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NORFOLK, Va. — Jaashawn Jones' 1-yard touchdown run with 26 seconds left capped a furious Delaware State Rally, and the Hornets defeated Norfolk State for the sixth straight time, 34-28 on Saturday afternoon at Dick Price Stadium.
The game was eerily similar to last year's game between the teams, with DSU (4-6, 4-3 MEAC) rallying from an 18-point second-half deficit to steal a game that NSU (4-7, 3-5) appeared to have in hand.
Last season, the Hornets trailed 21-3 in the fourth quarter before winning 28-21 in overtime in a game that decided the MEAC title. This year, NSU led 28-10 at halftime only to see the Hornets score all 24 points in the final two quarters.
NSU rode a stingy defense and the play of quarterback Dennis Brown (Miami, Fla.) to a big early lead. Brown capped a 10-play, 90-yard drive with a 7-yard TD pass to Jamar Johnson (Norfolk, Va.), one of 21 Spartans playing in their final home game Saturday. The extra point by Justin Castellat (Virginia Beach, Va.) made it 7-0 with 2:06 left in the first quarter.
The Spartans forced turnovers on the next two Hornet possessions. Dwight Fluker-Berry (Miami, Fla.) intercepted a Vashon Winton pass to end one drive in NSU territory. When DSU got the ball back, linebacker Anthony Taylor (Virginia Beach, Va.) forced John Newman to fumble after a reception near midfield, and cornerback Don Carey (Norfolk, Va.) returned the fumble 49 yards for a score. It was the second defensive touchdown in as many weeks for Carey, who also had an interception Saturday.
After a failed NSU onside kick, Winton finished a 45-yard drive with a 12-yard run to cut NSU's lead in half. But the Spartans answered back with a 57-yard scoring march, which Brown punctuated with a 16-yard TD run. On the Hornets' next possession, Carey's interception set NSU up at the DSU 32. Brown then hooked up with Johnson for the second time on a 4-yard TD pass with 41 seconds left before the half to give NSU a 28-7 lead.
But DSU's Larrone Moore returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards into NSU territory, setting up Riley Flickinger's 21-yard field goal on the last play of the half.
The second half was all DSU. Winton found Darius Jackson for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 8:55 left in the third to bring the Hornets within 28-17.
DSU got within one score on the second play of the fourth quarter. Flickinger lined up for what would have been a 30-yard field goal, but holder Brandon Hudson instead ran after taking the snap and scored on an 11-yard run, and Winton's 2-point conversion run drew DSU within 28-25.
Flickinger's 32-yard field goal with 5:08 remaining tied the game. NSU got the ball back and drove near midfield, but Brown was intercepted by Francis Adjei to give the Hornets possession. Winton and Chris Strother (18 carries, 81 yards) led DSU on a time-consuming 58-yard drive, which Jones finished with a 1-yard plunge over the right side of his line.
Brown's desperation heave bounced out of the DSU end zone on the final play of the game. Brown finished with 111 yards passing and 97 yards rushing for NSU.
Winton passed for 176 yards and ran for another 30, accounting for two scores. Kareem Jones ran for another 71 yards for the Hornets.
NSU caps its 2008 season next Saturday at Winston-Salem State.
