WASHINGTON, D.C. | For the second week in a row, the Norfolk State football team lost a nailbiter on a late fourth quarter touchdown, dropping its conference opener 27-23 at Howard on Saturday.
NSU quarterback
Otto Kuhns completed 16-of-26 for a season-best 218 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Sophomore placekicker
Grandin Willcox knocked down both of his PATS and all three of his field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Xzavion Evans got the Spartans started with an 11-yard rush on the game's first play from scrimmage, but the drive stalled from there. Howard put together a strong drive after the punt, going 83 yards in 10 plays.
Quinton Williams punched the ball in from the goal line on fourth down for the score, but a botched snap on the PAT kept Howard's lead at 6-0.
Norfolk State got the chains moving on the next possession with a sideline grab from freshman Taron-Biles Walker, before
Andre Pegues broke free off a screen pass for a 46-yard gain.
The big play put NSU at the Howard 10-yard line, but the Bison held the Spartans to a field goal. Wilcox knocked in the chip shot attempt, trimming the deficit in half.
After both teams traded punts on the ensuing pair of possessions, the NSU defense came up with a crucial takeaway late in the first quarter.
R.J. Coles picked off Quinton Williams' deep pass on second down, giving the Spartans the ball back and a burst of energy.
Norfolk State provided another explosive play moments later, as
Tavian Morris found open space near the sideline for a 35-yard gain. Evans pushed the Spartans forward with several powerful rushes from there, before
Kevon King got in the end zone on a nifty run from the wildcat formation.
NSU continued to apply pressure at both ends of the field. The defense forced a three-and-out to give the ball right back to the offense, who picked up first downs on rushes by King and Kuhns.
The Spartans were eventually forced to punt, but kept possession thanks to
Terique Miles, who jumped on the football after Howard muffed the return. Norfolk State wasted no time in the redzone from there, as Kuhns found
RJ Baker for the first touchdown of the freshman wideout's career.
The score put NSU ahead by 11 points with one minute left in the second quarter. Howard strung together multiple quick completions, setting up a 30-yard field goal as time expired. The kick cut Norfolk State's lead at halftime to 17-9.
Howard kicker Aaron Bickerton made another field goal attempt from over 30 yards on Howard's first possession of the second half, chipping away at the Spartans' lead.
Biles-Walker got involved in the ground game, rushing for 21 yards on NSU's first offensive play of the second half. But the Spartans got stuck in a brief lull on the scoreboard from there, punting on back-to-back possessions.
Norfolk State's defense continued to hold strong, forcing back-to-back punts as well. Backed up on NSU's own two-yard line after the second kick, Kuhns found freshman
Elyjah Mitchell on a comeback route for a key first down.
Kuhns scrambled for another first down moments later, but the Spartans' drive eventually stalled at the Howard 33-yard line. The distance proved no problem for Willcox, draining the 50-yard field goal – his career long and one shy of the NSU record.
The kick put Norfolk State ahead 20-12, but that cushion would disappear in minutes. Williams connected with Eden James for a 45-yard touchdown, rushing in for the ensuing two-point conversion to knot the game at 20-20.
Kuhns connected with Morris on a 40-yard heave, putting the Spartans into HU territory. Willcox continued his spectacular day, knocking down a 36-yard field goal to push NSU ahead 23-20 with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
With the Bison needing a score, Williams stepped up for a 26-yard run on 3
rd and 10 that kept the next drive going. He connected with Richie Illarraza for another 26-yard gain moments later.
Facing 3
rd and 8 at the Norfolk State 15-yard line, Williams found Jarrett Hunter for what would be the game winning score with 1:17 left on the clock.
Biles-Walker gave the Spartans life with a 35-yard kick return, but a Howard sack put NSU in a race against the clock. With under twenty seconds left to play, Kenny Gallop Jr. intercepted a deep Kuhns throw to seal the victory for the Bison.
Checking The Box Score
- Howard narrowly outgained Norfolk State with 375 yards of total offense to NSU's 358
- Norfolk State recorded 20 first downs, while Howard tallied 15
- The Spartans gained 140 yards on the ground, averaging 3.0 yards per rush
- Norfolk State controlled time of possession 34:44 to Howard's 25:16
- NSU converted on 6-of-15 third downs and both of its fourth down attempts
- Otto Kuhns completed 16-of-26 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown, and one interception
- Tavian Morris recorded four catches for a team-high 87 yards
- Kevon King recorded 49 rushing yards on 12 carries for an average of 4.1
- AJ Richardson notched a team-high six tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss
News & Notes
- Saturday marked Norfolk State's first game on ESPNU under Odums' tenure
- Norfolk State dropped to 2-5 with the loss, 0-1 in the MEAC
- Freshman wide receiver RJ Baker caught the first touchdown of his collegiate career
- Linebacker Terique Miles made the first fumble recovery of his collegiate career
- Grandin Willcox's 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was his career long, and one yard shy of Norfolk State's school record
- Norfolk State produced two takeaways on Saturday. Through seven games, the NSU defense has recovered eight fumbles and recorded six interceptions
UP NEXT
Norfolk State now returns home for its annual Homecoming weekend, facing Morgan State at William "Dick" Price Stadium on Oct. 28. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
