Box Score

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Quarterback Chris Walley accounted for 343 yards of total offense and five touchdowns, and visiting Norfolk State clinched at least a share of its first-ever MEAC football title with a 45-3 win over Savannah State on Saturday evening at T.A. Wright Stadium.

The win is the Spartans' eighth of the season and sixth in MEAC play, tying the 2007 team for the most of each in school history. NSU (8-2, 6-1) still must win at Morgan State next Saturday to clinch its first outright MEAC championship and earn the conference's automatic berth in the FCS playoffs.

NSU rolled up a season-high 559 yards of total offense while holding the Tigers (1-8, 1-5) to 45, the lowest by a Spartan opponent in the Pete Adrian era. Five of NSU's seven scoring drives lasted 70 seconds or less.

Walley completed 20 of 25 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran four times for 72 yards and two more scores. Walley's favorite target Saturday was sophomore Derrick Demps, who established new career highs with five catches for 106 yards. He also scored the first two touchdowns of his collegiate career.

NSU needed less than a minute to get on the board. The Spartans kicked off to start the game, but linebacker Chad Battles forced a fumble from SSU (1-8, 1-5 MEAC) kickoff returner Chris Strong, which safety Darrin Marrow recovered. Walley promptly hit Demps for a 31-yard TD pass to give NSU a 7-0 lead.
 
Walley called his own number on the Spartans' next scoring play. Walley faked a handoff, then darted 17 yards for his third touchdown run of the year to give NSU a 14-0 lead.

NSU was backed up on its own 13 on its next drive, but needed just two plays to score. Freshman Keith Johnson ripped off an 85-yard run on a first-down reverse. The longest run in school history set up the Spartans at the SSU 2. On the next play, Walley hit senior tight end Joseph Holbrook on a 2-yard TD pass. Holbrook's first career score put NSU ahead, 21-0.

The Spartans outgained the Tigers 233-23 in total offense in the first quarter.

Ryan Estep got into the record-breaking action in the second quarter. Estep made a 19-yard field goal, his school-record 16th of the season, to give the Spartans a 24-0 lead going into halftime.

Walley finished off a quick four-play drive to start the second half with a career-long 52-yard TD run, giving NSU a 31-0 cushion.

SSU used a 38-yard kickoff return and a 15-yard personal foul penalty on the Spartans to set up its only score of the night, a 44-yard Derek Williams field goal on the game's next possession.

But that would be the Tigers' lone bright spot, while the Spartans big-play offense kept striking. Walley and Demps capped their big nights with a 45-yard TD hookup with 3:31 left in the third quarter, pushing NSU's edge to 38-3.

Backup quarterback Nico Flores finished NSU's scoring with a 4-yard TD run with 12:13 remaining in the game. It was Flores' second touchdown run of the year.

With his 271-yard night, Walley jumped from seventh to fourth in school history in passing yards. He surpassed Willie Gillus, Dennis Brown and Kermit Buggs on Saturday.

Linebacker Corwin Hammond led the Spartan defense with eight tackles, three for lost yardage, and had one of the team's four sacks.

The Spartans travel to Baltimore, Md., for a 1 p.m. showdown with Morgan State (5-4, 4-2) next Saturday. The NSU Ticket Center has general admission tickets available for the game at the cost of $20. Tickets are on sale until Thursday, Nov. 10 between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Call (757) 823-9009 for more details.