The School
Delaware State is a public co-educational University located in Dover, Delaware. It has a student population of around 4,200 students all told. Delaware State is also one of the 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the USA. Delaware State is also, almost certainly, the only Histroically Black University to be located across the street from a NASCAR track which is, interesting.
The Program
The Hornets have been playing Football since 1924 and have an all time record of 341-382-11. The Hornets haven't exactly been a bastion of consistency over the years. The last decade in particular has been pretty brutal. 49 wins and 63 losses. That stretch did see the Hornets first ever 10 win season in 2007. That was also the first time in 18 years that the Hornets claimed the MEAC crown and it was their first, and only, playoff birth. That was the last time that the Hornets were ranked, at the FCS level. However, since 2007 it has been a bad couple of seasons. Since 2008 the Hornets have gone just 16-30, and they have been outscored by 9 points per game on average. That brings us to this season.
The Team
The Hornets are 1-1 on the year defeating VMI 17-10 in the first game of the season. Last week they went on the road to Wilmington Delware to take on in state rival Delaware. It did not go all that well. The Blue Hens dominated from the start and ran away with a fairly easy 38-14 win.
One thing that does jump out is the performance of the Hornets in the passing game. The previous week saw Nick Elko complete 18 of 33 for 156 yards. Against Delaware Elko put up 298 yards while completing 70 per cent of his passes and throwing for a score, but he was picked off twice.
Elko is the main weapon in this game for the Hornets but he has some help from a receiver named Justin Wilson who has been a steady performer for DSU for the last couple of seasons. He has twice been named All MEAC in his career and is closing in on career records for receptions, yards and touchdowns.
Defensively the bell cows are both defensive backs. It is never good to have a defensive back lead your team in tackles. One assumes that it is even worse to have your top two tacklers be defensive backs, but that is the fate of DSU so far this season. Terrick Colson and Davon Moore are tied for the team lead with 19 tackles each, Colson has more solo stops for what its worth.
Fun Fact
While there is not a team in the country who can top the Bearcats collection of All Name All Stars the Hornets have some good ones.
RB - Dae-Hon Cheung
DL - Shabasz Gordon
QB - Esayah Obado
OL - Nail Muradymov
Not bad, not bad at all.
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