogs scored four touchdowns in the first quarter and one in the second.
DSU got on the board with a 90-yard kick return for a touchdown by Larrone Moore with 2:02 left in the first quarter. The kick return was the fourth longest in school history and was the longest of the junior wide receiver's DSU career. The kickoff return for a touchdown was the first by a Hornet since Brandon Hudson vs. North Carolina A&T in 2007.
The Bulldogs led 31-7 at the half.
South Carolina State stretched its lead to 38-7 on a nine-yard touchdown run by Travil Jamison on the opening possession of the third quarter.
Delaware State scored its only other points on a 23-yard field goal by Riley Flickinger to pull to within 38-10 with 6:01 left in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs closed out the scoring on a nine-yard touchdown run by Ford with 1:36 left in the third quarter and a 36-yard interception return by Phillips Adams with :12 left in the game.
The Hornets will play their final road game of the 2009 season next Saturday (Nov. 7) at Winston-Salem State. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
DELAWARE STATE AT No. 10 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GAME NOTES
October 31, 2009 - Dawson Bulldog Stadium - Orangeburg, S.C.
- Today's captains - Anthony Glaud (Offense), Nick Richmond (Offense), Mike Gable (Defense), Jerome Strums (Defense), Riley Flickinger (Special Teams)
- The Bulldogs are the first ranked team DSU has faced this season (No. 10 in TSN Poll and No. 10 in the Coaches Poll.
- 90-yard kick return by Larrone Moore with 2:02 left in the first quarter was the fourth-longest return in school history.
- The kick return touchdown by Moore was the first by a Hornet since Brandon Hudson (vs. N.C. A&T) in 2007.
- With Moore's kick return for a touchdown, DSU has now scored in 60th-straight game, dating back to Sept. 25, 2004.
- Darius Jackson extended his current streak of consecutive games with a reception to nine contests.
- James Rosseau recorded a career-long 32-yard rush during the third quarter.
- Riley Flickinger kicked his 14th-career field goal (23-yarder at 6:01 in the third) to tie the Gresham, Ore., native for No. 4 (Matthew Stehman - 1989-90) all-time on the DSU career field goal list.
- South Carolina State posted its biggest win over the Hornets since a 52-6 victory in 1979.
- The Hornets allowed the most points to a MEAC opponent since a 56-21 loss to Florida A&M in 1998.
