Defensive Touchdown
DOVER, Del. — Delaware State made the plays when it mattered most, defeating Morgan State 24-14 on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup.
The Hornets overcame a fourth-quarter scare and used a defensive touchdown in the closing minutes to secure the 10-point victory.
After a scoreless first quarter, Delaware State opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Marqui Adams with 5:38 remaining in the first half. Morgan State answered just before halftime when quarterback Cameron Edge scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
Delaware State regained control in the third quarter. Adams connected with Kyree Benton on a 30-yard touchdown pass at the 8:03 mark, giving the Hornets a 14-7 advantage.
Kicker Maatteo Bracalenti extended the lead to 17-7 with a 25-yard field goal with 2:03 remaining in the third quarter.
Morgan State refused to go away.
With 9:06 remaining in the fourth quarter, Marquez Spells electrified the Bears with a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown. Gavin Fetty’s extra point brought Morgan State within three points at 17-14.
However, Delaware State delivered the decisive play with 2:09 remaining.
Defensive back Phillip Dunnam intercepted a Morgan State pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. Bracalenti converted the extra point, extending the Hornets’ lead to 24-14 and putting the game out of reach.
Delaware State’s Offensive Leaders
Adams completed 12 of 26 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 18 net yards and scored a touchdown.
Running back Deontae Williams led the Hornets on the ground with 89 yards on 16 carries.
Benton paced the receiving corps with three catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. Jaron Kelley added three receptions for 50 yards.
Delaware State finished with 280 total yards of offense, including 111 rushing yards and 169 passing yards.
Morgan State’s Offensive Leaders
Edge completed 19 of 31 passes for 136 yards and an interception. He also scored the Bears’ only offensive touchdown on the ground.
Keith Jenkins Jr. led Morgan State’s rushing attack with 55 yards on 15 carries.
Joseph Towler was Edge’s primary receiving target, finishing with seven receptions for 89 yards.
Morgan State managed 191 total yards of offense, including just 55 rushing yards.
Team Statistics
| MSU | DSU | |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST DOWNS | ||
| Total | 11 | 17 |
| Rushing | 3 | 7 |
| Passing | 6 | 8 |
| Penalty | 2 | 2 |
| RUSHING | ||
| Total (Net) | 55 | 111 |
| Attempts | 24 | 37 |
| Avg. Per Rush | 2.3 | 3.0 |
| Rushing TDs | 1 | 1 |
| Yds. Gained | 76 | 140 |
| Yds. Lost | 21 | 29 |
| PASSING | ||
| Total (Net) | 136 | 169 |
| Comp.-Att.-Int. | 19–31-1 | 12-27-1 |
| Avg. / Att. | 4.4 | 6.3 |
| Avg. / Comp. | 7.2 | 14.1 |
| TDs | 0 | 1 |
| TOTAL OFFENSE | ||
| Yards | 191 | 280 |
| Plays | 55 | 64 |
| Avg. / Play | 3.5 | 4.4 |
| Fumbles – Lost | 1-0 | 1-1 |
| Penalties – Yds. | 9-75 | 10–85 |
| PUNTING | ||
| Punts – Yds. | 7-248 | 7-250 |
| Avg. / Punt | 35.4 | 35.7 |
| Inside 20 | 0 | 1 |
| 50+ Yds. | 0 | 1 |
| Touchbacks | 0 | 0 |
| Fair Catch | 3 | 3 |
| KICKOFFS | ||
| Total – Yds. | 3-152 | 5–319 |
| Avg. Yds. / Kickoff | 50.7 | 63.8 |
| Touchbacks | 0 | 4 |
| RETURNS | ||
| Punt: Total – Yds. – TDs | 3–74–1 | 0-0-0 |
| Punt: Avg. / Return | 24.7 | 0 |
| Kickoff: Total – Yds. – TDs | 1-25-0 | 3–45-0 |
| Kickoff: Avg. / Return | 25.0 | 15.0 |
| INT: Total – Yds. – TDs | 1-0-0 | 1-38–1 |
| Fumble: Total – Yds. – TDs | 1–28-0 | 0-0-0 |
| MISCELLANEOUS | ||
| Misc. Yards | 0 | 0 |
| Poss. Time | 23:24 | 33:36 |
| 3rd. Down Conv. | 2 of 13 | 7 of 16 |
| 4th. Down Conversions | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Red-Zone: Scores – Chances | 0-0 | 3–3 |
| Sacks: Total – Yds. | 1-13 | 2-10 |
| PAT: Total – Made | 2-2 | 3–3 |
| 2PT Conversion: Total – Made | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Field Goals: Total – Made | 0-2 | 1-1 |
The victory improves Delaware State to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in MEAC play. The Hornets head to the nation’s capital next week to ace the Bison of Howard University. Morgan State, now losers of four straight games, falls to 5-5 overall and 0-3 in conference competition. The Bears look to end their losing skid next week when they go Norfolk State.
Delaware State’s defense ultimately made the difference, turning a close fourth-quarter contest into a two-score victory with Dunnam’s game-sealing interception return.
