Kickoff at Norfolk State's Dick Price Stadium was a little after 6 Saturday night. The Spartans defense arrived about 6:15. Once it did, though, it dominated the proceedings, in a 28-10 victory over Virginia State in front of 24,325 fans at the annual Labor Day Classic. The Division II Trojans got a field goal on their first drive and a touchdown on their last - receiving some help from a pair of 15-yard penalties against NSU's second-team D on the latter score.
In between, nothing. Virginia State had tallied just 119 yards of offense prior to its final possession. The Trojans finished with just 169. "We were kind of rusty on our first series," linebacker Anthony Taylor said. "It was our first time being out there and we got roughed up a little bit." NSU coach Pete Adrian said it was a matter of adjusting to game tempo. Virginia State had played a game, beating Livingstone 37-7 Aug. 29. The Spartans were making their season debut.
Once the Spartans settled in, they had little trouble, forcing five Virginia State turnovers, including three interceptions. NSU's new spread offense did not exactly light up the night, but was efficient and mostly mistake-free. Quarterback Dennis Brown threw for 109 yards and ran for 72. Tailback DeAngelo Branche rushed for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Brown spread his 13 completions among six receivers, none going for more than 15 yards. NSU totaled 312 yards of offense, 203 on the ground.
NSU's quarterback, in pursuit of perfectionOn a drizzly and unseasonably cool afternoon on the Norfolk State campus, quarterback Dennis Brown strolled out of a dining hall, a one man ray of South Florida sunshine. While most students huddled against the gloom in jeans and hoodies, Brown looked like his native Miami in a white linen shirt, plaid shorts and gleaming white Creative Recreation low-top sneakers. "I thought it was gonna be sunny out, you know?" he explained. "I've got to bring the Miami flavor up here a little bit."
Brown, a senior who will lead the Spartans in the season opener tonight against Virginia State, swears he used to be shy, but it's hard to believe. As he walked from the dining hall toward the student center, he shared an umbrella with a comely coed. Just a friend, he said. When he turned toward an academic building, his friend went the other way, but he ran into another, at the top of a stairwell. "How you doing, Tasha?" he said. She just smiled. "What, you don't talk to me any more?" Brown continued on his way, toward the marketing department. Marketing is his major, and it seems perfect for him. Since coming to Norfolk, which he said he loves, he's met seemingly everyone on campus.
Fast return from torn ACL has NSU's Craig feeling hopeful
Hasan Craig is going to give it a go. The outside linebacker, just eight months removed from surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, plans to test his leg before deciding whether to seek a medical redshirt. "I'm going to play the first three games and see how it feels," he said. A junior, Craig started six games last year and showed a knack for big plays. He forced two fumbles and had six quarterback hurries, leading the team in both categories. He was second on the team with 8.5 tackles for loss.
Craig injured his knee in a pickup basketball game in December. He has been practicing but was held out of contact until last week. Complete recovery from ACL surgery can take a year, but Craig said he's a fast healer. Meanwhile, the Spartans are well-stocked at Craig's old spot. Lamont Thorpe is the starter and backup Terrence Pugh was one of the standouts at NSU's last two scrimmages.
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