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NORFOLK, Va. – NSU (2-6, 0-5 MEAC) plays its final road game of the 2012 season this Saturday when it faces North Carolina A&T. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. at Aggie Stadium.

The Spartans will be seeking to snap their six-game losing streak and spoil homecoming for the Aggies, who have lost three of their last four games.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
NSU dropped its sixth straight game last Saturday in a 48-3 loss at Bethune-Cookman, NSU's worst loss since a 59-0 setback at Rutgers in 2007. The Spartans gave up a season-high 435 yards of offense to B-CU, which led 34-3 at halftime. NSU's only scoring came on a 33-yard Everett Goldberg field goal just before halftime. NSU committed three turnovers in the game, one of them a fumble which B-CU returned 69 yards for a touchdown.

Through eight games, NSU is fifth in the MEAC in total offense (321.1 ypg) and, despite a rough game last week, remains first in total defense (292.1 ypg). Scoring has been an issue for the Spartans, who rank ninth in the league in points scored (16.9 ppg) after tallying just 44 in their last five games.

Receivers Xavier Boyce (third) and Derrick Demps (fifth) both rank in the conference's top five in receptions per game. Making the first start of his career, linebacker Lynden Trail had a game and career-high 12 tackles at Bethune-Cookman, including 2.5 for loss. He continues to pace the league in tackles for loss, with 12.0, and is second with 5.0 sacks.

SCOUTING THE AGGIES
North Carolina A&T has dropped three of their last four games following a 24-0 shutout loss at Delaware State last Saturday. A&T committed three turnovers and could only must 298 yards. The Aggies' defense has been solid as usual. They lead the MEAC in scoring defense (17.0 ppg allowed) and are second to NSU in total defense (295.7 ypg). N.C. A&T all-time leading rusher Mike Mayhew, who shared MEAC Offensive Player of the Year honors with NSU quarterback Chris Walley last season, comes into this week's game ranked fi fth in the MEAC in rushing (61.9 ypg, five TDs). Signal-caller Lewis Kindle is fourth in the conference in passing yards, with 162.3 ypg. Defensive back Travis Cosby is tied for the MEAC-lead with 69 tackles.

MEDIA COVERAGE
• Radio: NSU Sports Network, WXTG 102.1 FM The Game (Play-by-Play: Ross Gordon; Color: Maguell Davis; Pre-Game: Gordon, Davis and Matt Michalec)
• Audio Stream: www.nsuspartans.com (click “Live Audio” link under Inside Athletics tab)
• Twitter Updates: @NSUSpartans

THE SERIES
• This will be the 38th meeting all-time between the schools. The Aggies lead 26-11.
• NSU has won six of the past eight meetings between the two, a stretch which followed a nine-game A&T win streak over the Spartans.
• NSU has just one win all-time in Greensboro, which came in 2007.

QUICK HITS FROM BETHUNE-COOKMAN
• NSU has now dropped six straight games, its longest losing skid since losing six in a row from Oct. 7-Nov. 11, 2006.
• NSU's 45-point loss is its worst since a 59-0 defeat at Rutgers on Sept. 15, 2007. The last time NSU lost to an FCS opponent by at least 45 points came on Oct. 16, 2004, a 58-10 loss at Hampton.
• NSU's defense gave up a season-high 435 yards, including a season-high 264 rushing yards.
• The Spartans were minus-2 in turnovers, committing three and notching one takeaway. NSU now has committed 21 turnovers in its last five games.
• The following posted career highs in tackles: #LB Lynden Trail# (12), LB Terrence Pugh (11), LB Brent Singleton (eight), DL Noel Clarke (six), DL Kevin Williams (two). LB Marcell Coke (seven) and DL Cameron Jude (four) tied their career bests.
• LB Jamal Giddens did not play due to a knee injury.
• NSU was held to 75 rushing yards on 24 carries, their second straight game with less than 100 rushing yards and third this season (all versus MEAC teams).
• Pierre Narcisse saw his first career action at quarterback, completing 4-of-8 passes for 45 yards in three series of work. He was sacked three times and fumbled once.

ON YOUR TRAIL
Sophomore Florida transfer linebacker Lynden Trail has emerged as one of the top defensive players in the MEAC. Despite coming off the bench in seven of NSU's eight games this season, the 6-7, 250-pound Trail leads the team with 50 tackles through eight games (6.3 per game). Trail is first in the MEAC and tied for 10th nationally in tackles for loss (12.0), and second in the MEAC in sacks (5.0). He also leads the Spartans with five quarterback hurries and has one forced fumble, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery. Trail was a four-star recruit coming out of Miami, Fla.'s Booker T. Washington High School and was ranked the No. 7 defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com. He selected Florida over dozens of offers from top-flight schools, including Michigan, USC, Florida State, LSU, Georgia and more. Trail did not play in any games during his two seasons at UF, which included a redshirt season.

SHADDIX SHINES
Junior Dylan Shaddix was a bright spot at Bethune-Cookman, punting six times for a 44.5-yard average. It was his fourth straight game averaging at least 40 yards per punt. With the effort, Shaddix now leads the MEAC in punting average this season, at 41.0 yards per attempt. The school record for highest punting average in a season was set in 1982 by Brian Evans (41.5 avg.).