Game Notes
NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State football team (3-6 overall, 2-4 MEAC) will look to win its second straight game this Saturday when the Spartans return to Dick Price Stadium to host Morgan State (6-3, 4-1). Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
The game has been designated Community Day. The day's festivities will also include a recognition of the NSU freshman class. After the game, freshmen can participate in the My Dougie dance contest for a chance to win scholarship prize money.
NSU broke a five-game losing streak with a 49-12 rout of Howard last Saturday in Washington, D.C. The Spartans scored on offense, defense and twice on special teams in registering a season-high 49 points. Sophomore Dwight Fluker-Berry (Miami, Fla.) returned a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown and a punt 50 yards for another score. Sophomore DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.), the MEAC's third-leading rusher (741 yards, eight TDs), had 87 yards and two scores, while junior quarterback Dennis Brown (Miami, Fla.) ran for one score and threw another to senior Jamar Johnson (Norfolk, Va.). Johnson had five receptions to lead the Spartans.
The NSU defense also got into the act, intercepting three passes. Two of those were by redshirt freshman Corwin Hammond (Louisville, Ky.), who ran one of them back 62 yards for a TD in the second quarter.
Junior safety Terrell Whitehead (Virginia Beach, Va.) had the other pick, his third of the year and second in as many weeks. Whitehead is fifth in the MEAC in total tackles (6.9, 7.7 per game) and is third with 13 passes defended.
Morgan State (6-3, 4-1) remained alive in the MEAC title hunt when James Meade kicked a 39-yard field goal with 16 seconds left to give the Bears a 13-10 win at Florida A&M last week. MSU held FAMU to a season-low 137 yards of total offense.
Devan James, the MEAC's leading rusher, had 30 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown for the Bears. James has 1,077 yards and eight rushing touchdowns this season. He averages 119 yards per game. Morgan has rotated three players at quarterback, Carlton Jackson, Mario Melton and Jeremy Glover, who have combined for 1,004 yards and seven TDs passing.
Morgan, though, makes its mark on defense. The Bears led the nation in total defense, allowing just 207.9 yards per game. Morgan also leads the conference and ranks seventh nationally in scoring defense, surrendering just 16.7 points per game. Lineman Justin Lawrence is tied for the most sacks in the MEAC, with 6.5, while linebacker Jarrell Guyton has four.
Darren McKhan is tied for the conference lead with four interceptions, while teammates Chris Williams and Troy Leftwich have three apiece. The Bears have forced 27 turnovers, the most by any team.
The game can be heard live on WNSB Hot 91.1 FM. WNSB's internet audio stream is available here.
Live statistics for the game will be available here.
