Game Notes
NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State (2-1) plays its final non-conference game of the season this Saturday when it faces first-time opponent Charleston Southern (0-3) of the Big South Conference. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. at Buccaneer Stadium.
The Spartans improved their record to 2-1 overall, 1-0 in the MEAC with a 23-9 win at Howard last Saturday in Washington, D.C. Chris Walley passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns, and NSU hit three field goals in the victory. The Spartan defense allowed Howard just 234 yards of offense and nine points and had two key takeaways in Spartan territory. Receivers Victor Hairston and Keith Johnson scored NSU's touchdowns, while Ryan Estep connected on field goals of 26 and 38 yards and Everett Goldberg hit a career-long 51-yarder. The Spartans defense was led by senior linebackers Corwin Hammond, who had a season-high 11 tackles, and Onyemechi Anyaugo, who had eight tackles, a tackle for loss, and an interception.
Charleston Southern will be playing its first home game of the season this Saturday after three straight contests in the Sunshine state. The Buccaneers opened the season with consecutive losses to FBS programs Central Florida (62-0) and Florida State (62-10) before dropping a nail-biter, 37-30, at FCS Jacksonville last week. Quarterback Malcolm Dixon rushed for 163 yards and a score while passing for 84 more yards and another TD. Running back Teddy Allen also surpassed the 100-yard mark, gaining 125 yards on 13 carries for the Bucs, who finished with 411 yards of total offense. In all, CSU ran for 327 yards on 55 carries, but yielded 410 yards of offense to Jacksonville.
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: Matt Michalec, Markeece Preston)
• Audio Stream: Click here (or click “Live Audio” link under Inside Athletics tab)
• Video Stream: www.csusports.com (Big South Network)
THE SERIES
• This will be the first-ever meeting between NSU and Charleston Southern.
• The Spartans are 2-4 all-time against teams from the Big South, but won their last two, beating Liberty 34-17 in 2005 and VMI 32-19 in 2006. Liberty and VMI are the only other two Big South teams NSU has faced.
• Pete Adrian is 2-0 as NSU coach vs. the Big South, with the aforementioned wins over Liberty and VMI in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
QUICK HITS
• NSU is looking for its first 3-1 start since 2007, when the Spartans were on their way to an 8-3 mark that still ranks as the school's best Division I season.
• This marks the end of a three-game road swing for the Spartans and their final non-conference game of the season.
• NSU does not have any South Carolina natives on its roster, but assistant coaches Joe Blackwell (Greenville) and Marco Butler (Ware Shoals) call the Palmetto state home.
• This will be the first of two straight games for NSU against teams from South Carolina, as South Carolina State travels to Dick Price Stadium for a MEAC tilt next Saturday, Oct. 1.
