Spartans turn it on, rout Virginia State

NORFOLK

Slow start, fast finish.

How fast? Usain Bolt kind of fast

The Spartans didn't just win, they overpowered their rivals from Division II Virginia State in the Labor Day Classic on Saturday 47-7 before a festive crowd announced at 17,132 at Price Stadium that appeared far larger. Speaking of big, the 40-point margin of victory was the greatest in the annual series that dates to 1963.

The Spartans (1-0) rang up the first 47, with 28 of those points earned in the second half.

Virginia State's lone score came with 1:34 left in the game when NSU had a collection of backups on defense.

After missing all of the 2007 season due to eligibility issues, running back DeAngelo Branche showed as much rust as a shiny new vehicle. A white towel hanging from his gold pants exclaimed "I'm back!" in colored marker, and the Trojans c ouldn't argue. Scoring three touchdowns, which matched his previous high from the entire 2006 season, the sophomore showed off elusive moves that should make him the MEAC's best.

"We started slow, but the whole time I knew once we clicked we'd get it going," said the Maury graduate, who rushed 20 times for 92 yards. "I told Donte Hodge, 'I'm about to score' and I did. Then I came back and said, 'Told ya.' I told him I had another in me and I scored again. Then he asked me if I was done and I said, 'I have one more left.' "

UConn transfer Dennis Brown looked sharp in his Spartan debut, completing 12 of 30 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Brown led NSU on an eight-play, 60-yard scoring drive in the first possession, capped by Sherron Childress' 21-yard touchdown reception over the middle. But the Spartans didn't have another TD until Branche's 10-yarder with 2:46 left in the opening period and then scored 28 straight in the second half.

"I came out real hyped and did what we had to do to put points on the board," Brown said.

"The key for me was after that slow start, I didn't go into a shell. I had a little perseverance and stuck with my team all the way through."

Punter Billy Rudd even got into the quarterback game. Back to kick, Rudd spotted an uncovered Josh Anderson and lobbed it up for the defensive back out of Deep Creek High. After Anderson's 37-yard reception, NSU scored three plays later to go up 40-0.

Rudd's highlight came just after Lamont Thorpe nabbed a fumble from VSU quarterback Leonard Johnson and thundered downfield for his first career touchdown.

Other NSU highlights included a safety by Ray Jennings, NSU's stingy defense that limited the Trojan offense to 103 yards and 22 Spartan first downs.

"Coach worked us hard all week and we took his dream and made it come true," Jennings said.

Yet as pleased as coach Pete Adrian was, he sounded like a typical coach after a season opener.

"I'm pleased we won, but we were sloppy at times," he said. "That happens a lot in the first ball game. Once we calmed down, we got better."

Note: NSU redshirt junior R.J. Waters tore his left anterior cruciate ligament with 4:03 remaining in the game. Water' 32-yard rush the play before the season-ending injury was the longest running play of the night.

Vicki L. Friedman, (757) 477-6874 or VickiL120@cox.net