Box Score GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Norfolk State football team forced six turnovers at East Carolina on Saturday evening but couldn't take advantage of those momentum swings in a 42-3 loss at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
 
East Carolina quarterback Jake Garcia completed 23-of-36 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns, although the Norfolk State defense picked off three of the junior's passes.
 
Facing an FBS opponent for the first time since Sep. 16 of the previous year, Norfolk State showed zero fear from the opening kickoff. After yielding several first downs on the game's opening possession, the NSU defense bounced back quickly with a timely interception from defensive back Ricky Harleston.
 
Kevon King picked up a first down shortly after with an explosive run, but the Spartans' faced a fourth-and-six just a few plays later. Daniels showed poise in the pocket, extending the play and finding Elyjah Mitchell to keep the chains moving.
 
The sequence put the Spartans in field goal range, which Grandin Willcox eventually converted from 39-yards out to give Norfolk State an early 3-0 advantage.
 
The Pirates responded fast, starting with a 48-yard kickoff return on the very next play. ECU gained traction from there, as Garcia connected with open target Casey Kelly for a 22-yard score to give the home team a 7-3 lead.
 
After forcing a three-and-out on the Spartans' next possession, East Carolina cut through the Spartan defense with multiple big gains, setting up a 14-yard touchdown rush from Javious Bond.
 
Norfolk State slowed the momentum by producing an ECU punt soon after, but the Pirates quickly regrouped. Backed up against his own goal line, Daniels threw an interception downfield, returned to the end zone to push ECU ahead 21-3.
 
The Spartans kept East Carolina off the scoreboard for an extended stretch of the second quarter, nearly solely in part due to a pair of tremendous plays by defensive back Terron Mallory, a selection to the Aeneas Williams Award Preseason Watch List.
 
The 2023 MEAC interception leader, Mallory made his first interception of the 2024 season on a deep play near the Spartan goal line. Just moments later, he picked off Garcia for the second time in as many possessions, in the same area as the previous turnover.
 
East Carolina took advantage of a short field to score another touchdown before the half. The Pirates also scored the lone points of the third quarter, an 18-yard touchdown pass to wideout Anthony Smith.
 
The Norfolk State defense continued to play aggressively. Daylan Long registered the Spartans' first sack of the season to force one punt, before Kaleb Broadbent leapt on a fumble to give Norfolk State possession back during a red zone scenario later in the quarter.
 
Checking The Box Score

• East Carolina outgained Norfolk State 557-114, with 358 yards coming through the air
• Kevon King led the Spartans with 26 rushing yards on just five attempts, averaging 5.2 yards per carry
• Jacquez Jones led the Norfolk State receiving corps with 31 receptions on three catches
• Daylan Long paced the Spartan defense with six total tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack
• Terron Mallory intercepted two passes, while Ricky Harleston picked off a pass as well
• Norfolk State won the takeaway 6-2, recovering three fumbles and intercepting three passes

News & Notes

• Saturday marked the first-ever meeting between the Norfolk State and East Carolina football programs
• Terron Mallory, the 2023 MEAC interception leader, recorded his first two interceptions of the 2024 season on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter
• Norfolk State produced six takeaways on Saturday (three fumble recoveries and three interceptions), turning the ball over twice. Through two games, the NSU defense has recovered four fumbles and recorded three interceptions

 
UP NEXT
Norfolk State heads back to the familiar confines of William Dick Price Stadium next weekend, facing Virginia State for the "Battle of the States" on Sep. 7. Kickoff for the home opener is slated for 4 p.m.
 
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