A once-promising 4-2 start has turned into a disappointing 4-4 reality for the Delaware State University football team.
And once again, they will face a motivated and humiliated opponent this Saturday as the Hornets travel to defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Celebration Bowl champion South Carolina State (3-5, 1-1 MEAC) for a late-season conference battle with the fate of one another’s title hopes hanging in the balance.
DelState (1-1 in MEAC play) couldn’t hold a late lead in falling 28-21 to North Carolina Central in their homecoming game last Saturday, while SCSU’s trip to Baltimore was one to forget as Morgan State blasted the Bulldogs 41-14. S.C. State needs a win to keep pace with North Carolina Central and surprising Howard while the Hornets are hoping to win two of their last three and secure a winning season. Here’s what to watch for in Saturday’s game.
1. Find a way to score … and score … and score again
One of the notoriously tough defenses in the MEAC over the years, South Carolina State is allowing a surprising 30 points per game this season, including 24 in a disastrous fourth quarter against Morgan State last week. Delaware State must find a way to keep the Bulldogs’ unique offense off the field and put points on the board. Once again, a unified offensive identity for this game will be key.
2. Running game must get going
Relatedly, South Carolina State allows 186.5 yards per game on the ground, fourth among MEAC teams. This provides a good chance for DelState to get Milford graduate Marquis Gillis and other backs going. Secret weapon (and reigning MEAC offensive rookie of the week) Rahkeem Smith’s ability to turn end arounds and reverses into big plays could come in handy against the Bulldogs.
3. Beware of Dog … and its offense
S.C. State is averaging just 21.4 points per game, one-tenth of a point behind the Hornets, but the Bulldogs are capable of explosions thanks to their tried-and-true option offense which can see either quarterbacks Tyrece Nick and Corey Fields or running back Kendrell Flowers powering through a defense. There’s also the threat of the ball flying through the air and into the hands of 6-foot-5 Shaquan Davis, the conference’s leading receiver (33 receptions, 650 yards, eight touchdowns).
The Hornet defense, 11 men deep, will have to be on high alert as S.C. State has the element of surprise on their side offensively.
4. Neutralize S.C. State defenders
The Bulldogs have playmakers on defense as well, as linebacker B.J. Davis is fourth in the conference in tackles and amazingly tied for the lead league in interceptions (4), while linebacker Aaron Smith (4) and nose tackle Jared Kirksey (3.5) are third and fourth in the MEAC respectively in sacks. If the Bulldog defense is having one of its good days, then that’s a bad sign for an already struggling Delaware State offense.
5. Dunk the Dawson Stadium jinx
Oliver C. Dawson Stadium is a tough place for any visiting team to win, but it’s especially been a house of horrors for the Hornets, who have not won in Orangeburg, SC since their MEAC championship year of 2007. The key to a winning season for DelState is beating the MEAC’s remaining gold standard football program on their home field fresh from an embarrassing loss.
Stranger things have happened in the MEAC throughout its 52-year history, but there will have to be a game-of-the-year type of performance for the Hornets to pull this off. It’s not out of the question, but an angry S.C. State team will do its best to prevent it from happening.
