Norfolk State University 33, FAMU Rattlers 27

Photo: Norfolk State University Head Football Coach Pete Adrian has made winners of the Spartans in his third season, fulfilling his promise to the NSU administration.

by beepbeep

The Florida A&M University Rattlers learned first hand Thursday evening that the Spartans of Norfolk State University are for real and will be a major player in determining the MEAC championship for this season. What's more amazing is this team has knocked off Hampton, South Carolina State, Bethune Cookman and FAMU in the same season. These teams may have better overall talent that NSU, but the Spartans execute their plays with superior passion and precision.

With the upset of FBS #2 ranked South Florida by Rutgers, who blanked NSU 59-0 last month, the Spartans have proven that they are a very good football team with a powerful running game. Daryl Jones, soon to become MEAC player of the week, rumbled for 256 yards on 38 carries with one 9 yard touchdown run.

The Rattlers could not tackle Jones and when they did, he always pushed the pile of bodies forward for an extra 2-3 yards. I have not witness this type of bull running since Earl Campbell played at Texas. Jones is around 5-10/250 pounds but can turn the corner on you quickly and get into the secondary which he did repeatedly to FAMU.

Never mind that game conditions included a major downpour of rain, standing water on spot areas of the football field and 12,287 faithful Rattlers' fans in attendance. Norfolk State came to play and win, showed determination on overcoming every miscue. Quarterback Casey Hansen had a sub par game completing 8 of 21 passes for 133 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT, making for an interesting last 2 minutes of the game.

FAMU had a chance to overtake the Spartans when NSU could not run out the clock on their next to last possession. An interception of a FAMU pass in the final minute by NSU defense preserved the victory for the Spartans. This victory ends the 9-0 win streak that FAMU had over Norfolk State.

The only teams that are now standing in the way of NSU for its first MEAC championship is Morgan State and Delaware State. Howard and Winston Salem State may not be able to match the strength of the NSU defense, but you cannot count out any MEAC team with the parity of the league, today.

Photo: RB Daryl Jones is a surprise leader in MEAC rushing yards (#2, 818 yards/7 games) as he runs away from Hampton University's top NFL draft prospect, All-American/All-MEAC DE Kendall Langford in last week's game.

Morgan has a better running back in conference rushing leader Chad Simpson who leads the MEAC with 994 rushing yards, 10 TDs and a 4.9 yard average. Daryl Jones is second in the conference at 818 rushing yards, 10 TDs, and a 4.7 yard average.

Norfolk State will get the opportunity to face Morgan State's Chad Simpson on November 3rd and Delaware State's Kareen Jones on November 10th. Both are stronger than FAMU and NSU will have to play better on the road in order to win the MEAC title.

Norfolk State's coach Pete Adrian deserves MEAC Coach of the Year honors for moving his perennial cellar dwellers from the bottom of the conference to the very top in less than three years. Daryl Jones is a serious contender for MEAC offensive player of the year honors, as I have not watched a more determined runner in football this season.

Jones rushed for 256 or the total 272 yards achieved by Norfolk State on the ground and helped the Spartans control the clock for about 10 minutes more in time of possession. Without out his hard running and production, this game would have been won by FAMU.

For a team that was fore casted to finish near the bottom of the MEAC standings, Norfolk State is the surprise team of the season in the MEAC that will have their first winning season in Division I, since their move up ten years ago.

The Spartans are now 6-1 overall with a 5-0 record in the MEAC. Way to go Norfolk State!
Behold, the Green and Gold.