Box Score Photo Gallery

NORFOLK, Va. — Cameron Marouf kicked the go-ahead 33-yard field goal with 1:10 left, and the Spartans deflected Savannah State kicker John Barron's 49-yard field goal attempt with 2 seconds left to hold on for a 26-24 win over the Tigers on Saturday afternoon at Dick Price Stadium.

Barron's field goal was tipped at the line by NSU linebacker Lynden Trail and fell harmlessly into the end zone as the Spartans improved to 2-3 overall, 2-0 in the MEAC. The Tigers dropped to 1-5 overall, 0-2 in the MEAC.

Trail had another monster game, finishing with 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack and two pass breakups. For the second straight week, he made a substantial impact in other areas of the game, catching a touchdown pass for the second game in a row in addition to his blocked field goal at the end.

The Spartans got all they wanted from Savannah State. After a scoreless first quarter, the Tigers struck first on a 26-yard field goal by Barron with 12:46 left in the second quarter. On their next drive, Antonio Bostick capped a four-play, 48-yard drive with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Moore. SSU went for a two-point conversion and failed, keeping the score at 9-0.

SSU began both of its first-half scoring drives in NSU territory after the Spartan offense was backed up deep in its own end and had to punt.

But just like last week, the Spartans picked up steam before the intermission. Marouf connected on a 32-yard field goal to finish off a 10-play, 58-yard drive with 3:56 left in the half. NSU's defense forced a turnover on downs on the game's next possession, and NSU drove 68 yards in 15 plays for the go-ahead points. Tyler Clark capped it with a 3-yard TD pass on a fade pattern to the 6-7 Trail with 1 second left in the half. Marouf's extra point sent NSU into the half leading, 10-9.

NSU kept the momentum going into the second half, taking the third-quarter kickoff and marching right down the field. Clark completed two passes to DeAndre Sangster on the drive, the second one on a screen pass which Sangster turned into a 38-yard gain down to the Tigers' 2-yard line. Clark bulled in on the next play, and the PAT made it 17-9.

SSU bounced back behind the play of Bostick. A would-be interception deflected off the hands of NSU defensive back Collin Frazer into the hands of receiver Cantrell Frazier for a 39-yard pass play. Four plays later, Bostick threw a 7-yard TD pass to Edward Lackey. The Tigers went for two and the tie, but Bostick's pass failed.

The Spartan defense came up with a big play to set up the next score. NSU defensive lineman Kevin Williams deflected a pass from Bostick, and free safety Troi Hughes intercepted it, setting the Spartans up at the SSU 12. On the next play, Rolandan Finch scored on a 12-yard run, his first TD as a Spartan, with 14:38 left in the game. But Marouf was wide on the extra point, keeping the Tigers within one score, at 23-15.

Barron kicked a 30-yard field goal with 7:51 to play to cut NSU's lead to 23-18. The Tigers forced NSU to punt, then needed just two plays to retake the lead. Bostick hit DeQuan Daniels for a 57-yard gain, then found Kris Drummond for a 14-yard TD pass with 5:02 left to take a 24-23 lead. SSU again went for two, and again failed.

This time, the NSU offense had the answer. Clark completed a clutch 28-yard pass to Sangster on 3rd-and-6 to move NSU into SSU territory. Finch and Brendon Riddick each logged a pair of carries to move the Spartans to the SSU 16. Marouf was true on his 33-yard attempt with 1:10 left.

Bostick and the Tigers tried to rally one more time. Daniels returned the ensuing kickoff to the SSU 38, and a late hit out of bounds on the Spartans moved the ball into NSU territory. Bostick scrambled twice for 19 yards down to the Spartan 27. But Deon King sacked Bostick to send the Tigers backward, and NSU prevented SSU from getting another first down. Barron came on for the would-be winning kick, and after the Spartans called two timeouts to "ice" Barron, his kick deflected off the outstretched hand of Trail, preserving the win for NSU.

The Spartans finished with a season-high 367 yards of offense. Finch posted season highs of 23 rushes for 134 yards for NSU, his second 100-yard rushing game of the year. Clark completed 16-of-28 passes for a season-high 163 yards, while Sangster registered career bests with six receptions for 93 yards.

Bostick was a one-man show for the Tigers, passing for 337 yards and three TDs. Four Tigers caught at least four passes, led by Drummond with five for 72 yards. Bostick did throw two interceptions and SSU also lost two fumbles, while NSU commit any turnovers.

The Spartan defense got notable contributions from a number of players. Aside from Trail, inside linebacker Marcell Coke had a career-high 12 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and half a sack. King had eight tackles and a career-high three sacks. He also notched two quarterback hurries.

Hughes made seven tackles, intercepted a pass and forced a fumble. Keenan Lambert also forced and recovered a fumble to negate what appeared to be a Tiger touchdown in the first quarter. Donte' Haynesworth also forced and recovered a fumble.

Marquis Smith had 16 tackles and Justin Dixon 15 for the Tigers.

The Spartans are back on the road next week as they face Delaware State. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. next Saturday at Alumni Stadium in Dover, Del.