2019 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 8
DELAWARE STATE “HORNETS” (1-6 / 0-4 MEAC)
VS.
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL “EAGLES” (2-4)
SAT., OCT. 26, 2019 (2:00 p.m.)
O'KELLY-RIDDICK STADIUM (10,600) - DURHAM, N.C.
Live Stream - ESPN3 / MEAC DIGITAL NETWORK
Live Audio - HSRN.com (DSU broadcast) or XM 386 / XM app Channel 982
THE GAME
Delaware State returns to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play with a visit to North Carolina Central. The Hornets bring a five-game losing streak into the contest, including a 30-21 setback to Merrimack in a nonconference game last Saturday. The Warriors scored the last 16 points after the Hornets were ahead by seven in the second quarter. Delaware State led on three occasions, including 21-14 after a 72-yard touchdown pass from Tylik Bethea to fellow freshman Corahn Alleyne. The Hornets had a 100-yard runner for the second straight game. Bryant Dallas rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns, each a career-high, in the contest. North Carolina Central has been idle since a 27-13 home loss to Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 12. The Eagles have dropped their last two games and are tied with Howard for fourth place in the current MEAC standings (1-2).
THE HORNETS
Delaware State is averaging 18.3 points and 286.0 total yards per game. The Hornets are sixth in the MEAC is rushing at 121.0 yards per game and eighth in passing at 165.0 yards per contest. Defensively, DSU is faring better, allowing 358.1 yards per game to rank fourth in the MEAC. Freshman quarterback Tylik Bethea has started the last six games. Bethea enters the weekend ranked sixth in the MEAC in passing average at 146.4 yards per game and ninth in the league in pass efficiency with a 97.3 passer rating. For the season, the rookie signal-caller has completed 87-of-190 passes (45.8%) for 1025 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. He was selected as the MEAC Rookie-of-the-Week after completing 16-of-28 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns in the Hornets' 58-12 win over Lincoln (Pa.) on Sep. 8. Richard Harris (r-jr.) is the team rushing leader with 321 yards to rank ninth in the MEAC at 45.9 yards per game. Dallas is 10th in the league at 44.9 rushing yards per game (314 total). DSU's Kwannah Kollie (jr.) is one of the MEAC's top pass catchers this season. Kollie is fifth in the league in receptions (4.3 pg), eighth in receiving yards (57.4 ypg) and tied for fourth in touchdown catches (4). On defense, the Hornets have played the last three games without inside linebacker Brian Cavicante (sr.), the 2019 Preseason MEAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year, who is out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. Fellow linebacker Brooks Parker (so.) is tops on the team and tied for 17th in the MEAC in tackles at 5.9 per game (41 total). On the front line, Brandon Carswell (gr.) has 26 tackles and ranks among the league leaders in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (4). Defensive back Jahad Niebauer (sr.), a Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection, is 22nd in the league in tackles at 5.4 per game (38 total). Hornet cornerback D'Andre Blue-Eli (so.) is tied for third in the MEAC with two interceptions.
THE EAGLES
North Carolina Central features the second stingiest defense in the MEAC, allowing 332.9 yards per game to trail only North Carolina A&T (312.3) among league teams. The Eagles lead all MEAC teams with 11 interceptions, while ranking second in the league in fewest passing yards allowed per game(177.1). Defensive end Darius Royster (sr.) is tops on the team and tied for 11th in the MEAC in tackles at 6.7 per game (47 total). He's also second in the league with 5.5 sacks. In the secondary, Bryan Mills is No. 1 in the conference with three interceptions, each in one game (at Morgan State). Offensively, the Eagles are averaging 343.3 yards per game to rank fifth in the MEAC. NCCU quarterback Davius Richard is third in the conference in passing yards at 185.8 per game. For the season, he has completed 96-of-190 passes for 1115 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Junior running back Isaiah Totten averages 65.7 yards per game to rank third in the MEAC (460 total).
THE SERIES (NCCU leads 18-7)
This is the 26th meeting between the Hornets and Eagles. NC Central holds an 18-7 lead in the series, although Delaware State won the last contest. The Hornets snapped a five-game losing streak to the Eagles with a 28-13 victory in Dover, Del., in 2018. It was the first win for new head coach Rod Milstead. Running backs Michael Chris-Ike (127) and Brycen Alleyne (122) rushed for more than 100 yard each and a touchdown to lead the way for the Hornets in last year's contest.
