TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Nov.16) – Delaware State played the role of spoiler as the Hornets scored 19 second half points to pull out a 29-21 win over the Florida A&M Football team, here Saturday afternoon at Bragg Memorial Stadium in the Rattlers' final home game of the 2013 season.
With the win, this is Hornets' fifth ever win in Bragg Stadium. The last time, DSU defeated the Rattlers in Bragg Stadium was during the 2007 season with the Hornets pulling out a 20-7 in win.
DSU would grab the early 3-0 lead as Mitchell Ward connected on a field goal with 2:03 to go in the first from 28-yards out.
Less than a minute later, Carson Royal would throw his second TD pass of his career as he connected with Lemond Buice for an 81-yard TD pass with 1:09 left in the first, giving the Rattlers a 7-3 lead.
Curtis Alexander would set up the Rattlers' second TD of the game as he forced a fumble with Michael Ducre recovering the ball on the DSU 32-yard line.
Royal would throw his second TD of the game as Casey Glines made an acrobatic reception in the end zone, just getting one foot down to give the Rattles a 14-3 lead with 14:44 to go in the second.
The Rattler defense would set up FAMU's third TD of the game as Jonathan Pillow recorded his third interception of the season for a return of 28 yards, giving FAMU the ball on the DSU 20-yard line.
Four plays later, Glines would make his second aerial catch for a touchdown from Royal from six yards out with 11:09 to go in the game.
Nagee Jackson would set up DSU's first TD of the game as he rushed for 31 yards on four carries on the drive, by posting rushes for eight, five, seven and 11 yards, followed by an Esayah Obado 28 yard scamper giving the Hornets first and ten at the FAMU nine-yard line. The Hornets would cap off the drive with a Dae-Hon Cheung nine-yard TD run with 8:54 to go in the half as FAMU would go into the break with a 21-10 lead at the half.
A personal foul penalty and ejection of safety john Ojo, would set up DSU's second TD of the game, giving the Hornets the ball at the Rattlers' 39-yard line as DSU would score from nine yards out on a Joseph Ceravolo reception from Cory Murphy. That score came with 50 seconds left in the third cutting the Rattlers' lead to 21-16, after the DSU missed two-point conversion.
DSU would take the lead for the second and final time in the contest as Murphy tossed his second TD pass of the game to Milton Williams from 18-yards out with 11:37 to go in the contest, giving the Hornets a 22-21 lead, after the failed two-point conversion.
Cory Scott would score the Hornets' final TD on a 55-yard fumble recovery for TD with 10:01 left in the contest for the 29-21 finale.
FAMU was led by James Owens as he rushed for a team-high 68 yards on 15 carries.
Royal in first collegiate start in place of Damien Fleming who suffered a season-ending injury, finished the contest with 277 yards through the air as he connected on 18 passes in 24 attempts with three TDs passes and three interceptions.
Glines led the Rattler receivers as he recorded 68 yards on four receptions with his longest reception being for 32 yards to go along with two TDs.
Michael Ducre led the Rattler defense as he finished the contest eight solo tackles, one sack, one tackle and one forced fumble, followed by Brandon Denmark with six total tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
DSU was paced by Cheung as he rushed for 60 yards on 12 carries with his longest rush being for 30 yards.
Cory Murphy did not start contest for the Hornets, but finished the contest with 141 yards passing as he completed 10 passes in 15 attempts with one interception and two TDs. Caravolo led the contest with 62 receiving yards on three receptions with one TD.
Terrick Colston led DSU's defense with seven tackles, followed by Rodney Gunter with six tackles, one sack, and 2.5 tackles for loss.
With the win, DSU raises their record to 5-5 and 5-2 in conference play, whereas FAMU lowers their record to 3-8 and 2-5 in MEAC play.
FAMU will close out their 2013 campaign as they will travel to Orlando, Fla., to take on arch –rival Bethune-Cookman in the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
