Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football championship and accompanying berth in the 16-team Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs are at stake this Saturday in Dover, Del., when the Delaware State Hornets host Norfolk State. Kick-off is noon at Alumni Stadium.

A win by the Spartans (7-2, 6-1) would secure at least a share of the school's first-ever MEAC football title and first conference football championship since 1984, when NSU won the Division II CIAA title. The Hornets (8-1, 6-0) still have one MEAC game remaining, on Nov. 17 against Howard. But even if DSU beats Howard, NSU would get the automatic playoff berth based on the head-to-head tie-breaker.

The Spartans are coming off a hard-fought 24-16 win at Morgan State last Saturday. It was the sixth MEAC game that NSU has played this year that was decided by eight points or less.

With a DSU win, the Hornets would clinch the MEAC title outright. DSU has won or shared five MEAC titles, the last being a co-championship with North Carolina A&T in 1991. Like the Spartans, DSU has never advanced to the FCS (formerly I-AA) playoffs.

The Hornets have won six games in a row since a 38-7 loss to Division I FBS squad Kent State on Sept. 15. Only one of those six victories came by more than eight points. NSU and DSU have defeated the same six MEAC schools: Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, Hampton, Morgan State, North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State.

DSU owns an 11-3 series edge over the Spartans, including four straight wins. NSU is 0-6 all-time in Dover.

Spartan fans who can't make the trip to Dover can listen to all of the action on WNSB Hot 91.1 FM. The audio stream of the game is available at www.nsuspartans.com by clicking on the Live Audio link.