Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State (8-2, 6-1 MEAC) looks to lock up its first-ever outright MEAC football championship and earn the league's automatic berth in the FCS playoffs this Saturday as the Spartans travel to Baltimore, Md., to face Morgan State (5-4, 4-2). Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Hughes Stadium.

The Bears are also still mathematically alive in the title hunt, needing to win their last two games, against NSU this week and Hampton on Nov. 19, to earn a share of the crown.

NSU earned at least a share of its fi rst-ever MEAC title last week with a resounding 45-3 win at Savannah State. Quarterback Chris Walley accounted for 343 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in the rout. Walley completed 20 of 25 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 72 yards and two more scores for NSU. His most productive target was Derrick Demps, who had registered career highs of five receptions for 106 yards and caught the first two TDs of his career. Defensively, NSU surrendered just 20 rushing yards and 25 passing yards to the Tigers. With the win, NSU rose to No. 22 in The Sports Network/Fathead.Com FCS Top 25 Poll, its highest-ever ranking.

Morgan State had its three-game winning streak snapped in a 49-23 defeat at Bethune-Cookman last Saturday in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Bears trailed just 14-10 at halftime, but were outscored 35-13 in the second half. Bethune-Cookman outgained the Bears 476-310 and rushed for 290 yards against the MSU defense. For the Bears, Travis Davidson rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown, and quarterback Seth Higgins passed for 178 yards and two scores.

MEDIA COVERAGE
• Radio: NSU Sports Network, WXTG 102.1 FM The Game, WNSB Hot 91.1 FM,
(Play-by-Play: Ross Gordon; Color: Markeece Preston)
• Audio Stream: Click here (click “Live Audio” link under Inside Athletics tab)
• Video Stream: http://www.morganstatebears.com/sports/2011/9/29/FB_0929113814.aspx
• Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/morgan/football/

THE SERIES
• This will be the 26th meeting all-time between NSU and Morgan State. The Spartans hold a 14-11 edge in the series.
• The Spartans have won four in a row against the Bears dating to a 29-20 MSU win in 2006.
• NSU holds an 11-3 series edge over the Bears since moving to Division I, its best record against any MEAC foe in that time.

QUICK HITS
• A win over Morgan State would give NSU its first outright MEAC football title and first NCAA playoff berth of any kind since the Division II era, when NSU won the last of its four CIAA titles in 1984.
• A loss against MSU would mean NSU would tie for the MEAC title and need help from other teams in the last week of the season (Nov. 19) to secure the automatic berth in the FCS playoffs.
• NSU needs one more win to surpass the 2007 team for the most overall and MEAC victories in a single season during the program's Division I era, which began in 1997.
• NSU has already clinched its third straight winning season and fourth in the last five years, both of which are firsts for the Spartans' Division I era.
• The 2011 Spartan senior class needs one more win to become the winningest Division I class in program history. Last week's win tied the 2010 class as the winningest group with 26 victories.