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THE GAME
Delaware State University "Hornets" vs. North Carolina Central University "Eagles"

THE KICKOFF
Saturday, October 28, 2017 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m. 

THE SITE
O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000 capacity / Mondoturf) - Durham, N.C.

THE RECORDS
Delaware State (1-6 overall, 1-4 MEAC); N.C. Central (5-2 overall, 3-1 MEAC)

MEDIA COVERAGE
Audio/Video: NCCU Sports Network "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (internet stream). Broadcast starts at 1:40 p.m. (Jonathan Duren, play-by-play; Joe Simmons, color analyst).

QUICK HITS
• NCCU had its 18-game conference win streak and its school record 11-game home win streak come to an end on Saturday with a 28-21 loss to Norfolk State.
• The Norfolk State setback is NCCU's first conference and home loss since Oct. 3, 2015, a 28-26 defeat against Bethune-Cookman.
• In the first six games of the season, NCCU turned the ball over just four times (two interceptions, two fumbles lost). In Saturday's loss to Norfolk State, the Eagles turned the ball over four times (three interceptions, 1 fumble).
• In NCCU's four conference games, the Eagles have been out-scored 63-34 in the first half, including 42-13 in the second quarter.
• NCCU hosts Delaware State for Homecoming 2017.
• The Eagles have a 62-19-2 record (.759 winning percentage) on homecoming since 1931.
• NCCU leads the series against Delaware State, 17-6. The Eagles have won eight of the last nine contests, including four straight.
• Delaware State is coming off a 17-14 triumph over S.C. State. The victory snapped a 17-game skid for the Hornets, who won for the first time since defeating Howard 32-31 in the 2015 season finale. DSU also ended a 12-game slide in MEAC contests.
• NCCU's defense ranks eighth in NCAA Division I-FCS and tops MEAC in third-down conversion percentage defense (28.3 percent).
• Since the start of the 2012 season, NCCU has scored 35 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including two defensive scores by Davanta Reynolds this year.
• MEAC opponents have rushed for just 63.0 yards per game against NCCU this season, while the Eagles average 165.0 rushing yards per contest in those league outings.
• In four seasons under head coach Jerry Mack, NCCU owns a 24-4 conference record, earning MEAC co-championships in 2014 and 2015, and the outright league title in 2016.

2016 NCCU HIGHLIGHTS
• Captured the conference's first outright championship since 2012, after sharing the league crown in 2014 and 2015.
• Became first football team in school history to win a third consecutive conference championship.
• Beat nationally-ranked No. 9 North Carolina A&T 42-21 on Nov. 19, 2016, to cap an undefeated conference campaign.
• Earned a trip to the second annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
• Posted the most wins in the program's Division I era with nine triumphs.
• Broke the NCCU single-season record with 4,614 yards of total offense.
• Received first national ranking as a Division I-FCS program on Nov. 7, 2016, when the FCS Coaches Poll announced NCCU at No. 25. By the end of the regular season, the Eagles jumped to No. 18, and then finished at No. 19 in the final 2016 poll.
• Placed a league-high 17 student-athletes on the All-MEAC teams.

THE SERIES
This will be the 24th meeting in the series between the Eagles and the Hornets since the teams first played in 1945. NCCU leads the series against Delaware State, 17-6. The Eagles have won eight of the last nine contests with wins in 2016, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2004, 2003, 1996 and 1979, while DSU won the 2010 meeting 29-7.

NCCU vs. Delaware State Series Results:
11/5/2016 - NCCU 38, DSU 19 (Dover, Del.)
11/7/2015 - NCCU 43, DSU 10 (Durham, N.C.)
11/3/2012 - NCCU 23, DSU 20 - 2OT (Durham, N.C.)
11/5/2011 - NCCU 14, DSU 7 (Dover, Del.)
11/6/2010 - DSU 29, NCCU 7 (Dover, Del.)
9/11/2004 - NCCU 26, DSU 23 (Dover, Del.)
9/20/2003 - NCCU 21, DSU 14 (Durham, N.C.)
9/21/1996 - NCCU 21, DSU 16 (Atlantic City, N.J.)
10/13/1979 - NCCU 31, DSU 26 (Durham, N.C.)
10/14/1978 - DSU 16, NCCU 13 (Dover, Del.)
10/15/1977 - DSU 23, NCCU 0 (Durham, N.C.)
10/16/1976 - NCCU 27, DSU 6 (Dover, Del.)
10/18/1975 - NCCU 16, DSU 14 (Durham, N.C.)
10/19/1974 - NCCU 7, DSU 0 (Dover, Del.)
10/13/1973 - NCCU 32, DSU 7 (Durham, N.C.)
10/14/1972 - DSU 14, NCCU 10 (Dover, Del.)
10/16/1971 - NCCU 34, DSU 3 (Durham, N.C.)
10/7/1950 - NCC 13, DSU 0 (Dover, Del.)
10/22/1949 - NCC 27, DSU 0 (Durham, N.C.)
9/25/1948 - NCC 14, DSU 0 (Dover, Del.)
9/27/1947 - DSU 7, NCC 0 (Durham, N.C.)
9/28/1946 - NCC 32, DSU 6 (Durham, N.C.)
9/29/1945 - DSU 13, NCC 12 (Durham, N.C.)

THE LAST MEETING
(NCCU 38, Delaware State 19 - Dover, Del. - Nov. 5, 2016) North Carolina Central University scored touchdowns in all three phases of the game to hand Delaware State University a 38-19 defeat at Alumni Stadium.

THE LAST MEETING IN DURHAM
(NCCU 43, DSU 10 - Durham, N.C. - Nov. 7, 2015) NCCU held a slim 14-10 advantage over Delaware State just prior to halftime, but then the Eagles scored 29 unanswered points to cruise to a 43-10 victory.

LAST WEEK
Norfolk State 28, NCCU 21 (Durham, N.C.): North Carolina Central University amassed 501 yards of total offense on Saturday, but the nationally-ranked Eagles committed 15 penalties for 146 lost yards and Norfolk State University forced four turnovers as the Spartans snapped NCCU's 18-game conference win streak and school-record 11-game home win streak with a 28-21 victory at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. Norfolk State (3-4, 3-1 MEAC) jumped out to a 21-0 cushion at halftime, holding the Eagles scoreless in the first half for the first time since NCCU's 2016 season-opener at Duke. NCCU rallied in the second half to pull to within seven points, but the Eagles' fourth turnover of the game with eight seconds left sealed their fate.

Delaware State 17, S.C. State 14 (Dover, Del.): Wisdom Nzidee kicked the go-ahead field goal with 10 minutes left and the defense highlighted a solid effort with two fourth quarter interceptions to lead Delaware State to a 17-14 victory over South Carolina State in a MEAC contest at Alumni Stadium. The victory snapped a 17-game skid for the Hornets, who won for the first time since defeating Howard 32-31 in the 2015 season finale. DSU also ended a 12-game slide in MEAC contests.

THE COACHES
NCCU: Jerry Mack (Arkansas State, 2003) is in his fourth season as a college head coach. Mack has led NCCU to three consecutive conference championships and a trip to the 2016 Celebration Bowl. In recognition of his success in 2016, Mack was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Football Coach of the Year, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Regional Coach of the Year, and as one of 15 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award as the FCS Coach of the Year. He was also recognized as the HBCU Football Coach of the Year by Black College Sports Page and The Pigskin Club in Washington, D.C., and the HBCU Male Coach of the Year by HBCU Digest. He boasts 12 years of coaching experience, including stints with five NCAA Division I programs and three conference championship teams. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Mack has held positions as wide receivers coach at the University of South Alabama (2012-13) and the University of Memphis (2011), as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (2010), as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at the University of Central Arkansas (2008-09), as wide receivers and tight ends coach at Jackson State University (2006-07), and as an offensive graduate assistant at Delta State University (2004-05). Mack began his collegiate playing career at Jackson State before transferring after one season (1999) to Arkansas State University.  He lettered three years at Arkansas State (2001-03) before earning his bachelor's degree in management information systems in 2003. Mack completed his master's degree in physical education from Delta State in 2006.

Delaware State: Kenny Carter was introduced as the Hornets' 19th head coach on  Jan. 21, 2015. Carter served as passing game/co-special teams coordinator/wide receivers coach at Youngstown State University during the 2014 season. From 2010 to 2014, Carter played a key role in the success of the University of Louisville program under Charlie Strong, now the head coach at the University of Texas. During the 2008-09 seasons, Carter was running backs coach under Urban Meyer at the University of Florida. Carter also served as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Vanderbilt from 2004-07. He served under the late Joe Paterno from 2001-03 as assistant receivers coach at Penn State University. During the 2000 season, Carter was running backs coach at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1999, Carter was an assistant coach (strong safeties/linebackers/nickel backs) at Louisiana State University. He began his coaching career in 1993 as an assistant at Furman (tight ends). The following year, Carter was hired as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, The Citadel, where he served until 1998. Carter was a four-year letterman as an inside linebacker for The Citadel. He was the Bulldogs' 1989 Special Teams Player-of-the-Year.

NCCU CONFERENCE WIN STREAK ENDS AT 18
NCCU's 28-21 loss to Norfolk State on Oct. 21 ended the Eagles' 18-game conference win streak, which matches Bethune-Cookman (2011-13) as the third-longest streak in MEAC history. S.C. State holds the record at 21 from 2008-10, while Hampton won 19 consecutive league games from 2004-06. The Norfolk State setback is NCCU's first conference loss since Oct. 3, 2015, a 28-26 defeat against Bethune-Cookman.

EAGLES TURN DEFENSE, SPECIAL TEAMS INTO POINTS
Since the start of the 2012 season, the Eagles have demonstrated a knack for finding the end zone when the offense is off the field. In the past 65 games, NCCU has scored 35 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including two by Davanta Reynolds this season, three in 2016, six in 2015, five in 2014, nine in 2013 and 10 in 2012. In that time, the Eagles have made trips to the end zone on 14 punt returns, six kickoff returns, three blocked field goal returns, nine interceptions and three fumble recoveries. 

NCCU IN MEAC PLAY
Since becoming eligible to compete for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship in 2011, NCCU has a conference record of 33-19. The Eagles posted league marks of 1-7 in 2011, 5-3 in 2012 and 3-5 in 2013, 6-2 in 2014, 7-1 in 2015, 8-0 in 2016, and 3-1 in 2017. In four seasons under head coach Jerry Mack, NCCU owns a 24-4 conference record.

MACK OFF TO FAST START AS NCCU HEAD COACH
Jerry Mack is the first NCCU football head coach to win 24 games in his first three seasons, passing Rod Broadway's 22 victories from 2003-05. After the Eagles went 7-5 in Mack's first season for a share of the MEAC title, and 8-3 in 2015 for consecutive MEAC co-championships, the Eagles closed out the 2016 season at 9-3 overall and 8-0 in conference play to earn the outright MEAC championship. Mack was named 2016 MEAC Coach of the Year and AFCA Regional Coach of the Year. 

TEN NCCU EAGLES VOTED TO PRESEASON ALL-MEAC TEAMS
Ten NCCU Eagles were voted to the Preseason All-MEAC Football Teams. Earning All-MEAC First Team honors for NCCU were junior running back Ramone Simpson (Wilmington, N.C.), sophomore offensive lineman Nick Leverett (Concord, N.C.), senior defensive lineman Ja'Quan Smith (Miramar, Fla.), senior defensive lineman Antonio Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.), senior linebacker Reggie Hunter (Henderson, N.C.), junior defensive back Alden McClellon (Lake Butler, Fla.) and senior punter Nathaniel Tilque (Charlotte, N.C.). Receiving All-MEAC Third Team recognition were junior running back Dorrel McClain (Cary, N.C.), junior wide receiver Jalen Wilkes (Greenville, S.C.) and junior defensive back Davanta Reynolds (Tucker, Ga.).

ABOUT NCCU FOOTBALL
North Carolina Central University is in its seventh season of full NCAA Division I (FCS) athletics competition as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Eagles have won 13 conference championships as members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1953, 1954, 1956, 1961, 1963, 1980, 2005, 2006) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (1972, 1973, 2014, 2015, 2016), and have made three appearances in the NCAA playoffs (1988, 2005, 2006). The Eagles won back-to-back football conference championships and a Black College National Championship in their final two years in the Division II ranks (2005 and 2006) before starting the transition to Division I in 2007. During its storied gridiron tradition, NCCU has produced 136 all-conference selections, 66 all-Americans, 41 NFL draft picks, 13 conference championships and two Black College National Championships (1954, 2006). Two Eagles have represented NCCU on the National Football League's grandest stage - the Super Bowl. The first NCCU Eagle to make a Super Bowl appearance was Richard Sligh, who was a reserve tackle with the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 14, 1968. Sligh, who holds the distinction as the tallest player in NFL history (7'0"), played at NCCU from 1962-64 and was later drafted by the Raiders in the 10th round of the 1967 NFL draft. On Jan. 24, 1982, former NCCU Eagle Louis Breeden was a starting cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI against the San Francisco 49ers. Earlier in the season (Nov. 8, 1981), Breeden intercepted a pass thrown by San Diego Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts and returned it a team-record 102 yards for a touchdown. The following year, he was selected as a First-Team All-Pro. He completed his 10-year NFL career with 33 interceptions for 558 return yards and two touchdowns. The first Eagle selected in the NFL Draft was Matt Boone, who was taken by the Giants with the eighth pick in the 18th round in 1956. The latest Eagle announced during the NFL Draft was Ryan Smith, who was chosen by the Buccaneers in the fourth round in 2016. NCCU's highest draft pick was Doug Wilkerson, who was selected in the first round with the 14th overall pick of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Oilers. The Eagles have also had three second-round NFL draft picks, including Robert Massey in 1989 by the Saints, Charles Smith in 1975 by the Broncos and Chuck Hinton in 1962 by the Browns. HBCU football pioneer John Brown, who represented NCCU (then North Carolina College) on the gridiron in the 1940s, was one of the first to play professional football out of a historically black college or university. Brown shares the honor with Ezzret Anderson of Kentucky State and Elmore Harris of Morgan State, who all began their professional football careers in 1947. Brown and Anderson were teammates on the Los Angeles Dons, while Harris was a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. According to NCCU records, Brown was the first of the three to sign a professional football contract. He played center and linebacker with the Dons from 1947-49, before moving to the Canadian Football League.