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NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State (1-4, 1-0 MEAC) looks for its first two-game winning streak of the year and a 2-0 mark in MEAC play when the Spartans face Savannah State (0-4, 0-1) this Saturday in Savannah, Ga. Kickoff from Ted Wright Stadium is slated for 2 p.m.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANSNSU earned its first win of the season in dramatic fashion last Saturday, as backup quarterback
Tyler Clark scored on a 1-yard TD run with 29 seconds left to give the Spartans a 15-14 victory over Morgan State. Clark's run capped a 14-play, 49-yard drive that helped NSU snap a six-game losing streak and win its eighth in a row over the Bears.
The Spartans outgained MSU 301-242, with both teams earning most of their yardage on the ground. NSU had a season-high 238 rushing yards, with freshman
Eric Pittman recording a career-high 81 yards and
Brendon Riddick finishing with 64. The Spartan defense yielded 204 rushing yards, but held MSU to just 38 passing yards. The Bears had just 242 total yards, more than 150 below their average coming in.Â
Lynden Trail and
Lamar Neal led NSU with eight tackles apiece.
NSU now leads the MEAC and ranks ninth in the nation in total defense, allowing 274.8 ypg.
SCOUTING THE TIGERSSSU dropped to 0-4 on the year with a 35-10 loss at Delaware State last Saturday in Dover, Del., in the MEAC opener for both teams. The loss was the 13th in a row for the Tigers.
Last week in Dover, DSU broke out to a 28-0 lead after the first quarter thanks to three early Tiger fumbles that the Hornets recovered in SSU territory. The Tigers ended the night with five turnovers and had just 230 yards of total offense. Leon Prunty passed for 116 yards. Nicholas Bentley scored on a 1-yard TD run for the Tigers' lone touchdown.
Quarterbacks Prunty, Ker-Sean Wilson and Tino Smith have combined to pass for 581 yards this year. Wilson is also second on the squad with 76 rushing yards.
SSU has been outscored 221-54 so far this season, which includes losses at FBS opponents Middle Tennessee State and Georgia Southern. The Tigers are 120th in the nation out of 121 FCS teams in scoring defense (55.3 ppg) and 102nd in total defense (477.0 ypg allowed). SSU's defensive leaders are linebackers Justin Dixon (34 tackles, 1.5 TFL) and Marques Smith (5.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks).
THE SERIES• NSU leads the all-time series with Savannah State, 8-1.Â
• NSU has won five straight in the series, all under coach
Pete Adrian.
• Savannah State's only win over NSU was a 41-34, 2-OT victory at Dick Price Stadium in 2004.
MEDIA COVERAGE• Radio: NSU Sports Network, Star 1310 AM WGH
(Play-by-Play: Ross Gordon; Color: Maguell Davis; Pre-Game: Gordon, Davis and
Matt Michalec)
• Audio Stream: www.star1310.com
• Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/savstate/football
• Live Video: http://www.ssuathletics.com/showcase (requires subscription)
• Twitter Updates: @NSUSpartans
QUICK HITS FROM MORGAN STATE• NSU snapped its six-game losing streak dating to a 27-24 win at Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 9, 2013.Â
• The win was also NSU's eighth straight over Morgan State.
• Freshman RB
Eric Pittman tallied career highs in rushing attempts (16) and yards (81).
• NSU ran for a season-high 238 yards.
• KR/PR
Darius Wilson saw his first career action, netting 68 yards on four total returns.
• SS
Brandon Walker recorded a career-high three pass breakups.
• TE
Chris Lee earned his first career start.
LOOKING FOR A REPEAT OF SORTSNSU got off to a slow start last season as well, opening the year 0-3 with losses to Maine, Rutgers and Charleston Southern. The Spartans righted the ship after the slow start with consecutive wins at Morgan State (27-21) and vs. Savannah State (26-24) last year to start 2-0 in MEAC play. After beating MSU last week (as the Spartans did for their first win of 2013), NSU looks for its second straight year with a 2-0 MEAC start against Savannah State, the same team it beat to move to 2-0 last year.