Norfolk State saves homecoming with 21-20 win over Howard

^{title image via Nick Sutton}

Courtesy of Alex Lehmbeck, Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Communication, Norfolk State University

20

HU

21

Winner NSU

Norfolk State delivered a Homecoming victory to a sold-out crowd at William “Dick” Price Stadium on Saturday afternoon, taking down Howard 21-20 with a gritty performance against the defending MEAC champions.

Kevon King led Norfolk State (3-6, 1-1 MEAC) with 78 rushing yards, scoring the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Howard (3-5, 0-1) outgained NSU 371-287, but lost the turnover and special teams’ battle.

Howard marched down the field on the game’s opening possession, scoring the game’s first points on a lengthy touchdown run.

Norfolk State responded with a strong drive of its own thanks to several King rushes but stalled inside the Howard 10-yard line. A missed field goal left the Spartans empty-handed.

Howard converted a field goal shortly after, extending its lead to 10-0, but the Spartans answered back immediately. Jaylen White took off from the three-yard line on the ensuing return, outrunning the entire Bison squad for his first career kickoff touchdown.

Howard missed a field goal a few minutes later, but regained possession from a Norfolk State three-and-out. The Bison reached NSU territory, but Terron Mallory came up with a crucial interception in the end zone to vanquish the momentum.

NSU trailed 10-7 at the half, but missed a deep field goal that could have tied things up early in the third quarter. The Spartan defense remained unfazed, forcing a quick punt to set up optimal field position.

Norfolk State took advantage of the opportunity, this time with X’Zavion Evans in the backfield. The Chesapeake product diced through the Howard defense to get the Spartans within striking distance, before bouncing off several tacklers for a 16-yard touchdown score.

The play thrust Norfolk State ahead 13-10 late in the third quarter. Howard regrouped confidently, though, moving down the field fast before scoring on a nifty goal-line pass.

Howard, who had avoided kicking to White since his touchdown return, left one short before an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave Norfolk State starting field position at its own 45-yard line.

A face mask penalty kept NSU on the move. Norfolk State quarterback Jalen Danielsconnected with Jacquez Jones and Elyjah Mitchellfor consecutive first downs, including a hook-and-ladder-esque later play to King for extra yardage. King pounded his way to the goal line from there, giving Norfolk State a 21-17 lead.

Howard looked to keep the seesaw battle going, reaching Norfolk State’s red zone. The Spartan defense refused to break, though, as Amadeu Vital helped force a huge tackle for loss on third down. The Bison settled for a field goal, narrowing the gap to 21-20 with just over five minutes on the clock.

King’s strong ground game continued, picking up several first downs to keep Norfolk State – and most importantly, the clock – moving. By the time Howard mustered a fourth down stop to get the ball back, just 18 seconds remained.

Javontay Martin came up with the game-sealing sack as the clock wound down, earning Norfolk State its first win over Howard since 2021.

Checking The Box Score

• Norfolk State quarterback Jalen Danielscompleted 10-of-14 passes for 117 yards
• NSU running back Kevon King tallied 78 yards and one touchdown on the ground on 17 carries
• Linebacker AJ Richardson made 14 total tackles with one tackle for loss
• Terron Mallory recorded an interception in the second quarter, his third of the season
• Howard outgained Norfolk State 371-287
• Jacquez Jones led the Norfolk State receiving corps with five catches for 53 yards

News & Notes

• Saturday’s result marked Norfolk State’s first Homecoming victory at William “Dick” Price Stadium since 2021
• Howard now leads the all-time series 20-10
• The Spartans improved to 3-6, 1-1 in the MEAC, with the win
• Howard dropped to 3-5, 0-1 in the MEAC, with the loss
• Norfolk State redshirt junior Jaylen White ran a kickoff back 97 yards for a touchdown, the Spartans’ first kick return score since Marcus Taylor achieved the feat at James Madison on Sep. 16, 2017
• Saturday’s final attendance of 31,876 marked Norfolk State’s second-highest attended game in program history, behind just the first game ever played in William “Dick” Price Stadium against Virginia State (33,872) on Aug. 30, 1997
• Norfolk State forced one takeaway on Saturday, an interception from Terron Mallory. Through nine games, the NSU defense has recovered four fumbles and recorded 11 interceptions

UP NEXT

Norfolk State will look to keep the momentum going against another conference opponent next week, traveling to Baltimore, Md. to face Morgan State on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m.

Next Game:
at Morgan State
11/2/2024 | 1 p.m.

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Team Statistics

1ST QUARTER
11:58 – HU – Scroggins,Ja’Shawn 48 yd run (West,Dylan kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:02	7	0
2ND QUARTER
11:17 – HU – West,Dylan 28 yd field goal 15 plays, 70 yards, TOP 07:13	10	0
11:04 – NSU – White,Jaylen 97 yd kickoff return (Willcox,Grandin kick)	10	7
3RD QUARTER
02:59 – NSU – Evans,Xzavion 16 yd run (Willcox,Grandin kick), 7 plays, 59 yards, TOP 04:55	10	14
4TH QUARTER
12:13 – HU – Stewart,Jamel 3 yd pass from Scroggins,Ja’Shawn (West,Dylan kick) 10 plays, 67 yards, TOP 05:42	17	14
09:41 – NSU – King,Kevon 4 yd run (Willcox,Grandin kick), 5 plays, 53 yards, TOP 02:32	17	21
05:38 – HU – West,Dylan 36 yd field goal 8 plays, 52 yards, TOP 04:03	20	21