Big test for struggling Spartans
Morgan State boasts MEAC’s top defense
Norfolk State came up short yet again Saturday in its 27-23 loss to Howard.
The loss is the latest in a threegame losing streak for the Spartans, who sit at 2-5 and have lost four games by fewer than 10 points.
Coach Dawson Odums told the media Tuesday there were plenty of positives to take from the loss. Now Norfolk State just needs to find a way to put it all together.
“We came up short,” Odums said. “And that’s the disappointing thing: How do we get over this hump of coming up short and trying to figure it out?
“We got another 60 minutes and got another opportunity this week to try to figure that out. But I was really pleased with how hard we played. The execution was much better.”
Before the game last week, quarterback Otto Kuhns said he felt the offense needed to start fast against Howard, adding that the Spartans were constantly having to come from behind this season because the offense started slowly.
Norfolk State did just that and held a 17-9 lead going into halftime. With 12 minutes remaining, the Spartans led 20-12.
Odums said the early boost boiled down to a few changes, including opting to receive the opening kickoff, but ultimately improved execution was the key.
“We still left some plays out there on Saturday, but we executed at a higher rate and they gave us a chance to stay on the field,” Odums said. “(On) third down we were much better, much improved, and that gave us a chance to continue some drives.
“And when you do that, you increase your chances of scoring. So I really thought that the biggest thing was our execution.”
This week Norfolk State will match up with Morgan State for homecoming. The Spartans’ last homecoming win came in 2021, when they routed the lower-level Virginia University of Lynchburg, but the last time they beat an FCS team during homecoming was in 2019 against Morgan State.
“I think it’s great for our psyche, great for our momentum down the stretch, great for our fan base and great for our fine institution,” Odums said of homecoming.
“Nothing like ... leaving homecoming with a W. I think that just capitalizes (on) the weekend and gives you an opportunity to have some bragging rights and really enjoy Saturday night.”
Morgan State enters the game with one of the best defenses in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, and the case can be made that the Bears are a fringe top-25 defense in the FCS. The Bears are No. 1 in the MEAC in total defense, giving up 308.7 yards per game and 4.6 yards per play.
“They do a really great job up front,” Odums said. “Their front
seven is as advertised. They do a good job against the run, and that’s the biggest thing in this conference. If you can stop the run, you give yourself a chance to be successful and you put all the pressure on quarterbacks.
“Your quarterback play has to be really good if teams are gonna force you to throw the football, and they’ve been able to do that.”
Morgan State’s conference-best run defense is ranked No. 16 in the country. The Bears have given up only four touchdowns on the ground this year, and opponents only average 104.2 yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry.
Like Norfolk State, Morgan State has been in several close losses. After upsetting Richmond in their season opener, the Bears nearly beat an FBS opponent in Akron before falling by three points.
Last week Morgan State took last year’s MEAC co-champions, North Carolina Central, down to the wire but lost 16-10. Of the Bears’ five losses this year, all but one have been by 10 points or fewer.
“Everybody that plays them says they’re really good on defense and they got some talent on offense,” Odums said. “Their skill guys can stretch the field, they got great speed … so (they’re a) very wellrounded football team and we got to play extremely well to have a chance in this football game.”