NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State football team returns home this weekend for its final nonconference test of the 2024 campaign: a showdown against Towson on Breast Cancer Awareness Day at William "Dick" Price Stadium.
Slated for Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m., the battle will mark a rematch of a gridiron battle in which Norfolk State came out on top of last year. The Spartans defeated Towson 21-14 on the road in 2023 behind a dominant ground game.
NSU mustered 350 rushing yards in the last matchup between the teams, its most against a Division I opponent since 2016.
Kevon King led the way with 97 yards, while
Otto Kuhns and
X'Zavion Evans added 70 and 56 yards, respectively.
The Spartans enter Saturday's game coming off a 10-3 loss at Sacred Heart. Despite the loss, Norfolk State's fight after facing an early deficit and losing its starting quarterback gave head coach
Dawson Odums encouragement.
"You saw us get down 10-0, and I thought from that point on it became a really good football game on which team was going to force its will on the other," Odums said. "It's really what each game is all about, giving yourself a chance to win."
Norfolk State will celebrate and recognize the school's 1984 CIAA championship-winning football team at halftime of the game. For those unable to get to Dick Price Stadium, the game will air live on ESPN+ and WNSB 91.1 FM.
ABOUT THE GAME
- Saturday's matchup marks the third meeting between the two schools and marks breast cancer awarness day at William "Dick" Price Stadium
- NSU won last seaasons meeting 21-14 at TU
- Both teams are seeking their third win of the season
- Norfolk State head coach Dawson Odums is in his fourth season
- Towson head coach Pete Shinnick is in second season
ABOUT NORFOLK STATE
- Norfolk State fell to 2-5 last week, following a 10-3 loss to Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Conn
- Sage Beuchert-Irvine recorded a career-high nine tackles on Saturday, including a tackle for loss, as well as a pass breakup
- X'Zavion Evans led the Spartans with 166 rushing yards on 22 carries last Saturday
- The Spartans are second in the MEAC with seven interceptions, which is tied for 11th in FCS
- NSU has intercepted three passes in a single game twice this season (at ECU 8/31, at VMI 9/21)
- Norfolk State leads the MEAC in rushing offense with 267 att. 1,143 yards and seven touchdowns
- Defensively, AJ Richardson leads MEAC with 52 total tackles, including 15 solo tackles
- Graduate wideout Jacquez Jones is tied for first in the MEAC and stands 36th in FCS in receiving touchdowns (3). Jones also ranks third in the MEAC in receiving yards (356)
ABOUT TOWSON
- Towson is 2-3 on the season, following a 34-27 win over No.12 William & Mary
- The Tigers have played three ranked FCS opponents in their first five games
- Towson ranks fifth in the CAA in total offense, producing 386.8 yards per game
- The Tigers rank fourth in FCS in fumbles recovered (7)
- Redshirt Freshman Rion Roseborough ranks second in FCS in blocked kicks (2)
