Norfolk, Virginia -- Norfolk State's first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship is now a little closer to reality, while Hampton's first league title since 2006 slipped further out of reach.
The Spartans jumped out to a 20-point lead, then held off a second-half rally to beat the Pirates 34-24 on Saturday at Dick Price Stadium in the 49th annual Battle of the Bay. Norfolk State improved to 6-1 for the second time since joining the Division I ranks in 1997 and 4-0 in the MEAC for the first time since 2007, while Hampton fell to 3-3 and 1-2.
"We preached to our guys all week: This is why you play the game, to be in a position like this and kind of control your destiny," third-year HU coach Donovan Rose said. " … It's real tough. You can't allow a team to get 27 points in the first half."
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Norfolk State loving its spread, thriving in Walley World
NORFOLK, Virginia — With Saturday's 34-24 win over Hampton University, Norfolk State is 6-1 for only the second time since becoming moving up to Division I in 1997. But to trace the Spartans' success, go back to a four-game stretch last fall in which they went 0-4 and scored only two offensive touchdowns.
No coach relishes changing his offensive scheme with four weeks left in the season, but that's what NSU's Pete Adrian felt compelled to do. And ever they ditched the power game and went with the no-huddle spread, the Spartans are 10-1 and averaging 29 points a game.
Norfolk State raced out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead thanks to premium field position. Hampton won the opening coin toss and elected to receive, leaving the Pirates playing into a stiff wind that played a role in punts of 23 and 28 yards on their first two possessions. Those kicks gave the Spartans the ball at the Hampton 39 and 29, and Norfolk State scored touchdowns on both abbreviated drives.
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Big plays at right time put Walley, NSU in rarefied air
NORFOLK, Virginia - A few minutes before kickoff Saturday, the Norfolk State band played its team onto the field to "We Are the Champions." The Spartans, who remain undefeated in the MEAC, like the sound of that, but for the time being, they'd be happy to be included in the FCS top 25. They will be now.
"Hard to keep us out at six and one," coach Pete Adrian said after his team defeated Hampton 34-24 at Dick Price Stadium.
Norfolk State knocked on the door last week, finishing 26th in the vote. The door started to come off its hinges when the Spartans jumped to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. By then, Chris Walley had already thrown two of his three first-half touchdown passes en route to racking up 265 yards through the air.
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