Norfolk State to take on South Carolina State in season finale

^{title image via Kyron Chiku-Martinez}

Courtesy of Alex Lehmbeck, Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Communication

Getting back in the win column last week to complete its home slate, the Norfolk State football team will hit the road for its final test of the season on Saturday against a talented opponent.

Norfolk State (4-7, 2-2 MEAC) takes on No. 23 South Carolina State (8-2, 4-0) at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. in Orangeburg.

The Spartans sent their seniors off with a bang last week, defeating Delaware State 38-19 on Senior Day at William “Dick” Price Stadium. NSU trailed 13-10 at halftime but controlled both sides of the ball to outscore the Hornets 28-6 in the second half.

Jalen Daniels completed 13-of-21 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns against DSU, adding another score on the ground. Kevon King led the Spartan run game with 87 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, while Kam’Ryn Thomaspaced the Spartans’ receiving corps on four catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Unbeaten in conference play, South Carolina Sate punched its ticket to the 2024 Cricket Celebration Bowl with a 54-7 rout of Morgan State last week, the Bulldogs’ second invitation to the event in program history. SCSU will meet the champion of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” Norfolk State head coach Dawson Odums said. “We get the chance to do something that hasn’t been done yet in our conference: find a way to beat this football team.”

Saturday’s game will air on ESPN+, with radio coverage available on WNSB 91.1 FM.

ABOUT THE GAME

• Saturday’s matchup marks the 28th meeting between the two schools
• SCSU defeated NSU 44-17 last season in Norfolk, Va.
• The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 21-5
• Norfolk State head coach Dawson Odums is in his fourth season
• South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry is in his first season

ABOUT NORFOLK STATE

• Norfolk State improved to 4-7 last week with a victory against Delaware State, 38-19
• Norfolk State quarterback Jalen Danielscompeted 13-of-21 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the win against DSU, adding one sore on the ground
• Through 10 games, the NSU defense has recovered nine fumbles and recorded 12 interceptions
• NSU has intercepted three passes in a single game three times this season (at ECU 8/31, at VMI 9/21, vs. Towson 10/12)
• Junior running back Kevon King ranks third in the MEAC in rushing with 800 yards
• Quarterback Jalen Daniels ranks fourth in the MEAC in total offense, averaging 141.7 yards per game
• Defensively, AJ Richardson leads the MEAC with 88 total tackles, including 26 solo tackles

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE

• South Carolina State clinched the MEAC Championship last week with a win over Morgan State 54-7.
• SCSU earned the No. 23 ranking in the Stats Perform Top 25 rankings, announced on Monday, Nov. 18
• The Bulldogs average 418.1 yards, ranking first in the MEAC 
• SCSU also leads the MEAC in sacks this season (36)
• Graduate quarterback Eric Phoenix leads the MEAC with 2,469 passing yards and 20 touchdowns this season
• Caden High (819) and Justin Smith-Brown (624) rank first and second in the MEAC in receiving yards, respectively
• Head coach Chennis Berry earned AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year Honors, announced on Wednesday, Nov. 20