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NORFOLK, Va. - Two teams looking for their first win of the season following difficult road set-backs last week meet today as Norfolk State welcomes Liberty University to Dick Price Stadium for the Spartans' home opener. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at Dick Price Stadium for Community Day.

Fans can get their day started early with the return of the Fan Zone, which offers free food sampling and entertainment at the Lee Smith Greens (adjacent to Gate 8 off Majestic Ave.) from 1-3 p.m.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 as well as on Liberty Flames Sports Networks affiliates around the country.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
NSU dropped a hard-fought defensive battle at the University of Maine last Saturday night in Orono, Maine, by a score of 10-6. The Spartans led 6-0 after the first quarter thanks to a pair of Cameron Marouf field goals, but Maine took the lead for good with a 33-yard second-quarter touchdown pass from Dan Collins to Damarr Aultman. The Black Bears added a third-quarter field goal by Sean Decloux and made that stand up. 

The Spartans had three possessions that reached Maine territory in the fourth quarter, but couldn't overcome the Black Bears. NSU managed 100 yards of total offense. Brendon Riddick led the Spartans' offense with 34 rushing yards. Marouf was 2-of-3 on field goal attempts, connecting from 46 and 38 yards out in the first quarter. The 46-yarder was a career long for the sophomore kicker. 

The Spartan defense was solid against the defending CAA champion Black Bears. NSU allowed just 187 yards of total offense, 95 rushing and 92 passing. Junior linebacker Lamar Neal had a team-high 10 tackles with fellow linebacker Deon King adding nine. Senior linebacker Lynden Trail added eight tackles, four for loss, with 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

SCOUTING THE FLAMES
Liberty went toe-to-toe with 23rd-ranked (FBS) North Carolina well into the third quarter before the Tar Heels pulled away with a late flurry en route to a 56-29 win in Chapel Hill, N.C., last Saturday. Liberty, which trailed 21-15 at halftime, took a 22-21 lead on a 27-yard fumble return touchdown by Jacob Hagen with 9:25 remaining in the third quarter. But the Tar Heels scored four unanswered touchdowns in a span of less than four minutes late in the third quarter to take control. 

The Flames gained 346 yards of total offense, 157 rushing and 189 passing. Running backs Todd Macon and D.J. Abnar combined for 31 carries for 127 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Quarterback Josh Woodrum completed 16-of-33 passes for 189 yards, but was intercepted twice. Wideout Darrin Peterson caught four passes for 96 yards. 

THE SERIES
• This will be the sixth meeting all-time between NSU and Liberty. The Flames hold a 3-2 series edge.
• NSU has won the last two meetings, a 31-24 win in Lynchburg on Sept. 8, 2012 and a 34-17 victory at Dick Price Stadium on Nov. 18, 2005.
• NSU is 1-1 vs. Liberty at Dick Price Stadium, with a loss in 1997 (17-6) and the win in 2005.

MEDIA COVERAGE
• Radio: NSU Sports Network, Star 1310 AM - Team Spartan Corporate Partners Pre-Game Show starts at 3:30 p.m.
(Play-by-Play: Ross Gordon; Color: Maguell Davis; Pre-Game: Gordon, Davis and Matt Michalec)
• TV: Liberty Flames Sports Network, ESPN3 (Play-by-Play: Mike Tilley; Color: Matt Warner)
• Audio Stream: www.star1310.com (click "Live Audio" link under Inside Athletics tab)
• Live Video: http://www.nsuspartans.com/showcase (Requires subscription)
• Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/nsu/football 
• Twitter Updates: @NSUSpartans

QUICK HITS FROM MAINE
• NSU was held to 100 yards of total offense, 67 rushing and 33 passing. It marked NSU's lowest yardage output since totaling 96 yards at South Carolina State on Oct. 9, 2010 – some 42 games ago.
• RB Aaron Daniels, TE Demetreus Ferebee, C Louis Humphrey, RT Darcell Whitaker, ILB Lamar Neal and CB Donte' Haynesworth made their fi rst career starts.
• Six true freshmen saw their first game action: WRs Bryce Hankins and Markice Street, QB Terrance Ervin, TE/FB Chris Lee, RB Terry Polk and LB Kyle Archie.
• Four redshirt freshmen saw their first career action: DB/KR Harry Freeman, LB T.C. Livingston, OL Jake Mazgajewski and TE Demetreus Ferebee.
• WR William Penn, a former walk-on and redshirt junior, also played in his first career game.
• The Spartans fell to 0-8 all-time against teams currently in the CAA.
• ILB Lamar Neal matched his career high with 10 tackles.
• OLB Lynden Trail matched his career highs with 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.