Orlando, Fla. (Sep. 5, 2010) --- Southern University scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter en route to a 37-27 win over Delaware State before 16,367 sun baked fans at the Florida Citrus Bowl in the 2010 MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
The contest was the 2010 opener for each team.
The Hornets led 27-16 before the Jaguars stormed back to give the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) its second win in the six-year history of the contest between teams from the nation's two historically Black Division I college conferences. Southern, which also won the 2007 MEAC/SWAC Challenge, defeated Delaware State for the first time in three games between the teams.
The Southern win overshadowed a career effort by Delaware State's Larrone Moore, who collected 186 all-purpose yards. Moore also became the first Hornet with two touchdowns of 85-or-more yards in a game.
"Our congratulations to Southern for their winning effort," said Delaware State head coach Al Lavan, who fell to 4-3 in season openers with the Hornets. "We fought a great deal of adversity to perform well for a good portion of the game, but a lack of execution hurt us down the stretch. Our execution suffered on offense, defense and special teams in the fourth quarter, and Southern did a good job to take advantage."
Delaware State scored first when quarterback Anthony Glaud connected with Darius Jackson on a 16-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive of the game. The extra point kick by freshman Mario Diaz-Aviles gave the Hornets a 7-0 lead with 11:08 left in the first quarter. Glaud was 3-for-3 for 33 yards on the seven-play, 3-minute-52 scoring drive. Jaashawn Jones had three carries for 33 yards, including a 24-yard run, during the drive.
Southern used a 6-minute-35 second touchdown march to even the game early in the second quarter. Jaguar quarterback Jeremiah McGinty capped off the 16-play drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Javon Jordan. The extra point kick by William Griswold tied the game at 7-7 with 14:05 left in the second quarter.
Moore struck for the first time later in the second quarter to put the Hornets back in front. The Hyattsville, Md., native caught a pass from Glaud on a crossing pattern and sprinted untouched 85 yards for a touchdown to give Delaware State a 13-7 lead with 12:24 left in the second quarter. A poor snap prevented the Hornets from converting the extra point following the touchdown. The touchdown catch was Moore's second at Delaware State, and the longest of his career. It was also Glaud's longest career completion.
The Jaguars went on another long march to take the lead for the first time. Halfback Sylvester Nzekwe capped off a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 13-13 with 3:24 to go halftime. Griswold's extra point kick gave the Jaguars their first lead, 14-13.
It took the Hornets just 13 seconds to regain the lead. Moore took the ensuing kickoff and darted down the left sideline 90 yards for a touchdown to give DSU a 19-14 lead with 3:11 left in the second quarter. Another poor snap by the Hornets on the extra point attempt was scooped up by Southern's Anthony Wells, who returned the ball downfield for two points, cutting Delaware State's lead to 19-16.
The touchdown was Moore's second of his career on a kickoff return. He also had a 90-yard return for a touchdown against South Carolina State in 2009.
Moore was selected as Delaware State's Most Valuable Player for the contest.
Delaware State padded its lead on a touchdown directed by back-up quarterback Nick Elko following a Southern turnover early in the third quarter. Two plays after the Hornets recovered a Jaguar fumble, Elko connected with Justin Wilson on a 38-yard touchdown pass to give the DSU a 27-16 lead with 10:50 remaining in the third quarter. It was Elko's first touchdown throw and Wilson's first TD catch.
Elko entered the game in the final minute of the second quarter after Glaud went down with a knee injury.
Southern began its comeback when back-up quarterback Joseph Dray scored on a five-yard touchdown run to cut the Hornets' lead to 27-23 with 7:59 left in the fourth quarter. The score capped off a 5-play, 49-yard drive for the Jaguars.
After the Hornets failed to get a first down on their next possession, Southern scored on a special teams touchdown to regain the lead. Corey Cushingberry returned a punt by DSU freshman Marco Kano 64 yards to the endzone to give the Jags a 30-27 lead with 4:43 left to play.
Delaware State's next possession lasted just three plays. Glaud, who re-entered the game with six seconds left in the third quarter, had a pass attempt to Moore intercepted by Jason House with 3:08 left to play.
Three plays after the Delaware State turnover, Dray connected with Rashaun Allen on a four-yard touchdown pass to stretch Southern's lead to 37-27 with 1:50 remaining in the game.
Southern outgained Delaware State 394-320 in the contest. The Jaguars passed for 236 yards and rushed for 158. The Hornets collected 243 yards through the air and 77 on the ground.
Glaud completed 7 of 17 passes for 198 yards. He threw two touchdowns and was intercepted once. Elko connected on 2 of 4 passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. He was also intercepted once.
Jaashawn Jones led the Hornets with 53 yards rushing on 11 carries, snapping a string of three 100-plus yard games.
Delaware State's Andre Caroll led all players with a career-high 13 tackles. Quentin Ferguson added a career-high 10 tackles for the Hornets.
DSU will play its 2010 home opener next Saturday (Sep. 11) against Florida A&M. Game time is 6:00 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
