DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — After four consecutive disheartening losses, the Norfolk State football team pulled off the shocker of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference season to date, scoring a 27-24 upset of first-place Bethune-Cookman on Saturday evening at Municipal Stadium.The Spartans (3-7, 3-3 MEAC) sprinted out to a 27-7 lead after three quarters behind a big-play defense and a ball-control offense, then held on down the stretch to send the Wildcats (8-2, 5-1) to their first MEAC loss since a 22-3 defeat to North Carolina A&T on Oct. 8, 2011 – some 19 games ago. The win was also the Spartans' first-ever in Daytona Beach after nine unsuccessful tries.
The Spartans had numerous standouts on both sides of the ball, none bigger than running back Rolandan Finch and linebacker Lynden Trail. Finch ran a season-high 38 times for 110 yards and a score against the MEAC's top defense, his fifth 100-yard game of the year and second straight. Trail was all over the field, recording eight tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a pass breakup and his third receiving TD of the year.
NSU scored on its first three drives of the night. Finch capped the game's first possession, a 10-play, 81-yard drive, with a 2-yard TD run with 9:57 left in the first quarter. The key play in the drive was a leaping 22-yard catch of a Tyler Clark pass by tight end Joseph Hawkins to set up the Spartans with a first-and-goal. Finch darted into the end zone for his third TD of the year on the next play.
After holding B-CU's offense to a three-and-out, the Spartans put together a seven-play, 32-yard march which freshman Cameron Marouf punctuated with a career-long 43-yard field goal.
Isidore Jackson got the Wildcats on the board with a 35-yard TD run on the Wildcats' next possession, cutting NSU's lead to 10-7.
But the Spartans responded with a 17-play, 84-yard drive to again seize control. Trail scored on a 2-yard TD catch, his team-leading third scoring reception and fourth total TD, to give NSU a 17-7 lead with 10:52 left in the first half.
NSU didn't need much time to add to its lead. On the third play of the ensuing drive, Trail blew up the Wildcats' third-down option play, forcing B-CU quarterback Quentin Williams' pitch to go awry. NSU defensive back Natturner Harris scooped up the loose ball and sprinted 31 yards for the Spartans' second defensive score in as many weeks, extending the lead to 24-7.
B-CU had two prime opportunities to score later in the half, but NSU got a pair of key interceptions in its own end. Freshman safety Leroy Parker had the first, and junior safety Keenan Lambert had the second just before halftime on Williams' throw into the end zone.
NSU added to its lead on Marouf's 29-yard field goal in the third quarter, making it 27-7. Marouf's second field goal of the day capped another time-consuming drive which lasted 10 plays.
The Wildcats, whose only previous loss this year came to No. 2-ranked FBS power Florida State, rallied with 17 points in the fourth quarter. On the first play of the period, Clark completed a short pass to Derrick Demps, who was stripped by B-CU safety Nick Addison while fighting for extra yardage. Addison jaunted 14 yards into the end zone to cut NSU's lead to 27-13.
Jonathan Cagle's 23-yard field goal on the Wildcats' next possession brought his team within 27-16. After forcing an NSU punt, the Wildcats needed just two plays to make it a one-score game. Reserve Wildcats quarterback Jackie Wilson hit Jontavious Carter for a 61-yard pass play, and then Jackson darted in from the 11 on the next play. A two-point conversion brought the Wildcats within 27-24 with 5:48 remaining.
But NSU picked up two key first downs on the next drive to all but salt the game away. NSU was faced with a fourth down and a punt situation, the Wildcats were called for a personal foul during the punt that kept the drive alive. Clark added a key 11-yard run to pick up another first down near mid-field later in the possession.
Bethune-Cookman called its last timeout and the Spartans eventually turned the ball back over on downs with six seconds left. But Wilson's last-gasp heave was picked off by Darrin Marrow well shy of the end zone, NSU's fifth takeaway of the day.
NSU held B-CU's MEAC-leading offense to just 272 total yards. Jackson rushed for 69 yards and two scores for the Wildcats. Wilson and Williams, B-CU's two quarterbacks, were 9-of-18 for 118 yards and three interceptions.
Clark was 12-of-25 for 151 yards with one TD and one interception. In addition to Trail's defensive effort, fellow linebacker Marcell Coke had nine tackles and forced a second-quarter B-CU fumble which teammate Brent Singleton recovered. Lambert had four tackles, forced a fumble, intercepted a pass and added a pass breakup.
Finch's big game increased his season total to 948 yards on the ground, most in the MEAC.
The Spartans play their final road contest of the year next Saturday at North Carolina Central. Kickoff is 2 p.m. in Durham, N.C.
By Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
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