Delaware State at North Carolina Central football: What to know
Hornets, coach DeSean Jackson play first MEAC game of the season
Delaware State is off to a good start in changing its recent history under first-year coach DeSean Jackson.
The Hornets are 4-3, twice as many wins as they had the last two years combined.
But they have a particularly long drought they hope to end in their MEAC football opener Oct. 25.
DSU visits North Carolina Central, where the Hornets have not won since a 23-0 shutout in 1977.
The Eagles (5-2) remain an imposing foe on their homecoming day, with kickoff at 1 p.m. at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham.
How to see
Tickets may be purchased on https://nccueaglepride.com. Prices start at $30.
How to listen
The game will air on the Heritage Sports Radio Network at hsrn.com.
How to watch
The game is being streamed on ESPN+, which requires a subscription fee.
What’s the weather forecast?
Sunny with temperatures in the mid-60s.
Why is this game important for Delaware State?
Delaware State has lost 11 straight MEAC games and is determined to be a contender again.
What is an interesting fact about DSU?
Delaware State remains No. 1 nationally in FCS in rushing offense averaging 327 yards per game.
What’s an interesting fact about NCCU?
The Eagles are No. 2 in the MEAC behind DSU in scoring, total and rushing offense but are first in passing.
What’s the series record?
NCCU leads 23-7 with five straight wins.
Who is a player to watch for Delaware State?
Milford High grad Marquis Gillis is 11th nationally with 105.9 rushing yards per game and James Jones is 18th with 91.3.
Who is a player to watch for NCCU?
Walker Harris is the leading MEAC quarterback with 1,792 air yards and 12 TDs.
What does Delaware State coach DeSean Jackson say?
“I’m excited. I can’t wait to see how conference play is going to go down . . . It’s gonna be a tough battle but we’re excited for it and we’re ready for the challenge at hand. That’s the moral of this story here. It’s going to be tough play throughout the MEAC. We don’t care what guys’ records are. Everybody is 0-0. We all have a chance to go win a championship and going down to Atlanta and playing in that Celebration Bowl.”
What does NCCU coach Trei Oliver say?
“Our guys defensively know we have a huge task at hand. They’re big and physical up front and they have two really good running backs and not to mention their quarterback [Kaiden Bennett]. But Gillis and Jones, these guys are big, physical and have great speed. They have great patience, great vision, great balance. They’re the total package and we’re gonna have our hands full trying to slow these guys down. But our defense is up for the challenge.”
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.
