Box Score DOVER, Del. — Delaware State quarterback Cory Murphy scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard sneak with 5:25 remaining, and the Hornets forced Norfolk State into five turnovers in a 14-7 homecoming victory over the Spartans on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.
Murphy's sneak capped an 18-play, 61-yard drive for the Hornets (2-4, 2-1 MEAC), who rallied from a 7-0 halftime deficit. DSU converted three third downs on the winning possession, including a 3rd-and-12 and a 3rd-and-17. The Hornets also converted two fourth-down tries on the drive on runs by Lamar Shaw. The second of those gave DSU a first down at the Spartans' 1, and Murphy plunged in on the next play with 5:25 left, capping a possession which took 8:42 off the clock.
The Spartans (2-4, 2-1) had two more possessions. On the first, a high snap on 3rd-and-17 resulted in a 29-yard loss and forced NSU to punt. NSU got the ball back one final time with 1:14 left and no timeouts remaining. Backup quarterback Nico Flores moved the Spartans from their 16 to the DSU 30 with less than a minute to play. But on 2nd-and-3, Flores was intercepted by DSU defensive back Davon Moore at the Hornets' 9 with 21 seconds left, sealing the win for the Hornets.
The Spartans played a strong first half, but led just 7-0 at the intermission. The Spartans intercepted three Murphy passes in the first two quarters. The second of those was snared by NSU linebacker Brent Singleton after a deflection by cornerback Darrin Marrow at the DSU 49. Singleton returned it 17 yards to set the Spartans up at the Hornets' 32. Rolandan Finch carried on four straight plays to get the Spartans into the DSU red zone, then Tyler Clark hit Derrick Demps on an 11-yard touchdown pass to give NSU a 7-0 advantage with 3:11 left before halftime.
After forcing a DSU punt, the Spartans were poised to add to their lead just before halftime, but Clark was intercepted by Joe Boyd at the DSU 25. Boyd returned the pick for a touchdown, but the score was nullified by a block-in-the-back penalty by a DSU player during the return. Murphy's Hail Mary pass just before the half was picked off by Marrow in the end zone, keeping NSU in the lead entering the break.
DSU finally broke through midway through the third quarter. A promising Spartan drive ended after DSU recovered a fumble by receiver Je'Ron Stokes at the DSU 44. Seven plays and 56 yards later, Nagee Jackson plowed in on a 7-yard TD run that tied the score with 7:07 left in the third quarter.
NSU had just four possessions after the tying touchdown. Two ended on punts, one was thwarted when Flores was stopped for no gain on a 4th-and-1 on the Hornets' 43, and the other resulted on Moore's interception in the closing seconds.
NSU was limited to just 184 yards of total offense, including a season-low 19 yards rushing. NSU's five turnovers were also a season-high. The Hornets managed just 237 yards against the NSU defense, but held the ball for 36 minutes, 46 seconds, including 8:42 on the go-ahead drive.
Clark was 13-of-22 for 104 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Flores went 5-of-8 for 61 yards and one pick. Finch led the way on the ground with 13 carries for 46 yards, and he also caught a team-best six passes. Tight end Joseph Hawkins caught five passes for a game-high 68 yards.
Murphy went 14-of-25 for 112 yards with no TDs and three interceptions. Dae-Hon Cheung carried 11 times for 66 yards for the Hornets, and Malik Golson made seven receptions for 56 yards.
Singleton had a season-high 11 tackles for the NSU defense, including half a tackle for loss and one interception. Deon King had nine tackles, 1.5 for loss, and a sack, while George Riddick also had a career-best nine stops. Marrow had a pair of pass deflections to go with his interception, and Collin Frazer also intercepted a pass for NSU.
Linebacker Ernest Adjei had a game-high 16 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, for DSU.
The Spartans return home for their next three games, starting with the State Farm Battle of the Bay against Hampton next Saturday at 1 p.m.
