Norfolk State Spartans (0-1) fell to the Florida A&M Rattlers (1-0) at the 2024 Cricket MEAC/SWAC challenge at Center Parc Stadium on August 24, 2024. This is the first game of the season for both teams and the Spartans’ first time appearing in this challenge since it launched in 2005
The Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge is an annual game that features a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Last year’s challenge featured the Jackson State Tigers and the South Carolina State Bulldogs, which resulted in a Tigers win 37-7.
The Florida A&M Rattlers won the coin toss to start the game and chose to start the quarter off defending their goal. The Spartans used this to their advantage and took over the first quarter.
Kevon King, running back, gained a rushing 82 yards and a Spartan touchdown within the game’s first two minutes. A complete kick attempt from Spartans kicker, Grandin Willcox, followed, making the score 7-0.
Having multiple incomplete passes and a loss of yards, the Rattlers punter, Trey Wilhoit, punted 43 yards putting the ball back into Spartans possession.
Spartans running back, X’Zavion Evans, and King took turns gaining yards, until a player vomited on the field. Once the game was back into play, quarterback, Jalen Daniels, finished the Spartans drive with a one-yard rush for a touchdown. With another good kick attempt from Willcox, the Spartans advanced the score 14-0.
The Rattlers got their first touchdown of the game with a 27-yard pass to tight end, Kolby Gross, followed by a completed 20-yard pass to running back, Thad Franklin Jr. A good kick attempt from place kicker, Cameron Gillis, finished the Rattlers drive with the score 14-7.
The Spartans started the second quarter with possession of the ball but punted it away soon after. Rattlers wide receiver, Jamari Gassett, returned 39 yards from the punt and caught a 28-yard pass on the next play.
Unable to secure a touchdown but being in field goal range, Gillis’s 33-yard field goal attempt was good and made the score 14-10. The Spartans were also unable to secure a touchdown, but they reached field-goal range as well. During their field goal attempt, the Spartans fumbled the snap and turned the ball over to the Rattlers.
Within a minute left in the second quarter, the Rattlers fumbled but recovered it right away. With two incomplete passes, the Rattlers ended the second quarter reaching their fourth down.
The Rattlers started the third quarter getting a touchdown within the first three minutes with a 55-yard completed pass to Gassett. The touchdown and kick from Gillis gave the Rattlers the lead 14-17.
The Spartans tied the score 17-17 with a 49-yard pass to wide receiver, Kam’Ryn Thomas, and a 29-yard field goal from Willcox.
Finishing the quarter strong with another touchdown, the Rattlers advanced the score 17-24 and forced the Spartans to punt away the ball after giving them their fourth down with a sack by Rattlers linebacker Nay’Ron Jenkins.
Within the first five minutes of the last quarter, the Spartans recovered the ball from a Rattlers fumble. Later in the quarter, Daniels completed a 41-yard pass to Spartan wide receiver, Jacquez Jones, and finished the drive with a touchdown from King.
Willcox’s kick attempt was blocked, but an offsides call on the Rattlers gave them another chance. Attempting a two-point conversion instead and failing, the Spartans left the score 23-24.
During the Rattlers possession of the ball, 2:00 was left on the clock and they got an automatic first down from an offsides call on the Spartans. The Rattlers decided to let the clock run out and ended the game with a winning score of 23-24.
The 2025 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge will feature the North Carolina Central Eagles and the Southern University Jaguars.
The Spartans next game will be against the East Carolina State Pirates on August 31, 2024, at the Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina. The game will be streaming on ESPN Plus at 6:00 p.m.
Spartan Echo 