DOVER, Del. (November 15, 2025) -- The Howard University football team defense went toe-to-toe with one of the top offensive teams in the country, but a lack of offense and a big play on a Pick Six proved to be the difference as the Bison fell, 26-13, to Delaware State University (DSU) in an MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) game at Alumni Stadium.
 
The Hornets (7-3, 4-0 MEAC) came into the game ranking No. 1 in rushing offense with almost 290 yards per game and averaging 34 points per game, but the Howard defense proved to be more than a challenge, holding the Hornets in check.
 
The two teams battled and neither would budge as Delaware State was able to finally get on the board first with a 34-yard field goal with 10:55 on the clock 3-0.
 
Howard (4-7, 1-3 MEAC), which has had problems scoring of late, was able to capitalize on a short drive to tie the game, 3-3, on a Matt Conord (Lithia, Fla.) field goal from 29 yards with 4:19 before the half.
 
Meanwhile, the game's flow, or lack thereof, was interrupted by an inordinate number of penalties on both teams. Potential scoring drives and big plays were continuously called back, impacting the game. For the game, 31 penalties were called between the teams for a whopping 304 yards.
 
Delaware State finally got the game's first TD on a nine-play, 68-yard drive that was capped off by a 5-yard TD run with 3:01 on the clock. The opportunistic Hornets quickly struck again two minutes later following a Howard fumble. Jayden Sauray bolted into the end zone from five yards out to give DSU a 17-3 advantage with a little over a minute before intermission.
 
The Bison, feeling the game slipping away, were able to move quickly down the field and aided by a couple of Delaware State penalties, Conord connected on his second field goal, this time from 32 yards at the gun to cut the deficit, 17-6.
 
Then came what would be the play of the game. With Howard driving deep into the Hornets' territory, Howard graduate quarterback Tyriq Starks (Carol City, Fla.) attempted an out pattern that was picked off by Delaware State defensive back Wayne Favors, who returned it 91 yards to make the score 23-6 in the third period.
 
From there, the two teams battled back-and-forth, but penalties prevented any more scoring until the fourth period when Patrick Butler-Fisher nailed another field goal for insurance from 39 yards.
 
The Bison would close out the scoring with Starks finding graduate wideout Andre Cooper II (Orlando, Fla.), behind the Hornets defense for a 60-yard hookup, the longest of the season for the Bison.
 
Starks completed a season-high 22 for 39 for 252 yards. Freshman wide receiver Antonio Hunter (Cincinnati) grabbed a career and team season-high eight catches for 81 yards. Cooper caught a season-high four catches for 117 yards and a TD.  Sophomore running back/kick return specialist Anthony Reagan Jr. (Woodbury, N.J.) caught a career-high six passes and returned three kickoffs for 71 yards in a losing effort.
 
The defense got fine performances from Noah Miles (6 total tackles & 0.5 sacks), Cam Dyson (7 total tackles) and CJ Wesley (5 total tackles & a sack).
 
Freshman punter Liam Allen IV (Lake Mary, Fla.) continues to show why he is becoming one of the premier punters in the MEAC. He averaged 42 yards per punt with a long of 50 yards.
 
NEXT UP
 
Howard will look to end a three-game skid when it hosts Norfolk State Saturday (Nov. 22) at Audi Field. It will be Senior Daye and the game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. 
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.