image via SCSU Athletics
7
Norfolk St. 4-4 , 0-1
22
Winner South Carolina St. 6-2 , 1-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk St. | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| South Carolina St. | 10 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 22 |
South Carolina State used a strong first-half performance, two rushing touchdowns from Mason Pickett-Hicks and a disciplined defensive effort to defeat Norfolk State 22-7 on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
The Bulldogs improved to 6-2 overall and opened MEAC play with a victory, while Norfolk State fell to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play. South Carolina State built a 19-0 halftime advantage and controlled the game from there, holding the Spartans to just seven points.
Pickett-Hicks Leads Bulldogs’ Ground Attack
Pickett-Hicks provided the game’s first two touchdowns, giving South Carolina State an early advantage and helping the Bulldogs establish control.
He opened the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown run at the 9:19 mark of the first quarter, capping a 13-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 5:37.
Jett Jackson added a 28-yard field goal later in the quarter to extend the lead to 10-0.
South Carolina State struck again in the second quarter when Pickett-Hicks scored on a seven-yard run with 5:36 remaining. The Bulldogs then added another three points on Jackson’s 46-yard field goal at the 4:15 mark, pushing the lead to 19-0 before halftime.
Pickett-Hicks finished with 52 rushing yards on nine carries and two touchdowns. He also contributed four receptions for 34 yards, making him a productive option in both phases of the offense.
Norfolk State Finds a Spark on Special Teams
Norfolk State struggled to generate points offensively, but Jason Wonodi gave the Spartans a much-needed spark in the third quarter.
Wonodi returned a punt 47 yards for a touchdown with 9:28 remaining in the period. Marco Peery converted the extra point to cut the deficit to 19-7.
The return provided Norfolk State with its only points of the afternoon and briefly offered hope of a comeback. However, the Spartans could not find the end zone again.
South Carolina State’s defense held firm, and Jackson’s 34-yard field goal with 7:56 remaining in the fourth quarter restored the Bulldogs’ 15-point cushion and established the final margin.
Bulldogs Control the Passing Game and Win the Turnover Battle
South Carolina State finished with 321 total yards, including 215 passing yards and 106 rushing yards. The Bulldogs recorded 19 first downs and converted eight of 18 third-down opportunities.
Quarterback Keely Watson completed 21 of 38 passes for 215 yards without throwing an interception. DJ Maultsby led the Bulldogs’ receiving corps with five catches for 57 yards, while Malaqhi Jones added two receptions for 54 yards, including a long catch of 35 yards.
Josh Shaw carried the ball 14 times for 31 yards, helping South Carolina State maintain its ground-game presence alongside Pickett-Hicks.
The Bulldogs also won the turnover battle, intercepting Norfolk State quarterback DaJean Golmond twice while protecting the football throughout the game.
Kenneth Brown Jr. returned one interception 51 yards, while Mike Evans recorded the other pick. Defensively, Jadin Jones contributed five total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Jaiden Kimble also registered two tackles for loss and one sack.
Norfolk State finished with 279 total yards, including 162 passing yards and 117 rushing yards. The Spartans completed 17 of 36 passes, with Golmond throwing for 162 yards and two interceptions.
Brevin Caldwell paced Norfolk State’s receivers with six catches for 80 yards, while Kam’Ryn Thomas recorded three receptions for 53 yards. Jalyn Daniels led the Spartans’ rushing attack with 51 yards on 12 carries, while Golmond added 38 rushing yards.
Despite averaging 4.2 yards per carry, Norfolk State struggled to turn its offensive production into points. The Spartans were held without an offensive touchdown and converted just four of 15 third-down attempts.
What’s Next?
South Carolina State will look to build on its conference-opening victory as they takeon Morgan State in a pivotal MEAC matchup against Morgan State. Norfolk State will aim to regroup and bounce back against Delaware State.
The Bulldogs’ combination of early scoring, defensive takeaways and reliable field-goal kicking proved decisive in a 22-7 victory that put South Carolina State in the win column to begin conference play.
