Hornets top Howard 17-10 in DSU's first football game in two years

By Tim Mastro
Posted 2/27/21

DOVER — Delaware State’s long wait came to an end, finally, on Saturday.

The Hornet football had been sidelined since Nov. 23, 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hornets made up …

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Hornets top Howard 17-10 in DSU's first football game in two years

Posted

DOVER — Delaware State’s long wait came to an end, finally, on Saturday.

The Hornet football had been sidelined since Nov. 23, 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hornets made up for lost time, opening their five-game spring season with a 17-10 victory over Howard.

It is the first time Delaware State has won a season opener since the 2012 season, when it defeated Virginia Military Institute.
“We got a saying here that the next game up is the most important game,” said sophomore defensive back Esaias Guthrie. “So this has been the most important game for a year and a half.”

The Hornets did it with their defense on Saturday, holding Howard to 264 yards of total offense and forcing a pair of turnovers. Delaware State also recorded a safety on the game’s opening drive.

Guthrie, a Middletown High product, sealed it for Delaware State with a 41-yard interception return with 2:06 left in the contest. Charles Peeler also provided a key turnover in the fourth quarter, forcing a fumble on a Howard fourth-down attempt.

“It felt like Christmas,” Peeler said of finally being back on the field. “That feeling Christmas morning, when you know you’re getting a gift.”

While the defense delivered time and time again Saturday, Delaware State’s offense took a bit to get going.

The game resembled more of a baseball or hockey score throughout, with Howard leading 3-2 headed into the fourth quarter. Delaware State ended up with just 140 yards of total offense, but did enough to find a way to win.

“Defense is always a few steps ahead of the offense at this point, that’s in every program across the country,” said DSU coach Rod Milstead. “Our defense said, ‘Hey you know what? We got you.’”

The Hornets were forced to make a change at quarterback when starter Tylik Bethea was injured after a sack in the second quarter. Jared Lewis replaced him and wound up as Delaware State’s leading rusher with 62 yards on 19 carries.

Lewis put the Hornets on top for good when he led a seven-play, 41-yard drive, capping it off with a one-yard QB keeper for an 8-3 lead with 9:38 remaining. Lewis then found tight end Myles Beverly for the two-point conversion to stretch the lead to 10-3.

“We’re not just role players, we’re starters ready to play, like coach always says,” Lewis said. “I just came in and did what I had to do to help my team get the victory.”

Guthrie doubled the lead with his interception return, but the Bison managed to put a scare into the Hornets late.

Howard quarterback Quinton Williams found Jarrett Hunter for a 47-yard touchdown reception just a few plays later. Howard then appeared to recover an onside kick, but the referees ruled it was touched before 10 yards, leading to a few kneel downs by the Hornets to run the clock out.

“It’s good to win when you don’t play well,” Milstead said. “The defense took a major step forward but offensively we started off too slow. When we needed it, we got it done so I’m happy that way but I’m anxious to see the film so we can get better.”

Extra points

Hornet punter Jose Romo-Martinez punted 10 times for a total of 348 yards. Four of his 10 punts ended up inside the opposing 20-yard line. ... Guthrie’s interception returned for a touchdown was the first for Delaware State since J.R. Robinson did it against Chowan in 2015. ... The Hornets broke a four-game losing streak against Howard, winning for the first time since 2015. ... Bethea went 5-of-9 on his passing attempts for 29 yards before his injury. Lewis was 3-of-7 on his attempts. ... Redshirt freshman Wade Inge started at running back for the Hornets. He was Delaware State’s leading receiver with two catches for 17 yards and recorded 14 yards rushing on eight attempts. ... Linebacker Olivier Muembi led the Hornets with six total tackles. Kevin DeShields, a junior college transfer from Lackawanna, had two tackles-for-loss in his Hornet debut. ... Delaware State does not play again until a March 13 contest at South Carolina State. ... The game marked the debut of new Howard head coach Larry Scott, a longtime assistant at major programs such as Miami (Fla.), Florida, Tennessee and South Florida.

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