SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Norfolk State football team fell 31-14 to Wofford on Saturday afternoon at Gibbs Stadium, as the Terriers used a balanced attack to earn their first win of the season. The Spartans dropped to 1-6 overall heading into their bye week.
Game Summary
Quarterback Otto Kuhns completed 16 of 29 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Elyjah Mitchell and Kam'ryn Thomas for the Spartan scores. Thomas led all receivers with eight catches for 112 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown grab early in the third quarter that tied the game at 14-14.
X'Zavion Evans paced the rushing effort with 45 yards on 16 carries, while Elyjah Mitchell added 26 receiving yards and his first touchdown of the season.
Defensively, Terique Miles recorded a team-high 13 tackles, followed by Khalib Gilmore with 10. Makai Frisby made a key defensive impact, tallying an interception and forcing a fumble.
Norfolk State opened the afternoon with an 11-play, 82-yard drive capped by Kuhns' 12-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell to take an early 7-0 lead. Wofford responded quickly, evening the score two minutes later on a 22-yard pass from JT Fayard to Isaiah Scott, then added another touchdown midway through the second quarter to carry a 14-7 lead into halftime.
The Spartans tied the contest once again in the third quarter when Kuhns hit Thomas for a 33-yard touchdown strike to cap a 67-yard drive. However, Wofford regained control with a 23-yard touchdown pass later in the quarter, followed by a 46-yard field goal and a two-yard rushing score in the fourth to close out the game.
By the Numbers
Wofford outgained Norfolk State 435 to 242 in total offense and controlled the ball for 36:51 compared to the Spartans' 23:09. NSU went 1-of-13 on third down, though it converted 2-of-3 fourth-down attempts.
Kuhns averaged 10.6 yards per completion, while the Spartan defense limited the Terriers to just 4.6 yards per rush and forced two turnovers.
Up Next
Norfolk State enters its bye week before returning home to open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 25, against South Carolina State for Homecoming at William "Dick" Price Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and the game will stream live on ESPN+.