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GREENSBORO, N.C. — Mike Mayhew’s 8-yard TD run on the Aggies’ first drive of the second half was the go-ahead score, and the North Carolina A&T defense held Norfolk State scoreless in the second half of a 17-13 win on Saturday night at Aggie Stadium.
The Spartans fall to 1-1 with the loss, 0-1 in the MEAC. The Aggies improve to 2-0, 1-0.
The Spartans held a 13-3 lead late into the second quarter, but a costly turnover and the bend but don’t break Aggie defense proved to be too much.
NSU stopped the Aggies three-and-out on the game’s opening possession. The Spartans promptly drove 68 yards in four plays for the first points of the night. Quarterback Dennis Brown (Miami, Fla.) scored on a 30-yard TD run for a 7-0 NSU lead with 11:09 left in the first quarter.
The Aggies responded with a 24-yard field goal by Patrick Courtney with 7:15 left in the quarter.
The Spartans extended their lead to 13-3 on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Chris Bell (Norfolk, Va.) just seven seconds into the second quarter. The play culminated a nine-play, 65-yard march and was Bell’s first TD as a Spartan. The extra point was blocked, keeping NSU’s lead at 13-3.
The Spartans were trying to add to their lead just before the half, but a Brown pass was tipped off the hands of a wide receiver and intercepted by the Aggies’ Quay Long. He returned it 40 yards to the NSU 20, and two plays later, Carlton Fears found Wallace Miles for a 25-yard TD pass. The extra point brought A&T within 13-10 with 14 seconds left before halftime.
The Aggies kept the momentum with a five-play, 61-yard drive on their first possession of the third quarter. Mayhew finished it off with an 8-yard TD run with 10:53 remaining in the quarter.
NSU had two drives reach deep into Aggie territory in the fourth quarter. The first possession consumed 12 plays and 62 yards, and reached the Aggie 1-yard line. But on fourth-and goal, Brown’s quarterback sneak attempt was stopped short of the goal line, turning the ball over to A&T on downs with 10 minutes left.
The Spartans forced and A&T punt and drove to the Aggie 31-yard line. But Brown’s fourth-and-long pass fell incomplete with 2:09 left, and the Aggies ran out the clock.
NSU held a 301-231 edge in total offense. Brown led the Spartan attack with 232 yards of total offense, 87 on the ground and 145 passing. He passed for one TD and ran for another. DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) accounted for 101 all-purpose yards, 64 rushing and 37 receiving.
Mayhew had 14 carries for 87 yards and one touchdown to lead the Aggies.
The Spartans host William & Mary next Saturday at 6 p.m.