Box Score
DOVER, Del. — Chris Bell (Norfolk, Va.) scored on a 39-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds left for his second score of the quarter to help the Spartans rally from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit and secure a thrilling 21-16 win over Delaware State on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.
The win helped NSU (6-4, 5-3 MEAC) turn the tables on the Hornets (3-7, 2-5). DSU had won six straight in the series, including the last two by erasing 18-point, second-half Spartan leads in 2007 and 2008. This time it was the Spartans who staged a gutsy second-half rally. DSU led 16-0 entering the fourth quarter on the strength of three Riley Flickinger field goals and a 27-yard TD pass from Anthony Glaud to Zacharri Charles in the third quarter.
NSU struggled to find any momentum, hurt by injuries to two offensive linemen and starting quarterback Dennis Brown (Miami, Fla.) and slowed by three turnovers and 10 penalties. But Brown directed NSU on a 10-play, 79-yard drive early in the fourth quarter. Brown found Bell for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 11:48 left in the game. Brown then completed a two-point conversion pass to P.J. Hayden (Fredericksburg, Va.) to cut the Hornets’ lead in half, 16-8.
The Hornets were successful in running some time off the clock, holding the ball for 11 plays on the next drive. But the NSU defense forced a punt, and Brown again had the Spartans on the move. This time, NSU marched 80 yards in nine plays, with DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) scoring on a 1-yard run with 2:35 left in the game. But Brown’s two-point pass to Bell was incomplete, so DSU still held the advantage at 16-14.
The Spartan defense then forced a three-and-out and regained possession at their own 23-yard line with 2:13 remaining and no timeouts left. Brown completed passes of 21 and 5 yards to Hayden to get NSU near midfield, then found Branche for a 12-yard screen pass down to the DSU 39. On the next play, Brown hit Bell on a sideline route at the Hornets’ 30. Bell shook off the tackle of two Hornet defensive backs and sprinted up the left sideline into the end zone for the go-ahead score.
DSU had one last chance. Glaud moved the Hornets to the NSU 27 with less than 30 seconds left. But his pass into the end zone was intercepted by Terrell Whitehead (Virginia Beach, Va.) with nine seconds left. The senior safety’s second pick of the day sealed NSU’s first-ever victory at Alumni Stadium (1-6).
The win clinches NSU’s second winning season in the past three years. The Spartans also clinched no worse than third place in the MEAC, which would be their second-highest finish behind the 2007 team that finished second in the conference.
Brown shook off the effects of his injury to complete 22 of 38 passes for a career-high 274 yards. All but 60 of those yards came in the fourth quarter. Bell caught 10 passes for 100 yards and two scores. The junior wideout now has four 100-yard games and 12 TD receptions this season. Branche added 124 all-purpose yards (56 rushing, 68 receiving).
Whitehead led a solid defensive effort with 10 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and a pass breakup. Nose guard Josh Turner (Chesterfield, Va.) recorded a career high with 10 tackles, matching Whitehead for team-high honors. Linebacker Corwin Hammond (Louisville, Ky.) was also all over the field, making seven tackles (one for loss), forcing one fumble and recovering another.
Jaashawn Jones had 29 carries for 117 yards for the Hornets.
NSU closes the 2009 season by hosting Winston-Salem State next Saturday at Dick Price Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. The game is Military Appreciation Day as well as Senior Day for NSU.