2014 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL — GAME 1 DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY “HORNETS” (0-0/5-6; 5-3 MEAC in 2013) VS. MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY “HAWKS” (0-0/ 6-6 in 2013) SAT., AUG. 30, 2014 (1 P.M.) MONMOUTH STADIUM/KESSLER FIELD (4,800) - W. LONG BRANCH, N.J. DSU Media Contact: Dennis Jones; (302) 857-6068; email — [email protected] DELAWARE STATE VS. MONMOUTH 2014 DELAWARE STATE SCHEDULE/RESULTS DATE OPPONENT TIME/RESULT SERIES Aug. 30 at Monmouth 1 pm First Meeting Delaware State’s first Big South opponent since 2012 Delaware State: 0-0 (5-6 overall; 5-3 MEAC in 2013) Monmouth: 0-0 (6-6 in 2013) Sep. 6 at Delaware 6 pm UD leads 5-0 Location: Monmouth Stadium (4,800) - W. Long Branch, NJ Hornets had more passing yards and first downs in 42-21 loss to Hens in 2013 (Artificial — Field Turf) National Rankings: Neither Delaware State or Monmouth Sep. 13 TOWSON 2 pm TU leads 10-6 are ranked in any major FCS national poll. Towson won 49-7 last season in first meeting between teams since 1994 Monmouth Stadium Pressbox: 732– 571-4400 The Series: First meeting Sep. 20 at Temple# 1 pm First meeting DSU’s first FBS opponent since 2009 (at Michigan). Hornets 1-3 all-time vs. FBS Delaware State Head Coach Kermit Blount (Winston -Salem State, 80): Blount is in his fourth season as head Sep. 27 SAVANNAH STATE* 6 pm DSU leads 3-0 coach of the Hornets. He has a 14-19 overall record (11-13 2014 MEAC opener. Hornets won 2013 meeting 24-22 in Savannah, Ga. MEAC) at DSU. Now in his 21st year as a collegiate head coach, Blount has a career record of 105-106-3. Prior to ac- cepting the DSU post, he was 91-87-3 in 17 years as head Oct. 4 at Bethune-Cookman* 4 pm DSU leads 19-17 coach at Winston-Salem State University. Blount led WSSU to Wildcats have won last three meetings, including 21-7 victory at DSU in 2013 two CIAA championships and three league title game appear- ances. He was named CIAA Coach-of-the-Year in 1999 & 2000. This is his first game against Monmouth. Oct. 11 at Norfolk State* 2 pm DSU leads 15-6 Hornet defense held Spartans to 187 total yards in DSU’s 14-7 win last season Monmouth Head Coach Kevin Callahan (Rochester, ’77), the only head coach in the history of the school’s football program, is in his 22nd year with the Hawks. His 120 career Oct. 18 NO. CAROLINA A&T* (HC) 2 pm DSU leads 22-20-1 wins (120-97) ranks 13th among active FCS coaches. Aggies gained just 102 yards in 12-7 loss to Hornets in 2013 Callahan’s Monmouth teams have captured five conference titles in the past 17 seasons. Under his watch, five former Hawks have earned spots on NFL rosters, including All-Pro Oct. 25 HAMPTON* 2 pm HAM leads 25-14 wide receiver Miles Austin of the Cleveland Browns. This is Hornets rush for only 42 yards, commit four turnovers in 2013 loss to Pirates his first meeting against Delaware State. Nov. 1 at Howard* 1 pm DSU leads 36-33-1 Live Audio Streaming: Click here Mitchell Ward kicked game-winning FG as time expired in Hornets’ 2013 victory Live Video Streaming (fee required): Click here Live Stats: Click here Monmouth Media Contact: Nov. 15 FLORIDA A&M* 2 pm FAMU leads 22-9 Football Contact: Greg Viscomi Hornets trailed 21-3 before storming back to defeat Rattlers last season Office Phone: (732) 571-4447 Email: [email protected] Nov. 22 at Morgan State* 1 pm MSU leads 33-24 DSU’s Milton William had career-high 179 receiving yards in 2013 loss to Bears * - Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game HOME GAMES (AT ALUMNI STADIUM ON DSU CAMPUS) IN ALL CAPS All times Eastern and subject to change www.DSUHornets.com DELAWARE STATE 2014 SCHEDULE/RESULTS THE GAME Delaware State kicks off the 2014 season against first-time opponent Monmouth Universi- (0-0; 0-0 MEAC) ty. The Hornets return 41 letter winners, including 12 starters from their 2013 squad, which Aug. 30 at Monmouth 1 p.m. posted a 5-6 overall record, including a 5-3 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Two of DSU’s losses last season were to FCS National Champ North Dakota State and Sep. 6 at Delaware 6 p.m. national runner-up Towson. Sep. 13 TOWSON 2 p.m. Sep. 20 at Temple 1 p.m. HORNET OFFENSE Sep. 27 SAVANNAH STATE* 6 p.m. The big question facing the offense is how 2013 back-up Esayah Obado (r-so.) handles starting duties. Obado played in four games as a redshirt freshman in 2013, completing 21- Oct. 4 ar Bethune-Cookman* 4 p.m. of-40 passes (52.5%) for 168 yards. He did not have a touchdown pass and threw two Oct. 11 at Norfolk State* 2 p.m. interceptions. Obado took nearly all of the snaps during the Hornets’ 2014 spring camp. Oct. 18 NO. CAROLINA A&T* (hc) 2 p.m. Delaware State signed three quarterbacks during the off-season. Obado’s development will Oct. 25 HAMPTON* 2 p.m. be critical to DSU’s hopes of maintaining its status as one of the MEAC’s top passing teams. The Hornets led the league in passing average at 225.0 yards per in 2013. DSU Nov. 1 at Howard* 1 p.m. has a talented group of receivers this season. Delaware State’s top three pass catchers Nov. 15 FLORIDA A&M* 2 p.m. return for the 2014 season. Heading the list is wideout Milton Williams III (sr.), a 2013 All- Nov. 23 at Morgan State* 2 p.m. MEAC First Team and Heritage Sports Radio Network Black College All-America First *-MEAC game Team selection after leading the league with 58 receptions (5.3 pg) and 888 receiving yards (80.7 per game) last season. A 2014 Preseason All-MEAC First Team pick, Williams had five games with 100-or-more receiving yards and was tied for second in the MEAC MONMOUTH 2014 SCHEDULE/RESULTS with five touchdown catches during his junior season. The Hornets are hoping that a veter- an stable of running backs and added depth along the offensive line will lead to significant (0-0; 0-0 BIG SOUTH) improvement in their ground game. Delaware State was 10th out of 11 teams in the MEAC in rushing at 80.5 yards per game in 2013. DSU’s top returning rusher, Dae-Hon Cheung Aug. 30 DELAWARE STATE 1 p.m. (jr.), ran for 361 yards (4.3 ypc) and two touchdowns on 83 carries last season. Cheung rushed for 410 yards and three touchdowns as a true freshman in 2012. Cheung was se- Sep. 13 WAGNER 1 p.m. lection to the 2014 Preseason All-MEAC Third Team. In addition to more depth, the Hor- Sep. 20 at Duquesne 1 p.m. nets’ are counting on new offensive line coach Rod Milstead to help. Milstead is a former Sep. 27 at Lehigh 12:30 p.m. Delaware State All-America lineman and NFL standout. Tackles Jerron Searles, a 2014 Preseason All-MEAC Second Team selection, (r-so.) and Dimtri Hill (jr.) were regulars on Oct. 4 at Robert Morris 1 p.m. the line last season, while Ernest Mengoni (so.) is the successor to former All–MEAC cen- Oct. 11 COLUMBIA 1 p.m. ter Brandon Cunningham. Oct. 25 at Presbyterian* 2 p.m. HORNET DEFENSE Nov. 1 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN* 1 p.m. DSU’s questions on defense include remaking the linebacker corps and replacing two of its Nov. 8 at Liberty* 3:30 p.m. top four tacklers from last season. Despite the questions, the Hornet defense features four Nov. 15 Coastal Carolina* 3 p.m. of the top players at their position in the MEAC. Defensive tackle Rodney Gunter (sr.) is a Nov. 22 GARDNER-WEBB* 12 p.m. 2014 SportsNetwork FCS Preseason All-America Second Team selection after earning All- MEAC First Team honors as a junior in 2013. Gunter had 43 total tackles, including 10.5 * Big South behind the line-of-scrimmage; and was among the MEAC leaders with 4.5 sacks last sea- son. A three-year starter, Gunter has 131 tackles, including 72 solo stops, 24 tackles-for- loss and 11 sacks in his Hornet career. Defensive back Terrick Colston (jr.) was tops on the Hornets with 83 tackles (38 solo) last season. He was also credited with 4.5 tackles-for 2013 DSU/MU STATISTICAL COMPARISON -loss, one pass break-up; and was tops among all MEAC players with four fumble recover- (NCAA Rankings*) ies a year ago. Colston was an All-MEAC Second Team pick after recording 95 tackles and three interceptions as a freshman in 2012. The Hornets are also hoping former All-MEAC Category DSU (11 games) MON (12 gms) safety Davon Moore (sr.) returns to form after missing the last six games of the 2013 sea- Rushing off. 80.5 (110) 159.3 (62) son with a knee injury. Despite the lost time, Moore was fifth on the Hornets with 54 total Passing off. 225.5 (50) 207.4 (64) tackles (37 solo) last season. As a sophomore in 2012, Moore was an All-MEAC First Total off. 305.9 (107) 366.8 (65) Team selection after recording 97 tackles, four interceptions and three forced fumbles.