DSU’s defense swarms Hampton’s Shakim Alonzo during the first quarter at Alumni Stadium in Dover on Saturday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)
DOVER — Kenny Carter can see the future.
He would like some victories in the present too, though.
Over the last several weeks, freshmen have delivered big contributions to the Delaware State University football team. Even with the younger players emerging, the Hornets are still searching for their first win of the season.
DSU’s Logan Wescott pursues Hampton’s Twarn Mixon during the first quarter.
Last week it was freshman wide receiver Fatu Sua-Godinet who showed was he is capable of. Sua-Godinet caught his first career touchdown pass along with five receptions for 84 yards and je was named MEAC Freshman of the Week on Monday.
Delaware State was Sua-Godinet’s only scholarship offer. He wasn’t highly recruited out of Kamehameha High on the east side of the island of Hawaii.
“Not a lot of people from our level recruit that area and there’s a lot of really good players over there,” Coach Carter said.
And Sua-Godinet isn’t the only Hawaiian contributing. His high school teammate Cade Pedro, another freshman, is Delaware State’s starting left guard.
Carter said he was tipped off about the pair from a former DelState football player who travels to that area a lot for business.
“We have some really good alumni that care very deeply about what we do,” Carter said. “We need that because we obviously are very low-budget. We don’t have the full allotment of scholarships as other teams in our league. We play with a short deck, heck our offices are in a dorm. So when you have those things, any extra resources people will give you, you take it.”
Hornets’ head coach Kenny Carter talks with a defensive back.
Sua-Godinet had never heard of Delaware State until Carter called with a scholarship offer.
“I was in shock but it was all joy,” Sua-Godinet said..
Mike Waters, another freshman, also scored in last weekend’s game. Waters now has rushing touchdowns in the last two games. In the MEAC opener, Waters rushed for 96 yards.
Then there’s Mason Rutherford, who has junior eligibility but is in his first year at Delaware State. Rutherford leads the Hornets with 217 receiving yards, despite missing a game with a concussion.
Add in all those first-year players with Brycen Alleyne, a sophomore who led DelState in touchdowns as a freshman last year, and the Hornets are confident in their young offensive core.
“We’ve got talent everywhere,” said junior quarterback Dan Epperson. “That’s why Fatu is here, he’s out here to make plays. I’ve got all this talent around me, we just got to put it together so we can get a W.”
Delaware State’s next chance at that first victory is Saturday at home against MEAC foe Florida A&M. The Rattlers carry a 1-2 conference record into the conference and are 1-5 on the season.
The Hornets are already behind the pack in the MEAC at 0-2 in conference and 0-5 overall.
“Every week we’re getting better and guys are starting to step up more,” Sua-Godinet said. “But we’re still not where we want to be yet.”