NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State football team gets its MEAC slate underway this Saturday, facing Howard at 12 p.m. at Greene Stadium.
The Spartans (2-4) enter Saturday's matchup coming off a 24-17 road loss to Tennessee State. Norfolk State trailed 17-0 late in the second quarter against the Tigers, scoring 17 consecutive points to tie the game up, before TSU scored a game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Approaching week eight, though, Norfolk State earns a clean slate as all MEAC teams open conference play. Norfolk State head coach
Dawson Odums said the team looks at it almost as a playoff scenario, with each team vying to represent the MEAC in the Celebration Bowl.
"If you win, you give yourself a better chance, but if you come out on the losing side, you're facing a tall order," Odums said. "It's going to be decided on the field, and it should feel like a playoff. That's why we always talk about non-conference schedule vs in-conference schedule."
Howard (2-4) nearly knocked off Northwestern on Oct. 7, falling 23-20 to the Wildcats on the road. Howard defeated the Bison 48-7 last week, amassing 341 rushing yards.
The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU, and available on radio at Hot 91.1 FM (WNSB) with Ross Gordon calling the action. It will be the first time Norfolk State has played a game on ESPNU under Odums.
ABOUT THE GAME
- Norfolk State and Howard will meet for the 29th time
- Howard holds a 19-9 lead in the all-time series
- Saturday's game is Homecoming for Howard
- Norfolk State returns to action on Saturday coming off of a 24-17 loss at Tennessee State
- Howard is coming off a 48-7 loss at Harvard
- Norfolk State head coach Dawson Odums is in his third season
- Howard head coach Larry Scott is in his third year at HU
ABOUT NORFOLK STATE
- Both of NSU's victories this season have come against members of the Coastal Athletic Association
- Quarterback Otto Kuhns had his ten-game streak of recording at least one passing touchdown snapped last week, but recorded his first career two-touchdown game on the ground
- NSU quarterback Otto Kuhns was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Week
- NSU linebacker AJ Richardson was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week
- NSU center Garrison Wheatley was named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week
- NSU punter Noah Tracey was named MEAC Specialist of the Week
- The Spartans were chosen to finish fifth in the MEAC predicted order of finish
ABOUT HOWARD
- Howard comes into Saturday's game with a 2-4 record, with wins against Morehouse College and Robert Morris
- The Bison are averaging 390.7 yards of offense and 30.7 points per game
- Howard is 1-0 at home this season
- The Bison are led by quarterback Quinton Williams
LOOKING TO WHAT'S NEXT
- After facing Howard, NSU will return home to host Morgan State for homecoming on Oct. 28
- Kickoff against the Bears is set for 2 p.m.
- Morgan State is 1-4 this season, with a win at Richmond in the team's season-opener
