Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State (1-1) and Howard (1-1) open their respective 2011 MEAC schedules this Saturday when they face off in the nation's capital. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Greene Stadium.

The Spartans are coming off a 55-12 loss at No. 19 (FBS) ranked West Virginia last Saturday. The Spartans actually led the high-powered Mountaineers 12-10 at halftime, but were outscored 45-0 in the second half to drop to 0-4 all-time against FBS teams. NSU did get four field goals - three from MEAC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week Ryan Estep, one from Everett Goldberg - and outgained WVU by 99 yards in the first half. Xavier Boyce caught eight passes for 100 yards, while quarterback Chris Walley completed 16 of 27 passes for 136 yards. Defensively, the Spartans were led by Corwin Hammond's nine tackles and Onyemechi Anyaugo's eight.

Howard notched its first win of the year and first under new head coach Gary Harrell with a come-from-behind 30-27 win over Division II Morehouse in the Nation's Football Classic last Saturday in Washington, D.C. Freshman quarterback Greg McGhee passed for 248 yards and three touchdowns, two to Willie Carter, to help the Bison rally from defi cits of 14-9 at the half and 20-17 after three quarters. Carter had seven catches for 87 yards and Brandon Drayton had six receptions for 72 yards.

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

THE SERIES
• This will be the 23rd meeting all-time between the Spartans and Howard. The Bison have a 15-7 series edge.
• NSU has won the last three meetings by a combined score of 100-27, though last year's contest was a 10-9 defensive slugfest won by the Spartans.
• NSU's three-game win streak in the series is its longest against the Bison.
 • Last year's one-point game was just the second game between the teams to be decided by three points or less.

QUICK HITS
• This marks the second straight season that NSU and Howard will play at Greene Stadium. Normally, the MEAC schedule flip-flops home and road games each year, but with new conference members Savannah State and North Carolina Central joining conference play this season, the rotation changed.
• NSU has four Washington, D.C. natives on its roster: TE Joseph Holbrook, DL De'Ante Williams, DL Traes Ceasar and OL Ramsey Henderson. The first three are likely to travel, with Holbrook and Williams currently listed on the two-deep at their respective positions. Northern Virginia-area natives likely to see action include OL Blake Matthews (Manassas), OL Cameron Williams (Burke), WR Kelvin Lewis (Woodbridge) and DL Justin Myler (Woodbridge)
• This is the second of three straight road games for the Spartans. The road swing started last week in a 55-12 loss at West Virginia. Next week, the Spartans play their final non-conference game of the season at Big South member Charleston Southern in Charleston, S.C.