ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The Norfolk State football team remained neck-and-neck with No. 23 South Carolina State throughout the first half on Saturday but couldn't keep up with the Bulldogs in a 53-21 loss at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
 
Kevon King came just two yards short of his career high on the ground, rushing for 144 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Terique Miles led the Spartan defense with 10 tackles, including 1.5 sacks.
 
South Carolina State (9-2, 5-0 MEAC) quarterback Ryan Stubblefield completed 18-of-25 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns, adding two scores with his feet as well. Norfolk State finished the 2024 campaign with a 4-8 record, 2-3 in conference play.
 
The Spartans got off to a dream start after kicking off, getting the ball back within moments. Sage Beuchert-Irvine stepped in front of a screen pass for his first career interception, returning it near the SCSU goal line.
 
Norfolk State punched it in on a quarterback sneak from Daniels shortly after, giving the Spartans an early 7-0 advantage.
 
A big kick return put South Carolina State in Norfolk State territory, but the Spartan defense held strong, forcing the Bulldogs to settle for a field goal. Norfolk State went three-and-out on its next possession, giving the ball back to the home team.
 
South Carolina State marched down the field behind its ground game, fueled by a 37-yard rush from KZ Adams. Stubblefield found Tyler Smith for a three-yard touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 10-7 lead.
 
Norfolk State kept the momentous first quarter going with a strong drive in response, starting with a first down pass by Daniels to Elyjah Mitchell. After several medium-length rushes, King broke free down the sideline for a 29-yard score to put the Spartans back in front, 14-10.
 
Both defenses locked back in for the second quarter, reducing the movement from each offense. After several empty possessions, South Carolina State got back on the scoreboard after completing a deep pass just moments earlier, logging a three-yard touchdown rush with under two minutes remaining on the clock.
 
The play helped send South Carolina State to halftime with a 17-14 lead.
 
Norfolk State converted on third down on its first possession of the second half but stalled from there to give the ball back to SCSU. Miles swarmed the quarterback for a huge sack, but Stubblefield found Deyandre Ruffin for a 23-yard first down on the next play to put the Bulldogs in the redzone. Stubblefiend connected with Einaj Carter for a 10-yard touchdown pass moments later.
 
NSU punted on the following possession, which South Carolina State blocked for a two-point safety. The Spartans got the ball back soon after, though, as Dawson Rivers recovered a Jaylen Williams strip sack.
 
The play gave Norfolk State possession in opposing territory, but the swing only lasted one play. South Carolina State made an incredible play at the one-yard line to intercept Daniels, performing a tip drill in coverage.
 
South Carolina State marched down the field for another back-breaking drive, recording several big-chunk plays on Norfolk State's side of the field. Adams scampered into the end zone for another touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 33-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Adams found the pylon once again to start the final period, but the Spartans didn't stop fighting from there. King muscled his way down the middle for a huge gain, a 46-yard rush into the red zone. Fonnae Webb caught a pass for his first touchdown in a Spartan uniform a couple of plays later, trimming the gap to 39-21.
 
 South Carolina State answered with a productive drive to put the result out of question. Adams recorded his third touchdown of the day.
 
The Bulldogs recorded their final score of a dominant regular season campaign with just over one minute remaining on the clock, as Stubblefield dodged tacklers for a 36-yard touchdown rush.
 
Checking The Box Score

• Norfolk State running back Kevon King logged 144 rushing yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns
• South Carolina State quarterback Ryan Stubblefield completed 18-of-25 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns, adding two scores with his feet as well
• SCSU running back KZ Adams posted 128 rushing yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns
• Terique Miles paced the Spartans defensively with 10 tackles, including 1.5 sacks
• AJ Richardson added eight tackles including one tackle for loss
• South Carolina State outgained Norfolk State 510-261

 
News & Notes

• Norfolk State finished the season with a 4-8 record, 2-3 in the MEAC
• NSU ended the year with one more victory than the 2023 season, continuing the team's upward trend the past two years
• South Carolina State improved to 9-2, 5-0 in the MEAC with the win
• As the outright MEAC Champion, South Carolina State will play in the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 14
• SCSU now leads the all-time series 22-5
• Norfolk State racked up 211 rushing yards, the most by any team against South Carolina State this year
• Norfolk State recovered one fumble and intercepted one pass on Saturday. Across 12 games, the NSU defense recovered 10 fumbles and recorded 13 interceptions

 
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