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NORFOLK, Virginia -- Long-time rivals Norfolk State and Hampton do battle for the 51st time on the gridiron this Saturday in the State Farm Battle of the Bay. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Dick Price Stadium. Both teams are looking to remain in the upper echelon of the MEAC standings by avoiding a second conference loss. Saturday's game is also Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
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SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
NSU had its two-game winning streak snapped and fell to 2-4 overall, 2-1 in MEAC play in a 14-7 loss at Delaware State last Saturday. The Spartans were held to 184 yards of total offense in a rainsoaked contest. The Spartans couldn't overcome five turnovers, including a Davon Moore interception of backup quarterback Nico Flores with 21 seconds left at the Hornets' 9-yard line. The Spartans intercepted DSU quarterback Cory Murphy three times in the first half and got a 14-yard TD pass from Tyler Clark to Derrick Demps to take a 7-0 lead into the half. But an NSU fumble led to the tying touchdown for the Hornets in the third quarter. Murphy then scored on a 1-yard run with 5:25 left in the fourth for the go-ahead score, capping an 18-play drive which took 8:42 off the clock.
Linebacker Brent Singleton led a game defensive effort with 11 tackles and one interception. Running back Rolandan Finch ran for 46 yards at DSU and continues to lead the MEAC with 449 yards (74.2 ypg). Sophomore linebacker Deon King is tied for the MEAC lead in both tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (7.5).
SCOUTING THE PIRATES
Hampton (1-5, 1-1 MEAC) won its first ballgame of the year and snapped a five-game losing streak to start the year with a 31-26 homecoming win over North Carolina A&T last Saturday in Hampton, Va. Redshirt freshman Bryan Bailey threw three touchdown passes for the Pirates, and Aaron Matthews returned one of three N.C. A&T interceptions 19 yards for a score in a 28-point Hampton first half. The Pirates overcame a 419-246 deficit in total yardage to earn the win. Bailey is one of three Pirates to see time under center this year, along with sophomores Jaylian Williamson and Brian Swain. Hampton has struggled to score this year, scoring just over 16 points per game. But return man/receiver Jorrian Washington (98.3 ypg) and receiver/running back Antwon Chisholm (90.5 ypg) both rank in the MEAC's top five in all-purpose yards per game. Chisholm has also caught four touchdown passes this year.
THE SERIES
• NSU leads the all-time series with Hampton, 25-24-1.
• The home team has won the last seven meetings in the series dating to Hampton's 55-14 win at Dick Price Stadium in 2005.
• NSU is 12-12-1 at home against Hampton.
• The last three meetings have been decided by 14 points or fewer.
MEDIA COVERAGE
• Radio: NSU Sports Network, 1490 AM The Game/WNSB Hot 91.1 FM
(Play-by-Play: Ross Gordon; Color: Maguell Davis; Pre-Game: Gordon, Davis and Matt Michalec)
• Live Video: www.nsuspartans.com/showcase (Subscription required)
• Live Statistics: www.sidearmstats.com/nsu/football
• Audio Stream: www.nsuspartans.com (click "Live Audio" link under Inside Athletics tab)
• Twitter Updates: @NSUSpartans
QUICK HITS FROM DELAWARE STATE
More news and notes from the loss to Delaware State last week:
• The Spartans had a season-low 19 rushing yards and their 184-yard output was their second-lowest of the year (133 at Rutgers).
• NSU also had a season-high five turnovers.
• The Spartans picked off a season-best three passes, one each by Brent Singleton, Darrin Marrow and Collin Frazer. That extended NSU's string of picking off at least one pass in nine straight games.
• Singleton had a season-high 11 tackles, and DL George Riddick had a career-high nine stops.
• Derrick Demps caught his first TD pass of the year, a 14-yarder in the second quarter.
• Punter Dalton Fraser averaged 44 yards on his five punts, his best average in a game this year. He also hit a season-long 65-yarder in the first quarter.
• TE Joseph Hawkins had a season-high 68 receiving yards on his five catches.
• RB Rolandan Finch had a season-high six catches to lead the team.
• WRs James Church and DeAndre Sangster made their first career starts.
KING'S COURT
While teammate Lynden Trail has gotten a lot of the preseason attention as one of the defense's top playmakers, sophomore (and fi rst-year starter) Deon King has emerged as a playmaker. King starts at the outside linebacker spot opposite Trail and is second on the team with 47 tackles so far. King has a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, both of which are tied for first in the MEAC. He is second nationally in sacks per game and fifth in tackles for loss. He had three sacks against Savannah State two weeks ago to earn honorable mention defensive line performer of the week honors from the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA). King, from Reston, Va., worked with the second unit last year behind senior starters Terrence Pugh and Jamal Giddens. He made the most of his playing time - of his 19 tackles, five were for a loss, including two sacks. He also returned an interception 15 yards for a TD against Morgan State.
By Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
VISIT: NSUSPARTANS.COM
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