Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - Two teams on two-game losing streaks look to get back on the winning track this Saturday as Norfolk State hosts Bethune-Cookman in the 62nd annual Fish Bowl Classic. Kickoff is 4 p.m. at Dick Price Stadium.

The game will be televised on tape-delay at 10:30 p.m. on ESPNU and shown live on ESPN360.com.

This marks the 20th meeting between the teams. The Wildcats own a 13-6 series edge, though NSU won the last meeting played in Norfolk, 38-31, in 2007. B-CU won 33-17 last year in Daytona Beach, Fla.

NSU (1-2, 0-1 MEAC) dropped its second straight game last week in a 27-15 defeat at the hands of No. 5 William & Mary. The Spartans were outgained 312-206, but got a season-high 177 passing yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Dennis Brown (Miami, Fla.). Both P.J. Hayden (Fredericksburg, Va.) (4-84) and Chris Bell (Norfolk, Va.) (4-66) ended with season highs in catches and yards, and both also caught a touchdown pass from Brown.

Brown is averaging 195.0 yards of total offense per game. He has passed for 431 yards and four
scores in three contests. Bell has 10 receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns this season, while
Hayden has eight catches for 130 yards and two scores.

Linebacker Anthony Taylor (Virginia Beach, Va.) registered a career high 10 tackles, seven solo, and 1.5 for loss against W&M. He has a team-high four tackles for loss and ranks second on the team with 20 tackles this season. Safety Terrell Whitehead (Virginia Beach, Va.) followed with eight tackles, 0.5 for loss, and leads the squad with 21 total stops through three games. They pace a defense which has allowed just 18 points and 237.3 yards per game this year.

Bethune Cookman (0-2, 0-1 MEAC) had a bye last week following its 24-3 loss to defending MEAC champion South Carolina State on Sept. 12. The Wildcats were outgained 258-97 and were held scoreless until the last minute of the third quarter. Starting quarterback Maurice Francois was replaced by back-up Matthew Johnson, who led the team with 126 total yards. 

Through two games, sophomore quarterback Francois, who started in the season-opener against Shaw, has 105 total yards (46 passing and 59 rushing). Junior quarterback Johnson has 168 total
yards (105 passing and 63 rushing). Junior running back Brian Sumlar leads the team in rushing yards
with an average of 42.5 per game and has the team's only touchdown of the season. Bethune-Cookman
has committed 11 turnovers in the fi rst two games and is averaging just 189.5 yards per game.

Defensively, Bethune Cookman has been led by defensive back Arkee Smith and lineman Dexter
Jackson, who have recorded 18 and 17 tackles, respectively. Ryan Lewis has 2.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions this year.

Helpful Links
NSU Sports Network audio stream
NSU-BCU live statistics
Tickets and parking information