Delaware State beats Howard, will play for MEAC title, Celebration Bowl berth next
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No matter the outcome of its Nov. 15 football bout with Howard, Delaware State was set to play for the MEAC title a week later.
But DSU was in no mood to have its storybook season under first-year coach DeSean Jackson stained by a loss to the Bison and made sure that didn't happen at Alumni Stadium.
The Hornets took charge with two late second-quarter touchdowns and eventually prevailed 26-13 in a penalty-plagued game, staying unbeaten and building momentum for the looming challenge.
DSU (8-3) and South Carolina State (8-3) collide Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. at Alumni Stadium to decide the MEAC champ and its Celebration Bowl representative. Both are 4-0 in MEAC games.
Delaware State is bidding for its first MEAC title since 2007 and first Celebration Bowl berth while enjoying its first winning season since 2012. The Dec. 13 game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta has matched the MEAC and SWAC champs since 2015.
South Carolina State (8-3, 4-0) won 34-27 at North Carolina Central on Nov. 14 to ensure its visit to Dover would be decisive.
Marquis Gillis rushed for 92 yards on 16 carries for the Hornets. Quarterback Jayden Sauray threw for 144 yards.
Penalties were constant, as DSU had 18 for 195 yards and Howard 13 for 119 yards.
Delaware State led 17-6 at halftime despite numerous early offensive frustrations. Patrick Fisher-Butler’s 33-yard field goal inched the Hornets ahead on their fourth possession. Previous series reached the Howard 8, where DSU fumbled, and the Howard 25, before DSU was pushed back and had to punt.
Anthony Reagan Jr. then ran the kickoff back 93 yards for a touchdown for Howard (4-7, 1-3), but a penalty brought the football back to midfield. The Bison got Matt Conord’s 28-yard field goal that made it 3-3.
But the Hornets finally found the end zone on their next two series in the final 3:01 of the first half on Sauray’s 5-yard keeper and Ryan Pellum Taylor’s 3-yard TD run on a reverse. Sauray and regular starter Kaiden Bennett, who is hobbled by injuries, both saw action at quarterback for DSU.
Wayne Favors’ 89-yard interception return for a TD midway through the third quarter allowed DSU to extend its lead to 23-6. Allen Smith's interception thwarted another Bison series. It led to Fisher-Butler's 39-yard field goal with 3:11 left that made it 26-6.
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Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware State tops Howard, will play for MEAC title, Celebration Bowl
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