Box Score BALTIMORE, Md. — Tyler Clark tossed two touchdown passes, one to Lynden Trail, and Trail added two interceptions as Norfolk State earned a 27-21 victory over Morgan State on Saturday afternoon at Hughes Stadium in the MEAC opener for both teams.

Trail, a 6-7 junior linebacker, caught his first career TD pass in the second quarter and picked off two second-half passes for NSU (1-3, 1-0 MEAC), which won its seventh in a row over the Bears (0-5, 0-1) and fifth straight over MSU in Baltimore.

Morgan State used a methodical rushing attack to chew up clock and keep the Spartans off the field early in game. MSU finally broke through after getting a short field as quarterback Seth Higgins capped a six-play, 27-yard drive with a 1-yard keeper to give the Bears a 7-0 lead. MSU attempted just one pass in the opening quarter.

The Bears' defense held NSU without a first down and to minus-1 yard of offense in the first quarter, but the Spartans picked up steam just before the half. After NSU got the ball at midfield, Clark engineered an eight-play, 50-yard drive. He capped it off with a 4-yard TD pass to the 6-7 Trail with 3:37 left before halftime.

After a great defensive stand keyed by a third down tackle for loss by Deon King near the goal line, NSU began its next drive at the MSU 27. Six plays later, Ryan Lee booted his first career field goal, a 21-yarder, to give the Spartans a 10-7 lead just 18 seconds before the half.

NSU gained some breathing room in the third quarter. The Spartans drove 67 yards in nine plays for their next score, with Clark hitting Keith Johnson for a 33-yard touchdown pass on a third-down play. Johnson caught a short pass, broke a tackle and received great downfield blocking from fellow wideout Derrick Demps, who escorted Johnson into the end zone.

The Spartan defense set up NSU's next score. Darrin Marrow tipped a pass by Higgins, and Trail made a diving interception of the deflection at the Bears' 30. Cameron Marouf boosted NSU's lead to 20-7 with a 34-yard field goal, the first of his career, on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Following the field goal, Morgan's Tubotein Taylor returned the ensuing kickoff 42 yards to the Spartan 45. Higgins scored his second rushing touchdown six plays later, darting in from 8 yards out, to cut NSU's lead to 20-14 with 11:49 left.

The Spartans had the answer though, driving 79 yards in 15 plays and taking 8:41 off the clock. Brendon Riddick plowed in on a 2-yard TD run, his first of the year, to help the Spartans push their lead to 27-14.

Morgan would make it interesting as Higgins capped a quick six-play, 60-yard drive with a 12-yard TD pass to Chris Flowers with 1:58 remaining. The Spartans eventually turned the ball back over on downs to MSU at the Bears' 30, but Higgins' Hail Mary pass toward the end zone was picked off by Trail on the last play of the game.

Riddick led all players with 17 carries for 70 yards, both season highs. He also caught five passes for 24 yards. Clark completed 18-of-28 passes for 125 yards.

After yielding 99 yards in the first quarter, the NSU defense allowed just 134 yards the rest of the game. King and Marcell Coke had eight tackles apiece for the Spartan defense, and both forced a fumble. Trail had six tackles, one tackle for loss and two interceptions.

The Spartans are back at home next Saturday when they host Savannah State at 1 p.m.