The state’s only two NCAA Division I FCS programs announced on Friday that they have reached an agreement to meet four times between 2016-20. The four games, which will all be played at the University of Delaware’s 22,000-seat Delaware Stadium, are scheduled to take place on Sept. 3, 2016, Sept. 2, 2017, Sept. 7, 2019, and Sept. 12, 2020. After meeting six times since 2007, the Blue Hens and Hornets won’t play in 2015 and 2018. There was some question about when the series would resume after the old contract ran out following the 2014 game. “This agreement between Delaware and Delaware State to continue this football series is an exciting one,” said UD athletic director Eric Ziady. “This game is important for the state of Delaware. The fans, players, and coaches from both schools look forward to this game each year and I’m thrilled that we were able to work out the dates so that it works well for both parties. “All of us at UD look forward to working with Candy and her staff to help build excitement around the series and provide a great college football environment that all of Delaware can enjoy.” “We are excited to resume the in-state competition,” said DelState AD Candy Young. “We look forward to the fans supporting these great events.” Delaware has won all six previous meetings, including a 27-9 victory this past Sept. 7. DSU men out to keep winning A three-game winning streak has put the Delaware State men’s basketball team in position to play some big games in the next few days. Today, the Hornets (3-1 MEAC, 9-9 overall) face a 6 p.m. matchup at North Carolina A&T (2-4, 5-15). Third-place DelState hopes to use that game as a springboard into Monday’s 7 p.m. showdown at first-place North Carolina Central (6-0, 14-5). DSU’s matchup with Central, the defending conference champ, is being televised nationally on ESPNU. The Hornets have lost two in a row to the Eagles. DelState has also lost two in a row to today’s opponent, A&T. After averaging 17.7 rebounds in his last six games, senior Kendall Gray (Polytech) is now the leading Division I rebounder in the country at 12.9 per game. The Dover native leads the MEAC in six statiistical categories. Loss leaves UD women angry Apparently their tough 50-48 loss to William & Mary last Sunday isn’t one that Delaware’s women’s basketball players will quickly forget. The Hens led by 15 points at halftime of that contest and then somehow managed to score just 11 second-half points. But Delaware rebounded with a decisive 80-49 over the College of Charleston on Thursday night. “Sunday’s game (against William & Mary) was unacceptable,” said senior Joy Caracciolo. “So we just had to focus on scoring and getting shots, even if we were up as much as we were.” “It was such a hard game against William & Mary, to be up by so much and then to lose it in the second half,” said sophomore Hannah Jardine. “We really wanted to make a statement in this game that we’re not going to stay down. This shows that we have a lot of heart and we can bounce back.” “I think the William & Mary game made us so mad throughout practice all week and we knew we had to come out hungry tonight and that’s exactly what we did,” said Erika Brown. “That game was a very, very valuable lesson for us.” Delaware is just 3-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association, 8-10 overall. Up and down all season, the Hens have won three out of their last four games going into a 2 p.m. matchup at rival Drexel on Sunday. “I don’t want this roller coaster that this season has been on to continue,” said coach Tina Martin. “I want us to stabilize ourselves and play more consistently. This group has been very different, and for me, that’s been a challenge.” Notes •With DelState’s hiring of Kenneth Carter on Wednesday, there’s no shortage of major-college coaching experience in the state now. Carter and third-year Delaware head coach Dave Brock have been assistant coaches at no less than 11 different FBS Division I schools since 1999. That list includes Louisville, Florida, Vanderbilt, Penn State, Pittsburgh, LSU, Rutgers, Boston College, Kansas State, North Carolina and Temple. •Smyrna High grad Brionna Johnson, a sophomore on the Wesley College women’s basketball team, is second in the Capital Athletic Conference in scoring at 18.3 points per game. She leads the league in rebounding at an average of 13.3. •A senior guard at St. Michael’s, Dover High grad Corey Crawford is only the second player in the Vermont school’s men’s basketball history to have at least 425 rebounds, 250 assists and 100 three-pointers. He’s averaging a career-high 13.4 points per game for the Purple Knights (11-5). •Both the Wesley women (3-6 CAC, 7-8 overall) and the Wolverine men (5-4, 7-9) are trying to work themselves up from the middle of the pack in the CAC standings. Wesley hosts Southern Virginia in a doubleheader today with the women’s game at 1 p.m. and the men’s contest at 3 p.m. The women have lost four games in a row while the men have lost three of their last five. Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 741-8227 or walter@newszap.com.