NORFOLK, Va. | The Norfolk State University football team concludes its three-game road swing on Saturday when the Spartans visit Towson. Kickoff against the Tigers is set for 4 p.m. from Johnny Unitas Stadium.
Norfolk State (1-2) will look to get back into the win column after falling 41-9 last week to Group of Five member Temple. The Spartans fell behind 14-0 in the opening quarter and cut the deficit to 14-7 after an
Otto Kuhns 2-yard touchdown pass to
Aaron Moore with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half. However, Temple proved to be too much as the Owls held NSU to 240 total yards and 15 first downs. Freshman punter
Noah Tracey earned the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Week after averaging 38.8 yards per punt in five attempts.
Towson (1-2) picked up its first victory of the season last Saturday and extended its winning streak to six consecutive games over Morgan State. The Tigers jumped out to a 20-0 lead through three quarters but held off the Bears in the fourth for a 20-10 win. Towson racked up 352 total yards of offense and the defense forced four turnovers, including three interceptions. Robert Javier registered a pair of interceptions and was selected as an FCS National Defensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention by STATS Perform.
Saturday's game will be streamed live FloSports. Norfolk State will broadcast the game on Hot 91.1 FM (WNSB) with Ross Gordon calling all the action.
Norfolk State head coach
Dawson Odums said that through the first three games, it's been an evaluation process and that the Spartans are continuing to improve from week-to-week.
"When you look at Towson you see a very complete football team. They do a great job on defense with their three-down structure. They bring pressure, drop eight, play zone and mix it up, which will be a test for our offensive line," Odums said. "I think we will have a good game plan and have an idea of what we are facing. We will probably be challenged in the run game. It is the consistency that we're challenging our team to play with as it relates to execute and I think which every team can do that is going to have the upper hand in this game."
ABOUT THE GAME
- Norfolk State and Towson will meet for just the second time in the series
- Both teams are 1-2 through the first three games
- Towson returns home after being on the road last week
- Norfolk State ends its three-game road trip
- The Tigers will meet their second consecutive MEAC opponent after playing at Morgan State last weekend
NORFOLK STATE NEWS & NOTES
- The Spartans are coming into the game off a 41-9 loss at Temple last weekend
- Norfolk State controlled the time of possession, but could not overcome a 14-point deficit
- NSU's defense has forced eight turnovers, including four in the win over Hampton on Sept. 9
- Quarterback Otto Kuhns has tossed six touchdown passes this season and has thrown at least one TD pass in the last eight games, dating back to last season
- Defensive back Joseph White paces the defense with 19 tackles, including nine solo stops
- Punter/kicker Noah Tracey was selected the MEAC Rookie of the Week
- The Spartans were chosen to finish fifth in the MEAC predicted order of finish
TOWSON NEWS & NOTES
- The Tigers enter Saturday's game off a 20-10 victory on the road against Morgan State
- Against the Bears, Towson led 20-0 through three quarters before surrendering 10 fourth-quarter points
- The victory marked the sixth straight for the Tigers against the Bears
- Towson comes into the game averaging 16.3 points and 301.0 total yards per game
- Defensive back Robert Javier was selected an FCS National Defensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention, announced by STATS Perform
- The Tigers were selected ninth in the CAA 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 second meeting in the all-time series
- Towson won the only meeting, 31-21, in 1984
LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT'S NEXT
- Norfolk State returns home on Sept. 30 for Breast Cancer Awareness Day
- The Spartans will play host to North Carolina A&T State
- Kickoff against the Aggies is set for 2 p.m.
- North Carolina A&T State enters the game off a bye week
- The Aggies are 0-3 on the season, including a 30-16 defeat to rival North Carolina Central
- N.C. A&T lead the all-time series, 34-9
- The Spartans are 2-8 in the last 10 games against the Aggies
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.
