Photo: NSU must play its best football of the season to defeat the MEAC favorites, SCSU Bulldogs. By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer
NORFOLK, Va. - Leading Norfolk State to its first-ever 2-0 start in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play is not reason enough for head football coach Pete Adrian to rest on his laurels.
If anything, Adrian is approaching Saturday's home contest against South Carolina State (2-2, 1-0) with great humility and caution. This is especially true following last year's 47-10 trouncing at the hands of the Bulldogs which is still fresh in his mind.
Like this season, the Spartans came into the matchup riding the confidence of a 3-1 start. From the one-two punch of running backs DeShawn Baker and Will Ford combining for four touchdowns and 186 rushing yards to the defense sacking quarterback Casey Hansen five times and intercepting him twice, however, Norfolk State got overwhelmed and went on to lose five of their last six games.
"We just got a good old-fashioned butt-whipping last year," said Adrian at Tuesday's weekly MEAC teleconference.
Even with a more athletic albeit younger squad with seven freshmen who see significant minutes, the second-highest scoring offense in the MEAC and a balanced offensive attack with Hansen and bruising running back Daryl Jones, Adrian insists his team will have to play "their best game" to beat an SCSU team he called the best team the Spartans will face this year next to Football Bowl Subdivision 21st-ranked Rutgers, which handed Norfolk State it's lone loss this season, 59-0.
Adrian even thinks SCSU may present an even more physical challenge than Rutgers did. He called the Bulldogs' starting defensive line "the best in the league", praised the athletic play of the offensive line and thinks the current backfield of Ford, Travil Jamison and Jonathan Woods may be even more potent without Baker.
"Every time he touches the ball, he can go the distance," Adrian said about Ford. " He's an excellent running back and Woods is as good if not even better."
The task of slowing down the Bulldogs' offense will go to a Spartan defense which leads the MEAC in passing defense, first downs allowed and opponents third-down conversions and is third in total defense. Senior twin linebackers Marquez and Maguell Davis lead the team with 31 and 25 tackles, respectively.
Norfolk State also hopes the offensive line will duplicate its effort last Thursday against North Carolina A&T. Led by starting right guard and MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week Jason Kressen, the Spartan offense racked up 532 yards, with Hansen throwing for a career-best 351 yards and four TDs.
Hansen's favorite target was redshirt freshman Jeremy Wicker who caught five passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the 50-20 victory. Both Hansen and Wicker were recognized as the MEAC Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively.
When the Spartans keep the ball on the ground, the 5-10, 250-pound Jones has proven capable with 389 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. For of those came in the 38-31 come-from-behind win over Bethune-Cookman Sept. 22.
Norfolk State's kicking game has also provided another scoring option as Justin Castellat has connected on 8 of 9 field goals on the season.
If there's a big concern other than SCSU for Adrian it's his team's penchant for penalties. No team in the MEAC has been penalized for more yards (423) than the Spartans, with SCSU tied for next to last.
SCSU holds an 11-1 edge in the series. Norfolk State's lone victory came at home in 2000.
Norfolk State University Spartan Legion Marching Band
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