Courtesy of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
t’s homecoming for Delaware State and Morgan State as the Hornets host the Saint Francis Red Flash and the Bears host the Lincoln (Pa.) Lions during week six of MEAC football. Norfolk State, South Carolina State and North Carolina Central all hit the road in non-conference action.
Here is a glimpse at this week’s contests.
Saint Francis Red Flash (1-3, 0-0 NEC) at Delaware State Hornets (1-4, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, October 5 | Alumni Stadium | Dover, DE | 1:00 PM
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Delaware State enters the week on a three-game losing streak following a close loss to Campbell University 44-41 in Buies Creek, NC. DSU averages a conference leading 351.6 yards of total offense with 167.4 yards coming from the run game. Running back Jaden Sutton leads the MEAC with 98.6 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Marqui Adams is second in the MEAC in total offense with 225.0 yards per game. Saint Francis enters Saturday’s game following a bye week, The Red Flash dropped their last two games to Central Connecticut State (27-20) and Eastern Michigan (36-0). SFU ranks last in the NEC in scoring offense averaging 13.3 points. Saint Francis’ defense holds its opponents to 24.5 points and 275.0 total yards per game with a run defense (89.3 yards) that tops the NEC. Saint Francis leads the series 2-1 after defeating Delaware State 35-21 in 2019.
Norfolk State Spartans (2-4, 0-1 MEAC) at Sacred Heart Pioneers (2-2 Independent)
Saturday, October 5 | Campus Field | Fairfield, CT | 1:00 PM
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Norfolk State enters Saturday’s contest following a loss to North Carolina Central 37-10. NSU will compete in their third consecutive road game and seventh game of the season having played in Week 0. The Spartans are second in the MEAC in rushing defense (147.0 yds.), however, is last in scoring offense (17.2), total offense (281.8), rushing offense (143.3) and passing defense (239.7). WR Jacquez Jones sits second in the MEAC in receiving with an average of 59.3 yards on 12.7 catches. Linebacker AJ Richardson also ranks second in MEAC in tackles with 45 (avg. 7.5). Sacred Heart enters Saturday’s game on a two-game losing skid following a 49-0 loss at Delaware. SHU’s lone win of the season came in a 40-14 decision against Georgetown. The Pioneers are averaging 17.20 points heading into the matchup. Sacred Heart leads the series 1-0 after defeating Norfolk State 31-14 in 2022.
Lincoln (PA) Lions (0-3, 0-2 CIAA) at Morgan State Bears (2-2, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, October 5 | Hughes Stadium | Baltimore, MD | 1:00 PM
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Morgan State enters the game following a 22-3 loss to Stony Brook. Saturday’s game is the Bears first homecoming in two years and the second game of the season against a non-division I opponent. MSU leads the MEAC in scoring defense halting opponents to just 18.4 points per game. The Bears boast the league’s best passing defense (151.6) and rushing offense (168.8). Elijah Williams ranks second in the MEAC in tackles for loss with 5.5 for 50 yards lost and five sacks on the season. Lincoln is still searching for their first win of the season entering Saturday’s contest on a four-game losing streak. MSU is the Lions first Division I opponent this season. Lincoln ranks 10th in the CIAA in scoring offense (10.3) and is last in the conference in scoring defense (33.8). Morgan State leads the series 20-3 dating back to 1930. The Bears won the last meeting 20-0 on Nov. 5, 1953.
South Carolina State Bulldogs (2-2, 0-0 MEAC) at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (2-2, 2-0 OVC/Big South)
Saturday, October 5 | Tucker Stadium | Cookeville, TN | 1:30 PM
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
South Carolina State enters the game following a 45-25 victory over North Carolina A&T State. The Bulldogs rank second in the MEAC in scoring offense and defense, registering 25.0 points per game while holding opponents to 27.3 points. S.C. State leads the MEAC in total offensive yards (386.5), rushing defense (120.0) and passing offense (227.3). QB Eric Phoenix leads the MEAC in passing yards per game (224.8), while WR Caden High sits at the top of the MEAC in receiving yards per game (82.8). Tennessee Tech enters Saturday’s game on a two-game winning streak with victories over Tennessee State and Gardner-Webb. Their two losses came against Middle Tennessee (32-25) and No. 1 Georgia (48-3). Tennessee Tech has the third highest scoring offense in the Big South/OVC with 26.0 points per game. DL, Theron Gaines, was named Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week following his performance against Gardner-Webb which resulted in a 52-21 victory. The Golden Eagles lead the conference in rushing offense with 186.0 rushing ypg and the defense holds opponents to 96.8 ypg, second best in the Big South/OVC. The two teams have met just once before with Tennessee Tech winning 21-7 in Orangeburg, SC last season.
North Carolina Central (3-2, 1-0 MEAC) at Campbell Fighting Camels (2-3, 0-2 CAA)
Saturday, October 5 | Barker-Lane Stadium | Buies Creek, N.C. | 4:00 PM
TV: FloSports | Live Stats
North Carolina Central enters the game against Campbell on a two-game win streak following a 37-10 victory over Norfolk State. Walker Harris received back-to-back MEAC Offensive Player of the Week honors and ranks second in the MEAC in passing with 181.0 yards per game. RB J’Mari Taylor is the league’s leading scorer at 9.6 points per game, ranking second in the MEAC in rushing yards. Taylor averages 90.2 yards, 5.1 yards per carry, with a league-high seven rushing TDs. Campbell snapped a two-game losing streak last weekend against Delaware State, 44-41. Campbell is heading into their third straight home game entering the matchup against N.C. Central. The Fighting Camels run defense ranks 14th in the CAA and is last in the league in penalties per game (95.8 yds.). Campbell ranks fifth in pass offense (244.8 ypg) and pass defense (192.6 ypg) in the CAA. The series is tied (1-1) with the NCCU defeating the Campbell last year in a thrilling one-point overtime win, 49-48.
