NORFOLK, Va. | The Norfolk State University football team enters the middle portion of its three-game road trip as the Spartans visit FBS member Temple. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa.
Norfolk State (1-1) got into the win column and extended its road winning streak to two games with a 31-23 victory in the Battle of the Bay over Hampton last Saturday. The Spartans, who scored on their first offensive possession in each of the two games this season, got a late interception by
Joseph White to seal the victory. Junior quarterback
Otto Kuhns was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week, while White was tabbed the HBCU National Player of the Week.
Temple (1-1) enters the matchup off a 36-7 road loss to Rutgers last Saturday. The Owls trailed 13-7 after three quarters, but the Scarlet Knights reeled off the final 23 points to pull away for the win. Saturday's tilt against the Spartans marks the first FCS school the Owls will face since the 2022 season versus Lafayette. Temple is 21-10 all time against members from the Football Championship Subdivision.
Saturday's game will be streamed live on ESPN+ as Bill Spaulding and Barrett Brooks will have the call. Norfolk State will broadcast the game on Hot 91.1 FM (WNSB) with Ross Gordon and Woube Gebre calling all the action.
Norfolk State head coach
Dawson Odums said the team left some plays out there on the field last week against Hampton, but knows Temple is a great opponent and the Spartans are looking forward to taking this business trip to Philadelphia.
"We are facing a very good opponent, a very solid team that is very well coached," Odums said. "Offensively they are going to do what they do. They've got a very good quarterback that is getting better every week. Defensively they are good against the run and very good against the pass. They're fast, they're athletic and it will be a challenge for us.
"This is exciting for our football team and a great opportunity to take our brand to Philadelphia. We've played down a level and now we are going to play up, in the FBS level. So, this will give us a really good gage of what kind of football team we have. Hopefully we are going to go up there and play well and that is what the challenge is, to continue to get better each and every day."
ABOUT THE GAME
- Norfolk State and Temple will meet for the first time
- Both teams enter the matchup at 1-1
- Temple returns home after being on the road last weekend
- Norfolk State continues its three-game road swing
- The Spartans, in the first three games of the season, have faced a member from NCAA Division II, FCS and now FBS
NORFOLK STATE NEWS & NOTES
- The Spartans are coming off a 31-23 victory over Hampton
- Norfolk State was one of three MEAC teams to pick up a win last weekend
- The Spartans controlled the clock in the win, holding the ball for nearly 35 minutes
- NSU's defense surrendered more than 400 yards, but forced four turnovers, including a pair of interceptions
- Quarterback Otto Kuhns tossed touchdown passes of 41, 38, and 9 yards in the win
- Kuhns was named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Week
- Defensive Back Joseph White had five tackles, including three solo stops, with one interception and one pass breakup
- White earned the HBCU National Player of the Week by BOXTOROW
- Saturday's game against Temple marks the first of two trips the Spartans will play inside NFL stadiums
- After being unranked in the HBCU BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls, Norfolk State is now receiving votes
- The Spartans were chosen to finish fifth in the MEAC predicted order of finish
TEMPLE NEWS & NOTES
- The Owls opened the season with a win over Akron, but fell 36-7 on the road last Saturday to Rutgers
- Temple trailed 13-7 entering the final quarter where Rutgers pulled away scoring 23 straight points
- Temple is led on offense by quarterback E.J. Warner
- Warner is the son of former NFL legendary quarterback Kurt Warner
- E.J. Warner, who was the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year has thrown for 522 yards, with three touchdowns and pair of touchdowns
- Defensively, safety Tywan Francis had a game-high 11 tackles against the Scarlet Knights
- Yvandy Rigby has a team-high 19 tackles and Francis is right behind at 16 stops
- The Owls were chosen to finish 10th in the AAC predicted order of finish
THREE KEYS TO THE GAME
- Norfolk State must protect the quarterback
- NSU needs to win the turnover battle
- The Spartans must avoid committing a ton of penalties
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
- This will be the first meeting in the series
LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT'S NEXT
- Norfolk State wraps up its three-game road swing on Sept. 23 at Towson
- Towson has opened the season 0-2 and will play back-to-back HBCU opponents
- The Tigers visit Morgan State this Saturday, before facing Norfolk State
- NSU and Towson have met just once, a 31-21 loss in 1984
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.
