Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - The Spartan football team (2-1, 1-0 MEAC) returns to MEAC play and begins a three-game stretch on the road this Saturday with a 4 p.m. contest at Bethune-Cookman (2-0, 0-0 MEAC) in Daytona Beach, Fla.

SETTING THE STAGE
The Spartans won their second straight game last week with a 51-28 rout of Virginia State in the Spartan-Trojan Classic at Dick Price Stadium. The Spartans racked up 505 yards of total offense. Senior running back DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) had 26 carries for 167 yards and a career-high four  touchdowns, while junior quarterback Chris Walley (Tallahassee, Fla.) was 17-of-22 for 232 yards and two scores. Walley hit eight different receivers, but his favorite target was junior wideout Victor Hairston (Martinsville, Va.), who had six catches for 96 yards and a TD. Sophomore Markeith Brisco (Stephens City, Va.), Branche's backup, capped the onslaught with a career-best 14 carries for 86 yards and his fi rst career TD.

Bethune-Cookman improved to 2-0 on the season with a 42-7 win over Savannah State on Saturday
in Daytona Beach, Fla. The victory helped the Wildcats to their first start since 2005. Quarterback Matt Johnson accounted for 277 yards of total offense and four touchdowns. He ran for 110 yards and two scores and passed for 167 and two more TDs. Pat Brown and Patrick Harris each caught a TD pass from Johnson.

MEDIA COVERAGE
• Radio: NSU Sports Network, WNSB Hot 91.1 FM, WXTG 102.1 FM/1490 AM The Game (Play-by-
Play: Chris Park; Color: Ross Gordon)
• Audio Stream: Click here (click “Live Audio” link under Inside Athletics tab)

THE SERIES
• This will be the 21st meeting all-time between NSU and Bethune-Cookman. BCU holds a 13-7
edge.
• NSU has won two of the last three meetings between the teams, but both were at Dick Price Stadium
in Norfolk.
• Since moving to Division I in 1997, NSU is 3-10 against the Wildcats, including 0-6 on the road.
• Pete Adrian, offensive coordinator Kirk Mastromatteo and defensive coordinator Mark DeBastiani all
are former assistant coaches at Bethune-Cookman. The trio came to NSU when Adrian was named
Spartans' head coach in 2005.

QUICK HITS
• Senior running back DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) was named the MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week as well as the Division I FCS Running Back Performer of the Week for his performance against Virginia State. Branche had a career-high four touchdowns to go with 167 yards on the ground against Virginia State. Branche ranks eighth nationally in rushing yards per game (120.0), which is tops in the MEAC.
• The Spartans are seeking their first 2-0 MEAC start since 2007, when they began 5-0 en route to an 8-3 overall record and second-place finish in the conference.
• After facing B-CU, the Spartans enjoy their lone bye week of the season on Oct. 2. After that, the
Spartans' three-game road swing continues with MEAC contests at South Carolina State (Oct. 9) and
Hampton (Oct. 16).