Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State begins a two-game road swing this Saturday when it travels to Baltimore, Md. for a matchup with the Morgan State Bears. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at Hughes Stadium.

NSU will be seeking its first two-game winning streak of the year, while the Bears will be trying to end a two-game losing streak. The game will be broadcast live on the NSU Sports Network (91.1 FM, 102.1 FM and 1490 AM) in Hampton Roads. The audio simulcast can be heard on the web by clicking here.

The Spartans improved to 4-4 overall, 3-3 in the MEAC with a 41-6 homecoming win over Howard last Saturday in Norfolk. The Spartans had a season-high 520 total yards, including a season-best 294 rushing, to notch their third conference victory of 26 points or more this season. Dennis Brown (Miami, Fla.) passed for 226 yards and two scores, while rushing for 66 and another TD for the Spartans. Chris Bell (Norfolk, Va.) had 138 yards receiving on four catches, including a pair of touchdowns. And running back DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) had 19 carries for 129 yards, matching his season high. The end result was NSU's third 40+ point game against MEAC opposition this season, a first for the Spartans since joining the conference.

The NSU defense held Howard to just 155 total yards and 19 rushing yards. NSU allowed just 36 yards of total offense in the second half. 

Bell continues to lead the MEAC with 651 receiving yards and nine TDs. Branche is fourth in the conference with his 603 rushing yards, and Brown is second in the MEAC with his 229 yards of total
offense per game.

The Spartan defense moved back up to its No. 1 ranking in the conference after the dominant effort against the Bison. The Spartans now yield just 259.9 yards per game.

Morgan State (5-3, 3-2) dropped their second straight game last Saturday in a 31-28 overtime decision against Florida A&M. The Bears had a season-high 442 yards of total offense, but came up short on a 4th-and-1 from their own 16-yard line in overtime as the Rattlers held on. Running back Devan James had a season-high 133 yards on 20 carries, while quarterback Carlton Jackson had a season-best 207 passing yards and three total TDs (two passing, one rushing). Edward Morton-Green and Edwin Baptiste caught TD passes for the Bears.

James, a preseason All-MEAC first team running back, has a club-high 444 rushing yards this
season. Jackson has rushed for 178 yards and passed for 1,042 more. He has accounted for 11 total
touchdowns (nine passing, two rushing). Linebacker George Howard leads the conference with his 100 total tackles. He has made 8.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Defensive backs Darren McKhan and Gary Albury (seven passes defended apiece) head up a strong defensive secondary that leads the MEAC in fewest passing yards allowed (130.1 ypg).