Box Score
Photo Gallery
Game Highlights
Post-Game Interviews
NORFOLK, Va. – Senior running back DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) rushed a career-high 38 times for 170 yards and a touchdown to earn Norfolk State MVP honors, and the Spartans' defense held the North Carolina A&T defense to 156 total yards in a 23-14 NSU victory in the 63rd annual Fish Bowl Classic on Saturday afternoon at Dick Price Stadium.
The win evens the Spartans' record at 1-1 on the season, 1-0 in the MEAC. The Aggies fall to 0-2, 0-1 MEAC.
Branche was the workhorse for the Spartans, besting his career high in carries by eight and missing the school record by five. He missed his career high in yardage by just 11 yards.
But it was quarterback Chris Walley (Tallahassee, Fla.) who got NSU off to a quick start. After the Spartan defense held A&T three-and-out on the game's first possession, Walley engineered a six-play, 80-yard drive on NSU's first possession. Walley completed all four of his passes for 69 yards on the opening march, hitting junior Victor Hairston (Martinsville, Va.) for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 11:16 left in the first quarter. It was Walley's first career TD pass at NSU and Hairston's first receiving score as a Spartan.
Branche capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive with a 2-yard TD run on the first play of the second quarter to give the Spartans a 13-0 edge. The extra point attempt by Ryan Estep (Chesapeake, Va.) missed wide left.
The Spartan defense continued to stifle the Aggies, but an NSU miscue got A&T on the board. On the Spartans' next possession, a high snap from center resulted in a fumble, which A&T's Brandon Hover returned 9 yards for a touchdown to cut the Spartans' lead to 13-7 with 11:29 left in the half.
A&T had momentum to start the third quarter before the Spartans' defense struck for a big play. Aggie quarterback Shelton Morgan appeared to run for a first down at midfield, but NSU linebacker Corwin Hammond (Louisville, Ky.) jarred the ball loose at the end of the play. Spartan safety Dwight Fluker-Berry (Miami, Fla.) scooped up the fumble and ran it back 50 yards for a touchdown and a 20-7 NSU lead with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter.
Branche carried five times on NSU's next drive, which ended in a 27-yard Estep field goal with 1:52 left in the third quarter.
The Aggies made it interesting when their game MVP, Torrian Warren, returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown, cutting their deficit to 23-14. But the Spartan defense held A&T to just one first down in the final quarter to preserve the victory.
NSU held a 356-156 edge in total offense, and held the ball for 37 minutes, 33 seconds. Branche tallied 188 all-purpose yards – 170 rushing and 18 receiving. Walley had an efficient game under center, completing 17 of 26 passes for 161 yards. Hairston led NSU with 58 receiving yards, while running back Donovan Cotton (Tampa, Fla.) had a career-best five receptions.
Morgan completed 15 of 28 passes for 125 yards for the Aggies, who were held to 31 rushing yards in 19 attempts.
No Spartan defender had more than six tackles, but the Spartans had several standouts. Lineman Ray Jennings (Chesapeake, Va.) had five tackles, 2.5 for loss, including one sack. Hammond and Josh Turner (Chesterfield, Va.) also had five tackles apiece, with Turner tallying 1.5 tackles for loss and Hammond combining on a sack with Lamont Thorpe (Richmond, Va.).
The Spartans are back in action next Saturday in a 6 p.m. game against Virginia State at Dick Price Stadium. The Aggies play at Hampton next Saturday night at 6 p.m.
