WASHINGTON (October 22, 2022) - Howard University football team played its best all-around game of the season to dominate the Delaware State Hornets, 35-17, in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener before an overflow homecoming crowd of 7,495 in Greene Stadium.
 
The Bison (2-5, 1-0 in the MEAC), playing at home for the first time all season, spotted the Hornets a 3-0 lead on a 51-yard first quarter field goal and then reeled off four unanswered scores en route to their dominance in all phases of the game.
 
"The key is that we did not beat ourselves," said Howard head coach Larry Scott in his postgame interview. "When we play like that for four quarters, we have a chance to be successful. What you saw today is who we are as a program."
 
The win featured an effective ground attack that amassed 272 yards and an efficient passing attack that kept the stout and highly regarded Delaware State defense off balance all game. 
 
Junior running back Jarett Hunter (Mineral Springs, Va.) tallied 100 yards on 10 carries, including a career-best 74-yard TD run and fellow classmate Kasey Hawthorne (Sebring, Fla.) chipped in with 75 yards on three carries, including a 75-yard jaunt to the house that was a career best. 
 
Freshman Eden James (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) continues to show marked improvement each week and added 35 yards on nine carries. Senior quarterback Quinton Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.), who had missed the previous game due to an injury, had an efficient day, completing 11-of-16 for 110 yards and two TDs.
 
"We were glad to have him back," noted Coach Scott. "He did a great job of showing the kind of leadership we expect from him.
 
"We went into the game knowing how important it was to get that first conference win," said Williams, who spread the ball to seven different receivers while adding 32 yards rushing on the ground and a TD. "The line blocked well and did a good job in protection, the backs did a great job and the receivers did a good job of making plays. It was a good all-around team effort."
 
Defensively, Howard had an outstanding day tackling and putting pressure on the quarterback that resulted in a season-best four sacks.
 
Sophomore safety Kenny Gallop, Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.), the reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, led the Bison charge with nine tackles (eight solos) and a tackle for a loss. The preseason first team All-MEAC selection made at least stops on third downs to force punts by the Hornets. Graduate Jevin Jackson (Lawrenceville, Ga.) also had a fine day with four tackles, including a sack, two tackles for losses and a QB hurry.
 
The special teams contributed with some excellent downfield coverage and some important punting from graduate Phillip Richards (Melbourne, Australia), who averaged 42 yards on three punts, two of which pinned Delaware State inside the 20-yard line.
 
The Bison had a chance to put the game early, up 14-3 with two chances following a turnover and a stop. But one possession ended up in a failed conversion in the red zone and the other came in a sack that put them out of field goal range.
 
"There are some things that we need to do better to close out games when we have the chance," noted Scott. "If we continue to do that and not beat ourselves, we have a chance for success."
 
The Bison travel to Norfolk, Va., Saturday (Oct. 29) to take on the Spartans of Norfolk State at 2 p.m. in Dick Price Stadium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.