Fri Sep 5 02:07:22 2008

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Winton's four TDs lift DSU to OT win

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Dover, DE (Sports Network) - The performance of Delaware State senior quarterback Vashon Winton at times on Thursday night might have been enough to frustrate the average signal-caller.

Winton misfired on more passes than he completed in the first half and threw two costly interceptions as an upstart Florida A&M squad pushed the Hornets to overtime.

But Winton persevered to help Delaware State (1-0) to a 35-28 victory by rushing for four touchdowns and throwing another. His final score, a six-yard bootleg run gave the Hornets the lead in overtime and free safety Jerome Strums' second interception of the night on FAMU's first offensive play of the extra session ended a wild MEAC opener.

"I just try to find a way to win, by any means necessary," said Winton, who is trying to lead the Hornets to their second straight MEAC championship. "We just go out and play."

DSU coach Al Lavan wasn't surprised by the way Winton held things together.

"That's been Vashon's history since he's been here," said Lavan. "He knows how to manage an offense, he is a winner."

Winton also had plenty of help from tailback Chris Strother, playing in place of injured starter Kareem Jones (sprained foot). Strother had 32 carries for 144 yards.

It didn't look like there would be much need for heroics when the Hornets jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter against a youthful Rattler squad (1-1).

Winton gave DSU a 7-0 lead with a bootleg from the one at the six-minute mark and then hit Eddie Brown on a crossing route for 16 yards and another touchdown. The second score was set up when Stanley Banks forced a fumble by FAMU's LeRoy Vann that was recovered by B.J. Conley at the Rattler 19.

Winton's third touchdown from four yards out gave the Hornets a 21-7 advantage, but FAMU tied the game on a pair of Kevin Elliott TD catches from 10 and 34 yards, respectively.

Elliott's second TD with two minutes left in the third period came on a flea flicker from Kentucky transfer Curtis Pulley (3-of-6 for 57 yards passing and 7-87 rushing).

"We all did a good job of settling down after they jumped on us 14-0," Pulley said. "We kept battling and almost won."

The teams traded fourth quarter scores, with Winton getting into the end zone again on the read option from four yards out, and Vann electrifying the Rattler bench with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that made it 28- all with 8:07 remaining.

Winton and the offense got the Hornets into position for a 47-yard field goal attempt on the final play of regulation with a 10-play drive in the last 4:23, but Riley Flickinger's effort fell just short of the crossbar.

In overtime, it took Delaware State only three plays to hit the end zone as Winton completed passes to Zacharri Charles and Derrick McNeil and then darted in on another bootleg to make it 35-28.

It took just one play for the Hornet defense to end the game. With defensive end Akiel Russell pressuring Pulley on a bootleg pass, the FAMU quarterback appeared to be trying to throw the ball away. But Strums made a diving interception near the 15 to clinch the win for DSU.

"Our expectations are very high," said Lavan. "We just encourage our guys to play as hard as they can, as long as they can."

Florida A&M also came out of the game with some positives.

"It was a gallant effort, taking the defending (MEAC) champions to overtime," said Joe Taylor, who has moved to FAMU after 16 years at Hampton. "I'm so proud of them going on the road, before a TV audience and playing like this. I saw enough tonight to know we're going to be all right."