Box Score
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Host South Carolina State scored twice in the first quarter and the Bulldogs' defense made it stand up, coming away with a 14-0 shutout victory over Norfolk State on Saturday afternoon at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
The Spartans, who lost their third straight contest, fell to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the MEAC with the loss. The Bulldogs, who broke a three-game skid, improved to 2-3, 1-1.
SCSU wasted no time in getting on the board, marching 75 yards in six plays after receiving the opening kickoff. The drive was capped by Julius Pendergrass' 4-yard TD run, which came one play after Richard Cue's 46-yard pass completion to Lennel Elmore.
The Bulldogs' defense made it 14-0 later in the quarter. Cortney Ingram deflected a Jake Basmagian pass, and SCSU defensive back Kimario McFadden returned the interception 34 yards for another touchdown with 2:27 left in the quarter.
That would be all the scoring in what turned into a grind-it-out defensive game that included a massive rainstorm that affected play in the second and third quarters. The Spartans committed four turnovers which hurt their cause, and didn't pass midfield until the fourth quarter.
Despite their offensive struggles, NSU still had a chance to make it interesting in the fourth quarter. Basmagian and running back Takeem Hedgeman helped moved the Spartans into SCSU territory for the first time with an 11-play, 83-yard drive. Basmagian completed his first three passes on the drive, and after a 4-yard gain by Hedgeman, the Spartans had first-and-goal at the SCSU 4.
But the drive stalled, and Basmagian was picked off in the end zone, again by McFadden, to end NSU's best scoring chance. The Spartans got just one more possession, in the final minute of the game, but couldn't find the end zone.
The Spartans were last shutout by Rutgers, 31-0, in the 2010 season-opener. The last time a MEAC team shut the Spartans out was 69 conference games ago when Hampton won 52-0 at Dick Price Stadium on Oct. 18, 2003.
Both teams gained 261 yards of offense. NSU was led by Hedgeman, who rushed 26 times for a career-high 148 yards. Defensively, Lynden Trail led NSU with six tackles. Safeties Darrin Marrow and Keenan Lambert and linebacker Marcell Coke all had interceptions.
The Spartans look to end their losing streak next Saturday, when they return home for a 4 p.m. matchup with Delaware State in the 65th annual Fish Bowl Classic at Dick Price Stadium.
