Chris Carlson: Five things we (NSU) learned vs. Howard

NORFOLK, Virginia - You can’t spot anyone 20 points – It was hard to watch the way Norfolk State did virtually whatever it wanted in the second half and think that the better team won at Dick Price Stadium. Norfolk State was the group we expect in the second half rallying from a 30-7 deficit. The Spartans outgained Howard by 100 yards, but played so poorly in the first half they could only force overtime. Once into the crap-shoot extra-period NSU was bitten by a special teams miscue. Howard was a MEAC bottom-feeder for some time and, even now, is probably just a little above the mid-point. Give any team a 20-point edge and you’re unlikely to make a comeback.

The Spartans need to win out against the MEAC – The season isn’t over for the Spartans, but the upset loss made defending their MEAC title much more difficult. Howard still has to play at South Carolina State and host Florida A&M, so the Bison could still lose a game. The last two MEAC champions have both had a conference loss, so one defeat doesn’t eliminate a team. But with road games still to come against South Carolina State and Bethune-Cookman, a rivalry game vs. Hampton and a contest with tougher-than-expected Delaware State, NSU has no more margin for error. As Howard’s victory proved, the MEAC is a deeper league than it’s been in some time.



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