NSU’s five-game winning streak ends; playoff hopes survive

Howard’s Endor Cooper, right, brings down NSU’s Jamar Johnson. Theodore Graham of Howard recovered Johnson’s fumble. (Steve Earley photos | The Virginian-Pilot)

By Vicki L. Friedman
The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK

After two months of glory, the hiccup finally happened. Norfolk State’s five-game win streak was halted by Howard 17-10 on Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd of 15,548.

The Bison (4-4, 2-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) lulled the Spartans into an afternoon of ineffectiveness, holding NSU to 191 yards of total offense and dominating possession with a 20-minute advantage.

Norfolk State tailback Daryl Jones, slowed by the flu and even more so by NFL prospect Rudolph Hardie, never got going, finishing with 4 yards on six carries, not touching the ball in the second half.

The Spartans (6-2, 5-1) killed themselves with penalties, committing 10 for 77 yards, including two on third down that allowed Howard to continue long drives, and another on fourth down that led to the Bison’s first score.

“We had way too many penalties at the wrong time,” Spartans coach Pete Adrian said. “The only good thing is we control our own destiny.”

NSU dropped to second place in the MEAC behind Delaware State (7-1, 6-0), which rallied to defeat South Carolina State 17-16. But the Spartans can still earn a Division I-AA playoff berth if they win their next two games – both on the road. NSU plays Morgan State next Saturday and Delaware State on Nov. 10.

Nortolk State’s Anthony Olumba breaks up a pass intended for Howard’s Larry Duncan. NSU dropped to second in the MEAC standings.

“It’s all about next week at this point,” said NSU quarterback Casey Hansen, who was 17 of 32 for 206 yards but was sacked five times, three times by Hardie.

The Bison never trailed.

Howard took the opening kickoff and went 52 yards in six plays, capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Brian Johnson to Jarahn Williams.

T he Spartans tied it at 7 when Hansen rolled right from the 7-yard line and found Jeremy Wicker in stride with 5:35 left in the first quarter.

NSU would manage one more first down the rest of the half.

Howard, meanwhile, relied on the running of Frank Berchie and Karlos Whittaker and screen passes from Johnson in a game of keepaway that left Hansen and crew on the sidelines most of the way.

“We knew we had the defense tired,” said Johnson, the MEAC’s top-rated passer, who was 11 of 20 for 196 yards. “I kept telling our O-line, 'Keep pushing them more. Give our defense the rest.’”

Even more helpful, the Bison picked up some points along the way, getting a 40-yard field goal from John Mendoza and then another touchdown just before halftime. On fourth-and-1 from the NSU 46, Howard gambled and threw to Williams. The junior wide receiver tipped the pass before catching it, beating Don Carey on the route.

The Spartans had just enough time to try a field goal before the break, but Justin Castellat’s 42-yard attempt barely lifted off the ground.

Castellat redeemed himself with a 23-yarder on NSU’s opening drive of the third quarter, but the offense waned and the defense unraveled. Howard got no points but stayed on the field twice with drives of nine plays or more, both of which ended in missed field goal attempts.

“It was tiring,” NSU defensive lineman Donte Hodge said. “We can’t point the finger at anybody. We just made stupid mistakes.”

Jeremy Wicker, left, scores NSU’s only touchdown in the first quarter as he beats Howard’s Martin Decembert.

Norfolk State went without a first down in the fourth quarter and was done in for good when Jamar Johnson fumbled and Howard’s Theodore Graham recovered. The Bison used the next

4:56 to run out the clock, ending the game on the NSU 1-yard line .

“For us it was a sign of disrespect that they scheduled us for homecoming,” Hardie said. “We got after them from the first play of the game.”

NSU finished with eight first downs to Howard’s 18 and allowed the Bison ground game to grind out 118 yards.

Still, Hodge refused to be too discouraged, noting, “This loss hurts us, but it’s not going to stop us.”

Vicki L. Friedman, (757) 446-2039

or VickiL120@cox.net