NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State football team reaped the rewards of its sixth straight win Monday when four Spartans won weekly MEAC honors.
Quarterback
Juwan Carter (Offensive Player of the Week), linebacker
Tyler Long (Defense), running back
J.J. Davis (Rookie) and center
Colby Byrd (Offensive Line) all picked up MEAC awards after helping the Spartans to the school's longest winning streak since 1984.
Carter won the award for the fourth time this season after passing for a season-high 368 yards and three touchdowns. Carter completed 26 of 40 passes, connecting with 10 different receivers in all and three different players on scoring plays. Carter finished the game eight yards shy of passing Aaron Sparrow as the Spartans' career leader in passing yards. Carter currently has 8,751 yards.
Long won a conference award for the first time in his career. He totaled nine tackles, 1.5 for loss, with one sack and one forced fumble in the victory. The Spartans allowed just 20 points in the win and forced two turnovers. The nine tackles were tied for the second-most of the year for the sophomore linebacker.
Byrd, a junior who won the award for the third time this season, continued a remarkable streak where the Spartans have won the MEAC's weekly offensive lineman award following their last seven games. Byrd graded out at 95 percent on his assignments and was credited with four knockdown blocks. He did not allow a sack or penalty while helping block for an offense which amassed 544 yards of total offense, their second-most this season.
Davis also picked up his third weekly MEAC rookie award this season after totaling 235 all-purpose yards, a career high, and scoring twice. Davis rushed 16 times for 105 yards and one score, and also caught three passes for 94 yards and another TD. His 86-yard TD reception tied the game in the second quarter. Davis also returned two kickoffs for 36 yards, and his 3-yard TD run in the third quarter put NSU ahead to stay.
The Spartans are currently 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the MEAC. Their six-game winning streak is tied for second-longest in school history and is the best since the 1984 team won eight straight. The Spartans put that streak on the line this Saturday in a 2 p.m. game at North Carolina Central.
