BALTIMORE, Md. (Courtesy of Norfolk State Athletics) – The Norfolk State football team recovered four fumbles in a back-and-forth thriller against Morgan State, falling 38-37 in overtime at Hughes Stadium on Saturday.
Norfolk State quarterback Jalen Daniels completed 13-of-18 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns, while Kevon King led the Spartans (3-7, 1-2 MEAC) on the ground with 117 yards on 24 carries. Morgan State quarterback Tahj Smith went 19-of-28 for 179 yards and a touchdown off the bench, leading the Bears (4-5, 1-1) to their first conference victory of the season.
The Spartan defense swarmed the ball every chance it got, applying pressure from the opening kickoff. Amadeu Vital singlehandedly earned Norfolk State its first offensive possession, stripping Morgan State quarterback Duce Taylor and recovering the fumble himself.
Grandin Willcox drained a 45-yard field goal to the get the Spartans on the board first, but Morgan State evened the score with a kick on its ensuing drive. Norfolk State took advantage of its next opportunity, though, pounding the ball past the Bears’ top-ranked run defense. Daniels converted on a quarterback sneak to give the Spartans a 10-3 lead.
Norfolk State wasted no time building on that momentum. Vital forced his second fumble of the day on a strip-sack, which Daylan Long promptly picked up and returned into the end zone for his second touchdown of the season.
The Spartans recovered their third fumble of the afternoon moments later, as Dantey Menard found himself in the right position after a botched Morgan State handoff. Daniels connected with Jacquez Jones for a 23-yard touchdown pass, boosting the Spartans ahead 24-3.
Morgan State made a quarterback change, putting Smith into the game. The substitution immediately gave the Bears life, marching down the field for a touchdown to halt Norfolk State’s 21-0 run.
After forcing a quick punt, Morgan State kept its newfound offensive momentum going. Smith caught a touchdown pass on a trick play in the red zone, cutting the Norfolk State advantage to 24-16 at halftime.
Both teams slowed their offensive production in the third quarter, accumulating several defensive stops. Morgan State found the end zone after a few empty possessions, but failed to convert the two-point attempt that would have tied the game.
Norfolk State began to move the ball again, as Daniels regained his comfort in the pocket. The Spartans reached the Morgan State red zone but stalled from there.
A medium-range field goal attempt went awry for the Spartans, as Morgan State blocked the kick and took it over 60 yards to the house. The ensuing two-point conversion fell incomplete, but Morgan State had acquired a 28-24 lead after scoring 25 unanswered points.
With plenty of time remaining in the fourth quarter, Daniels and the Norfolk State offense kept its composure. Daniels sliced through the Morgan State defense by creating time with his feet, eventually finding Elyjah Mitchell in the back of the end zone to put Norfolk State back in front 31-28.
The NSU defense bent but didn’t break on its next possession, forcing a punt near midfield. Norfolk State punted back after a three-and-out, as a running-into-the-punter penalty wiped a Bear touchdown return off the board.
Needing a stop, Norfolk State turned to its leaders to make a play. Smith lost control of the ball on a fourth down scramble, before linebacker AJ Richardson dove on it for Norfolk State’s fourth fumble recovery of the day.
NSU regained possession with just over two minutes to play, immediately entering Morgan State territory on a lengthy Kevon King run. The Bears forced a turnover on downs from there, though, to get the ball back trailing by three.
Smith pulled off some late-game heroics, stringing together a series of short passes to set up a last-chance field goal attempt. Sahr Gbundema stepped up to the occasion, making the 47-yarder to send the game into overtime.
Morgan State struck quickly in the extra period, connecting on a touchdown pass to take a 38-31 lead. After sacking Daniels for a huge loss on second down of the Spartans’ possession, Norfolk State looked to be on its last lung.
The Spartans remained alive, however, thanks to a diving catch by Kam’Ryn Thomas for a first down. X’Zavion Evans took a direct snap into the end zone a couple of plays later.
Norfolk State went for the two-point conversion there, looking to end the game in one play. The risk did not pay off, however, as Daniels’ rollout pass went over the outstretched arms of Tavian Morris.
Checking The Box Score
- Norfolk State quarterback Jalen Daniels completed 13-of-18 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns
- NSU running back Kevon King tallied 117 yards on the ground on 24 carries
- Kam’Ryn Thomas led the Norfolk State receiving corps with six catches for 165 yards
- Amadeu Vital recorded 6.0 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, with two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and a quarterback hurry
News & Notes
- Saturday’s battle marked Norfolk State’s first overtime game since a matchup on Nov. 6, 2021 against North Carolina Central
- NSU now leads the all-time series 21-14
- The Spartans dropped to 3-7, 1-2 in the MEAC, with the loss
- Morgan State improved to 4-5, 1-1 in the MEAC, with the win
- Amadeu Vital forced two fumbles, one in the first quarter (which he recovered) and one in the second. He became the first Spartan to force two fumbles in a single game since Nigel Chavis achieved the feat against Florida A&M on Oct. 17, 2024
- Daylan Long returned a fumble for a touchdown in the second quarter, Norfolk State’s first scoop-and-score since DeShaan Dixon’s at North Carolina Central on Nov. 9, 2019
- Long’s touchdown marked his second defensive score of the season
- Norfolk State’s defense recovered four fumbles on Saturday, its first time recording four fumble recoveries in a single game since achieving the feat against Virginia State on Sep. 7, 2019
- Through nine games, the NSU defense has recovered four fumbles and recorded 11 interceptions
UP NEXT
Norfolk State will have a bye week to regroup from Saturday’s loss, return to action for Senior Day at William “Dick” Price Stadium at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.