Game Notes | Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats
NORFOLK, Va. - The Spartan football team (2-3, 0-2 MEAC) returns home Saturday looking to end a three-game losing streak as they host Delaware State (1-3, 0-1) in the 65th annual Fish Bowl Classic. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at Dick Price Stadium.
GOLD OUT
Spartan fans are encouraged to wear gold to show their Spartan spirit this Saturday. Official NSU game day gold T-shirts can be purchased at the official online store, shop.nsuspartans.com, or on campus at the NSU Barnes & Noble bookstore.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
NSU dropped its third straight game last Saturday in a 14-0 setback at South Carolina State. Both teams gained 261 yards of total offense, but SCSU scored twice in the first quarter and made the lead stand up. The Spartans committed four turnovers and their quarterbacks combined to throw three interceptions, one of which the Bulldogs ran back for a touchdown, and another which occurred in the end zone to thwart NSU's best scoring chance. NSU enters this week's contest second in the MEAC in total defense (279.0 yards per game allowed) and third in scoring defense (23.8 points per game allowed). The Spartans will be looking to improve an offense which ranks seventh in the conference in yardage (324.8 ypg) and eighth in scoring (20.2 ppg). Senior running back Takeem Hedgeman was one of the bright spots in the loss to SCSU, running 26 times for a career-high 148 yards. That was good enough to move him into ninth place in the MEAC in rushing (280 yards, 56.0 ypg). Teammate Brendon Riddick, who was limited by an injured ankle at SCSU, ranks 10th in the league in rushing with 279 yards (55.8 ypg). Defensively, the Spartans continue to lead the MEAC in sacks, with 13 through five games. Linebackers Jamal Giddens and Lynden Trail have three apiece, tied for second-best in the conference.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Like NSU, Delaware State comes into this week's game having lost three straight. DSU is now 1-3 overall, 0-1 in conference play. In their last contest, the Hornets suffered a 24-22 defeat against Florida A&M on Sept. 22. DSU had a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but a two-point conversion try failed and DSU was unable to score again. Freshman Dae-Hon Cheung led DSU with 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns against FAMU. Through four games, DSU is tied for ninth in the MEAC in scoring offense but is second in fewest points allowed (23.8 ppg). Offensively, the Hornets are led by redshirt senior quarterback Nick Elko, who has passed for 804 yards and two touchdowns this season. His two favorite targets, seniors Travis Tarpley and Justin Wilson, both rank among the conference's top four in receptions. Tarpley tops the MEAC with 7.2 catches per game (29 total), while Wilson is fourth with 5.2 per game (21 total). The Hornets' defense is led by safety Davon Moore, who is second in the conference with 10.5 tackles per game (42 total).
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; Sideline: Joe Cook)
• Live Video: www.nsuspartans.com/showcase
• Audio Stream: www.nsuspartans.com (click “Live Audio” link under Inside Athletics tab)
• Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/nsu/football/scoreboard.aspx
• Twitter Updates: @NSUSpartans
THE SERIES
• This will be the 20th meeting all-time between NSU and DSU. The Hornets lead 13-6.
• NSU has won the last three games, its longest win streak against the Hornets.
QUICK HITS FROM S.C. STATE
• NSU committed four turnovers at S.C. State, giving the Spartans nine turnovers the last two games.
• The Spartans intercepted a season-high three passes, with LB Marcell Coke and FS Darrin Marrow notching their first career picks.
• The Spartans were shut out by a MEAC opponent for the first time since Hampton did it (52-0) on Oct. 18, 2003 - 69 MEAC games ago.
• RT Jairus Spain, WR Isaac White and NG Shawn Fauntleroy Jr. started for the first time in their careers.
• NSU had a second-quarter punt blocked, the seventh time this year that an opponent has blocked a kick or punt by the Spartans.
• The Spartans had just two plays (offense or special teams) over 20 yards, their fewest of the season. NSU's previous low was three, all on returns, in the previous week at Ohio.
DEFENSE STANDS TALL ONCE MORE
Last year marked the third consecutive season in which the NSU defense ranked in the top 10 among all FCS schools in total defense. After fi nishing sixth nationally in both 2009 and 2010, the 2011 defense proved to be the best in the Pete Adrian era at NSU, ranking second in the country. This year's defense is also off to a good start, allowing just 279 yards per game so far, good for No. 4 nationally. The Spartans also rank:
• 3rd nationally in pass defense (137.4 ypg)
• 16th in tackles for loss (7.4 per game)
• 23rd in sacks (2.6 per game).
HEDGEMAN BREAKS THROUGH FOR CAREER HIGH
One of the bright spots in the 14-0 loss to South Carolina State was the running of senior tailback Takeem Hedgeman. He tallied 26 carries for 148 yards, both career highs. It was his third career 100-yard game. Hedgeman now ranks ninth in the MEAC in rushing this season with 280 yards (56.0 ypg), just one yard ahead of freshman Brendon Riddick, who has split carries with Hedgeman this year.
RIDDICK NAMED TO JERRY RICE AWARD LIST
Redshirt freshman Brendon Riddick was named this week to the initial watch list for the Jerry Rice Award, given nationally to the top freshman in the Division I FCS by The Sports Network. Riddick was the Metro Player of the Year as a quarterback at Hermitage High School in Richmond as a senior in 2010 and was recruited as a quarterback by the Spartans. He served as the scout-team quarterback last season while redshirting, but was moved by the coaches to running back this spring. More on the NSU freshman:
• Riddick is 10th in the MEAC in rushing, with 279 yards (55.8 ypg).
• His six touchdowns (fi ve rushing, one receiving) are tied for the second-most in the MEAC.
• He is sixth overall in the league in scoring, at 7.2 points per game.
• No Spartan since John Quinerly in 1996 (252 yards) had more rushing yards through the first two games of the year than Riddick did (237).
• Riddick has five rushing touchdowns, as many as the Spartan who led the squad in 2011, QB Chris Walley. Takeem Hedgeman and Randy Maynes led NSU's running backs with three apiece last year.
• Riddick ran for three scores at Liberty. No Spartan tailback has achieved that feat since all-time leading rusher DeAngelo Branche did it in consecutive weeks to close the 2010 season (11-13-10 vs. Delaware State and 11-20-10 vs. Savannah State)
• Riddick also plays special teams. He has made four tackles (three solo) so far this year.
SLOW STARTS
For the fourth straight game, NSU fell behind its opponent early last week as S.C. State jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead. The Spartans have been outscored 58-10 in the fi rst quarter this season and 85-17 in the first half. The Spartans have been much better in the second halves of games, outscoring their foes 78-27, including 39-0 in the fourth quarter.
