Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - For the third time in their history, the Spartan football team will travel to Piscataway, N.J., to face Division I FBS opponent Rutgers. Kickoff is at noon on Saturday at High Point Solutions Stadium. The game will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network.

Fans can click here to find CBS Sports Network in their area.

Both teams are coming off opening-week losses and are seeking their first win of the young 2013 campaign.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
The Spartans opened the season with a 23-6 setback at the hands of Maine last Saturday in Norfolk, Va. NSU was limited to 224 yards of total offense, 80 rushing and 144 passing. Trailing 13-6 at the half, the Spartans gave up an 85-yard TD pass midway through the third quarter that helped give the Black Bears some breathing room in the teams' first-ever matchup. NSU's lone touchdown came on a 34-yard pass play from Malik Stokes to tight end Joseph Hawkins in the second quarter.

Rolandan Finch led NSU with 17 carries for 80 yards. He also had 24 receiving yards in his Spartan debut. Stokes and starting quarterback Tyler Clark combined to complete 13 of 37 passes for 144 yards. Both players were making also making their debut. Defensively, the Spartans were led by junior linebacker Marcell Coke, who was in on 11 tackles, while cornerback Marcus Center had nine. Deon King tallied three tackles for loss, including a sack.

SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
Rutgers dropped its season-opener last Thursday night at Fresno State, 52-51, in a wild shootout in Fresno, Calif. The game was tied 45-all after regulation. Fresno State scored on its first possession of overtime, adding the extra point for a 52-45 lead. Rutgers answered with a short Gary Nova-to-Brandon Coleman TD pass, but the Scarlet Knights gambled and came up short on a two-point conversion try, losing by a point.

Nova passed for 348 yards and five scores, three going to Leonte Carroo and two to Coleman. Paul James added 182 rushing yards as the Scarlet Knights rolled up 543 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs, though, weren't far behind, amassing 537, including 456 from the arm of Derek Carr.

Rutgers has 43 letterwinners and 14 starters back from last year's 9-4 team that lost to Virginia Tech in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

THE SERIES
• Rutgers holds a 2-0 all-time series lead over NSU with prior victories coming in 2007 (59-0) and 2010 (31-0), both in New Jersey.
• The Spartans are 0-5 all-time against FBS teams, with all five games coming in the last six seasons.
• Rutgers is 9-0 all-time against MEAC teams and has won nine in a row over Division I FCS teams.

MEDIA COVERAGE
• Radio: NSU Sports Network, 1490 AM The Game/WNSB Hot 91.1 FM
(Play-by-Play: Ross Gordon; Color: Maguell Davis; Pre-Game: Gordon, Davis and Matt Michalec)
• TV: Live on CBS Sports Network (Play-by-Play: Jason Knapp; Color: Christian Fauria)
• Live Statistics: www.scarletknights.com
• Audio Stream: www.nsuspartans.com (click "Live Audio" link under Inside Athletics tab)
• Twitter Updates: @NSUSpartans

THE COACHES
• Norfolk State: Pete Adrian (West Virginia '70)
Overall: 83-81-1 (16th season)
At NSU: 47-44 (9th season)?
vs. Rutgers: 0-2
• Rutgers: Kyle Flood (Iona '93)
Overall and at Rutgers: 0-1 (1st season)
vs. NSU: 0-0

QUICK HITS FROM MAINE
More news and notes from the game with Maine last Saturday:
• The Spartans suffered their first loss in a season-opener since 2010, when they fell on the road at this week's opponent, Rutgers, by a 31-0 score.
• ILB Marcell Coke had a career-high 11 tackles. OLB Deon King tied his career highs with five tackles and three tackles for loss.
• NSU wide receivers made just four of the Spartans' 13 catches, as both Je'Ron Stokes and Keith Johnson made two grabs. Tight end Joseph Hawkins and running back Rolandan Finch led the way with three each. NSU's backs and tight ends accounted for nine catches.
• The following players made their first career start: DL Noel Clarke Jr., ILB Mike Privott, TE James Lynch, OLB Deon King
• The following transfers made their first start at NSU: RB Rolandan Finch, WR Je'Ron Stokes, QB Tyler Clark
• The following made their first career start at a new position: LT Justin Myler, CB Darrin Marrow, FS
Troi Hughes, C Mike Phillips
• Seven true freshmen saw time: DB Donte' Haynesworth, Leroy Parker and Brandon Walker; RB Marquis Brown, P Dalton Fraser, K Cameron Marouf, WR James Church
• Fraser was busy in his debut, punting 12 times. He was also tackled on another mishandled punt, which would have given him 13 attempts.