November 20, 2010

Washington, DC—November 20---Delaware State spotted Howard a 9-0 lead and then reeled off 23 straight points in the second quarter to go on to a 53-43 win in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Greene Stadium.  It was the regular season finale for both teams.

The Bison (1-10 overall, 0-8 in the MEAC) came out strong, taking advantage of a Hornets turnover when Theodore Graham, IV picked off an Anthony Glaud pass and returned it 26 yards for a TD.  The ensuing PAT was missed but Howard led, 6-0 at the 10:20 mark.

The Bison got on the board again eight minutes later when they drove 55 yards on nine plays to get down to the Delaware State 16 but the Hornets held and forced a 33-yard field goal by Parker Munoz.

Delaware State (3-8 overall, 2-6 in the MEAC) got the shot in the arm it needed when Larrone Moore took the kickoff and returned it 86 yards for a TD.  The Hornets missed the PAT and trailed 9-6 with 2:40 on the clock in the first quarter.

The DSU offense fed off Moore's play and began to slowly take control of the game.  Following the first of three Bison turnovers, Delaware State made quick work and took two plays to go 44 yards with Justin Wilson and Glaud hooking up for a 34-yard TD pass to give the Hornets a 12-9 lead at the 2:40 mark.

Howard answered with a 10-play, 69-yard drive that was culminated on a 5-yard run by freshman quarterback Randy Liggins, Jr.

It was then that the Delaware State passing game began to find its rhythm with Glaud and Wilson, who combined for back-to-back TD connections of 24 and 26 yards during a three-minute span to up the margin to 26-16 at the 5:11 mark of the second quarter.

Delaware State added three more points on a Mario Diaz-Aviles 21-yard field just before the half to take a 29-16 lead at intermission.

The Hornets increased their lead to 36-16 to start the third quarter when Glaud connected with Donnell Dixon from 28 yards. 

The Bison stopped the bleeding momentarily when Casey Council raced in from 7 yards out to cut the deficit to 36-23. But Delaware State kept the pressure on when Jaashawn Jones punched it in from 3 yards out to make it, 43-23 with 8:43 on the clock in the third quarter.

Diaz-Aviles tacked on another field goal before the Bison mounted a furious comeback, scoring three TDs during a seven-minute stretch of the fourth quarter.  Charles Brice (8 carries, 50 yards) scored on a seven-yard run, Kenny Hayes (3 receptions, 55 yards) on a 27-yard TD pass from Liggins and Justin Duncan on a four-yard run to close out the scoring for Howard, which scored its most points in three years.

In defeat, Howard rolled up a season-high 448 yards of total offense.  Liggins had his best day as a collegian, passing for a career-high 240 yards and a TD.  He also rushed for another 28 yards and a TD.  Willie Carter caught four passes for 111 yards, making it the second straight week that he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in receiving.

Keith Pough, a first team All-MEAC pick, collected seven tackles, 2 sacks, 3.5 for losses and an interception. A red-shirt sophomore, Pough came into the game leading the nation in tackles for losses and ranking in the Top 2 in sacks.

Glaud completed 20 of 31 for 351 yards and four TDs.  Justin Wilson, a first team All-MEAC selection, grabbed 9 passes for 217 yards and 4 TDs.