The Norfolk State Spartans fell short of the Virginia State Trojans in the Labor Day Classic 33-24. Upton Bailey led the way for Virginia State with 18 rushes for 187 yards and 1 Touchdown. “First I apologize to our fans,” Norfolk State Football head coach Dawson Odums says. “We made too many mistakes, we didn’t tackle well we didn’t execute well. We must live with it, and I have to do a better job, we have to do a better job to make sure this football team is prepared for next week.”
The Spartans rush defense was exposed today giving up 316 total rushing yards, 257 of those yards game in the first half. The Spartans came out defensively and forced a fumble on the first play of the game and turned that turnover into points with a rushing touchdown from Lex Henry. The Trojans came back with an 80-yard rushing touchdown from Upton Bailey.
The theme for the Trojans was smash-mouth football in the first half. The Spartans couldn’t stop the run and the Trojans knew it. “In a couple of those runs it was bad fits,” Odums says. “It’s tuff when the running back can get to the safety before he gets slowed down. That was all in the first half, in the second half we figured it out, figured out what we were doing, and figured out where we needed to be.” In the second half, the Spartans only gave up 59 rushing yards.
The offensive tempo on both sides of the ball was up. Both teams took advantage of having good plays to capitalize and catch the defense in that same defensive package. Most of Virginia State’s major rushing yards came when the Spartans were in man coverage. Man, coverage put the Spartans with fewer men in the box which caused easier rushing lanes for Virginia State.
In the second half, both teams adjusted slowing the other one down. A lot more 3 and outs, and more defensive stands in the red zone. The NSU defense forced their first punt with 4:21 left in the 3rd quarter.
In the 4th the Trojans strike first with a 2-yard TD rush from Steve Williams. Puts them up 27-24. NSU fought back hard each time they got the ball but could not break through. With NSU getting the ball on their own side of the field with 2:47 left, a drive began to form. Good running plays and high-tempo quick passes for first downs. The offense gets down in between the five and in 4 downs they can’t punch it in.
VSU gets the ball back and runs the clock out to 4th down, then with 5 seconds left VSU backup QB Jordan Davis runs around and is eventually pushed out of bounds with one second left. VSU puts the game in harm’s way without taking the safety, and leaves the door open for NSU.
With 1 second left NSU special teams came out to the 7-yard line for a chip shot field goal to send the game into overtime. The long snapper snaps over the holder and kicker’s head and bounces to the 25 where a VSU Special teams player Dante Clark recovers and takes it back for a touchdown. The game ends 33-24 VSU. The ending of this game explains the whole game for the Spartans, missed opportunities, no rush defense, not taking advantage of what the defense gives them. The Spartans will face Hampton next Saturday, September 9th, 2023, at 6 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium for Battle of the Bay.
Spartan Echo 