DSU Football Falls Late To FAMU

Courtesy: DSU Athletics

Delaware State racked up season-highs in points, rushing yards and total offense, but it was not enough in a 41-27 homecoming loss to Florida A&M in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference battle at Alumni Stadium this afternoon.
The Rattlers defeated the Hornets for the third straight year to improve to 2-5 overall and 2-2 in the MEAC. DSU is winless in five games this season, including three league contests.
The Hornets rushed for 325 yards in the game, their most since matching the total in a 63-28 victory over St. Francis (Pa.) in 2006.
Brycen Alleyne (so.) rushed for a career-high 169 yards and two touchdowns, while Mike Waters (fr.) ran for 150 yards, marking the first time two Hornets topped 100 yards rushing in a game since Chris Strother (110) and Vashon Winton (102) vs. Bethune-Cookman in 2008.
Delaware State’s 510 total yards in the game were its most since tallying 512 vs. Hampton in 2012.
The Hornets were plagued by three interceptions in the contest, including one returned 100 yards for a touchdown and another that was run back 60 yards, leading to a field goal.
Florida A&M opened the scoring when Colby Blanton nailed a 39-yard field goal to cap off a 16-play, 42- yard drive on the game’s first possession.
The Rattlers stretched their lead to 10-0 on a 14-yard run by quarterback Ryan Stanley with 3:52 left in the first quarter.
Stanley completed 15-of-29 passes for 204 yards and rushed for 118 yards on 12 carries, highlighted by a 54-yard run, in the game.
Florida A&M opened up a 13-0 lead on an 18-yard Blanton field goal with 12:44 left in the second quarter.
The Hornets used a big play to finally get on the board midway through the second quarter. Six plays after quarterback Daniel Epperson connected with wide receiver Fatu Sua-Godinet on a 53-yard pass to the Florida A&M 22, Epperson scored a touchdown on a one-yard plunge on fourth down to get DSU back into the gasme. Wisdom Nzidee’s extra point kick cut the Rattler’s lead to 13-7 with 6:44 to go before halftime.
Florida A&M answered with its second touchdown on a nine-yard run by Stanley on the ensuing possession. The seven-play, 79-yard drive was highlighted by a 35 yard pass to Brandon Norwood to the Delaware State nine.  The Rattlers led 20-7 after the extra point with 1:55 left in the second quarter.
Not to be outdone, the Hornets scored on their second straight possession when Epperson reached the endzone on another one-yard run  with 11 seconds left in the half. Alleyne started the drive with a 26-yard run and had a 16-yard catch during the march. After Nzidee’s extra point kick, the Hornets trailed just 20-14 at the break.
The Delaware State defense kept Florida A&M off the board on two third quarter possessions to keep the Hornets in the game.
DSU’s offense took advantage with a long march at the end of the quarter. Alleyne capped off the 12-play, 71-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 20. Waters rushed for 29 yards and Epperson completed each of his three passes for 25 yards during the drive.
The score remained tied when Nzidee’s extra point kick was blocked with 12 seconds left in the third quarter.
Delaware State’s momentum was short lived when Florida A&M’s Norwood returned the ensuing kickoff 72 yards to the Hornet 27.
It took six plays for the Rattlers to take advantage of the good field position and regain the lead when Stanley scored his third touchdown of the game on a one-yard run with 13:32 left in the fourth quarter.
After Delaware State failed to get a first down on its next possession, Florida A&M quickly took advantage to pad its lead.
One play after a 54-yard run by Stanley, the Rattler quarterback connected with Montavious Williams on an eight-yard touchdown pass to give the visitors a 34-20 lead.
On the ensuing Delaware State possession, the Hornets were in position to answer Florida A&M’s touchdown. Waters had a 31-yard run and Alleyne recorded consecutive 12-yard runs and an 11-yard reception to advance to the Florida A&M two-yard line. On a fourth down play, Orlando McKinley intercepted Epperson’s pass at the goal line and ran 100 yards the other way to give the Rattlers a three-touchdown lead with 6:33 left to play.
Delaware State closed out the scoring when Alleyne ran 42 yards for a touchdown with 5:10 remaining in the game.
The Hornets begin a two-game road swing at South Carolina State next Saturday (Oct. 22). Game time is 1:30 p.m. in Orangeburg, S.C.
DSU also visit Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 29 before returning home to face North Carolina Central on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m.
STINGERS
Alleyne’s 169 yards rushing were the most by a Hornet since Kareem Jones tallied 230 vs. Winston-Salem State in 2008.