After 12 years since their last winning season the Delaware State football team decided to play it down to the final second for the most recent one.
Morgan State kicker Alex Amaya’s 45-yard field goal attempt sailed wide to the right and the Hornets survived a ferocious Bears challenge 14-12 to secure their first winning season since 2012.
The Hornets (7-3 overall, 3-0 MEAC) wasted little time in taking a lead as James Jones raced 68 yards to the end zone on the game’s second play for a 7-0 lead.
Amaya cashed in a 44-yard field goal to get Morgan State on the board, but the Hornets stayed ahead with a lucky bounce.
On third and goal to start the second quarter, Jones fumbled into the end zone, but center Amori Francis scooped it up for a 14-3 Hornet halftime lead.
Amaya hit an 18-yard field goal for the third quarter’s only points, but running back Randall Nauden started the fourth quarter with a 67-yard run to pull Morgan State within 14-12.
Nauden also appeared to tie the game on a two-point conversion run, but the replay booth overturned the conversion, ruling his lower torso hit the ground before he crossed the goal line.
Neither team did much offensively until Morgan’s final drive was aided by a personal foul penalty against Delaware State.
The Bears got close enough for the left-footed Amaya to try a field goal from the right hash mark. After a DSU time, the kick stayed right as time expired.
Morgan State’s defense limited the famed Hornet rushing attack to just 114 yards on the ground and 285 as a team. Jordan Johnson II and Lance Byndon came up with interceptions for the Bears as well.
Nauden led Morgan State with 104 yards rushing on seven carries, while Jones collected 115 yards on 13 carries for Delaware State.