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NORFOLK, Va. – Delaware State safety Davon Moore intercepted two passes, one leading to the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter and the other sealing the Hornets' 20-17 victory over Norfolk State in the 65th annual Fish Bowl Classic on Saturday evening at Dick Price Stadium.
The loss is the fourth in a row for the Spartans (2-4, 0-3 MEAC), while DSU (2-3, 1-1) snapped a three-game skid.
The key sequence came early in the fourth quarter. With NSU leading 17-13, sophomore quarterback Jake Basmagian appeared to connect with senior receiver Xavier Boyce for a 46-yard touchdown pass that would have put NSU ahead by 10. But Boyce was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for celebrating before he reached the end zone, which negated the touchdown. NSU retained possession, but was penalized 30 yards for a total of two unsportsmanlike calls on the play, including one on its sideline.
On the next play, Moore picked off a Basmagian pass and returned it 44 yards into NSU territory. Five plays later, DSU quarterback Nick Elko hit Justin Brewton for a 23-yard touchdown pass. Mitchell Ward's point-after made it 20-17 with 10:01 remaining.
The Spartans had two more chances to tie or take the lead. The first drive reached the Hornets' 28, but on 4th-and-1, a fourth-down run by Brendon Riddick was stopped short of the first down.
NSU forced a DSU punt on the ensuing possession and got the ball back on its 10-yard line with 2:52 remaining and no timeouts left. The Spartans drove all the way to the Hornets' 33 with less than a minute left, but Moore again picked off a Basmagian pass to seal the DSU win.
The Spartans held a 17-13 lead at halftime after the teams combined for 30 second-quarter points. NSU got on the board first on Riddick's 13-yard TD run on the second play of the second quarter, but the Hornets tied it on the next drive on Elko's 22-yard scoring strike to Justin Wilson.
Following an NSU three-and-out and a blocked punt, DSU capitalized on good field position and took the lead on Ward's 24-yard field goal with 9:13 left in the half.
But the Spartans got the ball back and needed just three plays to score. On 3rd-and-4, Basmagian eluded pressure, rolled to his right and hit senior Takeem Hedgeman behind the DSU defense. Hedgeman did the rest, outrunning the defense to complete an 86-yard touchdown play. It was Basmagian's first TD pass as a Spartan, and Hedgeman's first career TD reception.
The teams traded field goals later in the quarter, with NSU's Everett Goldberg hitting from 33 yards out and Ward connecting from 31 yards away.
NSU outgained the Hornets 455-293 in total offense. Basmagian completed 24 of 35 passes for 312 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Riddick led the rushing attack with 13 carries for 68 yards and a score, while Boyce had a team-high six catches for 66 yards.
Elko completed 15 of 30 throws for 206 yards. He had two TD passes and no interceptions.
The Spartans take to the road for their next three ballgames, starting with the Battle of the Bay at Hampton University next Saturday. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at HU's Armstrong Stadium.
