NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State linebacker Onyemechi Anyaugo returned a second-quarter fumble 84 yards for a touchdown, and the Spartan defense came up with a key goal-line stand late in the fourth quarter to knock off three-time defending MEAC champion and 22nd-ranked South Carolina State 17-14 on Saturday afternoon in the Fish Bowl Classic at Dick Price Stadium.

The win gives the Spartans (4-1, 2-0 MEAC) just their second-ever win over a ranked FCS team in 24 tries, their third win in 17 games against SCSU, and ends the Bulldogs' 15-game MEAC road winning streak. SCSU (2-3, 2-1) had not lost a road conference game since falling to NSU, 20-13, on Oct. 6, 2007.

The Spartans trailed 7-3 and the Bulldogs appeared ready to add to their lead just before halftime when SCSU's Courtney Ingram blocked a Troy Muenzer punt, setting the Bulldogs up at NSU's 11-yard line with 26 seconds left in the second quarter. But on first down, NSU defender Chad Battles hit running back Jalen Simmons in the backfield and forced a fumble, which Anyaugo scooped up and returned 84 yards up the sideline for a 10-7 NSU lead.

The Spartans added to their lead late in the third quarter with a three-play, 62-yard scoring drive. Quarterback Chris Walley capped the drive with 2-yard TD run to make it 17-7 with 1:40 left in the quarter. The big play on the drive was Walley's 41-yard completion to Xavier Boyce, which included a personal foul on SCSU at the end of Boyce's run.

SCSU cut the lead to 17-14 on a 3-yard TD run by quarterback Derrick Wiley with 9:40 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs' defense held on the game's next possession, forcing an NSU punt. Darius Drummond returned the punt 18 yards to the Spartan 38, and a personal foul on NSU moved the ball to the NSU 23. SCSU picked up two first downs, moving the ball all the way to the NSU 1. But three straight Wiley runs could not find the end zone. On 3rd-and-goal from the 1, he was stopped for a 1-yard loss by Anyaugo and linebacker Terrence Pugh. SCSU settled for a 20-yard Blake Erickson field goal attempt, but he missed wide left with 3:36 left in the game.

NSU then proceeded to run the clock out by picking up a pair of key first downs on completions from Walley to Victor Hairston and Reggie Garrett.

Anyaugo was named NSU's MVP after registering a career-high 13 tackles, two for loss, and the fumble return. Corwin Hammond added 10 tackles, one for a loss, and two QB pressures. Pugh and fellow linebacker Jamal Giddens combined for 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The Spartan defense notched a season-high 13 tackles for loss.

Offensively, Walley completed 21 of 31 passes for 153 yards and ran for another 39 yards and his first TD on the ground in a Spartan uniform. Boyce led all players with seven catches for 84 yards, and Takeem Hedgeman rushed for a game-high 68 yards.

Wiley had 137 yards passing and 53 rushing to earn MVP honors for the Bulldogs, who were held to 270 total yards. They managed just 123 rushing yards on 48 carries, 2.6 yards per attempt. Linebacker Donovan Richard had a team-high 13 tackles.

The Spartans hit the road for a MEAC matchup at Delaware State next Saturday at 1 p.m.