GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Norfolk State football team hits the road this weekend for the second time in consecutive weeks, battling FBS opponent East Carolina at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Saturday's kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST.
Streamed live on ESPN+, Reginald Walker and Joe Tardy will provide commentary. The game will also air on WNSB 91.1 FM, with
Ross Gordon on the call.
Norfolk State opened the 2024 campaign on national television, facing Florida A&M in Atlanta's MEAC/SWAC Challenge on ABC. The Spartans nearly upset the defending Celebration Bowl champion, falling 24-23 in a back-and-forth contest.
Junior running back
Kevon King led a lethal ground game for the Spartans, recording a career-best 142 rushing yards with two touchdowns. Norfolk State finished the night with 227 yards on the ground.
Making his first appearance in a Spartan, starting quarterback Jalan Daniels completed 7-of-9 passes for 142 yards. Also completing his Spartan debut,
Kam'Ryn Thomas led Norfolk State's receiving corps with three receptions for 98 yards.
ABOUT THE GAME
- Saturday marks the first-ever meeting between the Norfolk State and East Carolina football programs
- Norfolk State opened the 2024 campaign last weekend in Atlanta, Ga. for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, falling 24-23 to defending celebration bowl champion Florida A&M
- Norfolk State head coach Dawson Odums is in his fourth season
- East Carolina enters its sixth season of head coach Mike Houston's tenure
ABOUT NORFOLK STATE
- Norfolk State dropped its first game of the season, a 24-23 result against Florida A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge
- Norfolk State enjoyed a successful showing on the ground against the Rattlers, racking up 227 rushing yards
- Junior Kevon King led the Spartans with a career-high 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including an 82-yard breakaway score on the team's third play from scrimmage
- Making his first appearance in a Spartan uniform, starting quarterback Jalen Daniels completed 7-of-9 passes for 142 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions
- Also making his Spartan debut, Kam'Ryn Thomas led Norfolk State's receiving corps with three receptions for 98 yards, including two crucial plays of 40+ yards
- The Spartans led the MEAC in average home attendance in 2023, attracting 15,649 fans per game at Dick Price Stadium
- Norfolk State led the MEAC with 13 Preseason All-Conference honorees entering the 2024 campaign
- Norfolk State's roster includes 14 players from the state of North Carolina, including four starters from the team's season opener: linebacker AJ Richardson (King's Mountain), defensive lineman Marcus Mauney (Gastonia), and offensive linemen Samuel Eskridge (King's Mountain) and Dyral McMillan (Charlotte)
ABOUT EAST CAROLINA
- East Carolina enters the 2024 season after posting a 2-10 record in 2023, going 1-7 in AAC play
- The Pirates return 17 total starters, including seven on the offensive side of the ball
