Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State football team (1-0) takes a step up in class when it faces Big East co-defending champion West Virginia (1-0) this Saturday in Morgantown, W.Va. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Milan Puskar Stadium.

The Spartans got their season off on the right note with a 37-3 win over long-time intrastate rival Virginia State last Saturday in the Virginia Lottery Labor Day Classic at Dick Price Stadium. The Spartans outgained the Trojans 438-161. Quarterback Chris Walley completed 25 of 29 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 42 yards, the second-most on the team, to fi nish the day with 297 yards of total offense. Reggie Garrett had seven receptions for 74 yards and Victor Hairston had five catches for 67 yards and another score. Walley's other TD toss went to junior Virginia Tech transfer Xavier Boyce, who grabbed four passes for 30 yards.

The Spartan defense was strong throughout, allowing only a second-quarter fi eld goal set up by a long VSU kickoff return. Linebacker Corwin Hammond led the way with nine tackles - all solo efforts - and two tackles for loss.

West Virginia is also coming off a season-opening win over an intrastate rival. The Mountaineers, in their first game under new head coach Dana Holgorsen, topped Marshall 34-13 last Sunday in Morgantown. The game was delayed twice due to severe weather, and eventually was called early in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Geno Smith completed 26 of 35 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns, and return man Tavon Austin had a 100-yard kickoff return for a score in the third quarter. The WVU defense allowed just a pair of fi eld goals to the Thundering Herd, whose only touchdown came on a punt return in the first quarter. West Virginia moved up to 19th in this week's (FBS) AP Poll, and 24th in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

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)
• TV: Big East Network (MASN2 in Hampton Roads) (Play-by-Play: Rob King; Color: John Thornton)
• Audio Stream: Click here (click “Live Audio” link under Inside Athletics tab)
• Live Statistics: Click here

THE SERIES
• This will be the first-ever meeting between NSU and West Virginia.
• The Spartans have played three previous games against Division I FBS teams, losing to Rutgers of the Big East in 2007 and 2010, and to Kentucky in 2008.
• NSU is still looking for its first touchdown in a game against an FBS team. The Spartans have been outscored 128-3 in the three previous games with Rutgers and Kentucky.

THE COACHES
• Norfolk State: Pete Adrian (West Virginia '70)
?? Overall: 71-70-1 (14th season)
?? At NSU: 35-33 (7th season)
?? vs. West Virginia: 0-0
• West Virginia: Dana Holgorsen (Iowa Wesleyan '93)
?? Overall: 1-0 (1st season)
?? At West Virginia: Same
?? vs. NSU: 0-0

QUICK HITS
• NSU does not have any West Virginia natives on its roster, but head coach Pete Adrian (WVU '70) and defensive line coach Mark Thurston (WVU '03) both played at and graduated from West Virginia. Defensive coordinator Mark DeBastiani is a native of Arthurdale, W.Va., roughly half an hour from Morgantown. He was coached at Shepherd University by WVU defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel.
• This is the first of three straight road games for the Spartans. Next week, NSU opens MEAC play at
Howard in Washington, D.C., then plays its fi nal non-conference game of the season on Sept. 24 at
Charleston Southern in Charleston, S.C.