Punt return touchdown at South Carolina State was the Spartans' only score and the third return score of his season

NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk State return specialist Jason Wonodi has been named the MEAC Specialist of the Week after returning a punt 47 yards for a touchdown in the Spartans' 22-7 loss at South Carolina State on Saturday.

Wonodi, a redshirt senior from Brockton, Mass., had two punt returns for 56 yards in the conference opener at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. His touchdown accounted for all of Norfolk State's points.

It came at the 9:28 mark of the third quarter. Facing fourth-and-11 from its own 6, South Carolina State punted 41 yards, and Wonodi fielded the ball at the Bulldogs' 47 and took it the distance. Marco Peery's extra point cut the deficit to 19-7.

It was Wonodi's third punt return touchdown of the season. The first two came in the Battle of the Bay against Hampton on Sept. 19, a 76-yarder in the second quarter and a 57-yarder in the fourth of a 42-21 win. He set Norfolk State single-game records that day for punt return yards (170) and average (56.7), and earned the Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week and BOXTOROW HBCU National Player of the Week awards.

He also had a 9-yard return on a 53-yard punt in the first half Saturday.

Norfolk State was held without an offensive touchdown and finished with 279 yards of total offense. The Spartans reached South Carolina State territory on six possessions without crossing the 20-yard line.

UP NEXT
Norfolk State (4-4, 0-1 MEAC) returns to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to face Delaware State on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 3 p.m. It is the second consecutive season the Spartans and Hornets have met at the home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. The game streams on ESPN+, with Ross Gordon, Ahmad Franklin and Cayla Sweezie on the call.