The Spartans won their homecoming football game, conquering the Howard University Bison 21-20 on October 26th at the Dick Price Stadium. This was their first conference win this season and ninth win against the Bison.
Norfolk State alumni came back to their alma mater, and some were able to support the Spartans in more ways than one. Alumni Legion members, Hot Ice dancers, and cheerleaders joined the current members during the game to represent their craft as being alumni.
Spartan football alum De’Shaan Dixon, who currently plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a defensive end, started the game off with the coin toss that the Spartans won to begin the matchup.
The Spartans chose to start the game off defending the end-zone and having the Bison receive the ball. The Bison got the first touchdown of the game by rushing 48-yards up the middle from quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins, and getting an extra point from kicker, Dylan West.
The Spartans made their way across the field to the Bison’s 2nd yard line, but were unable to secure a touchdown. They attempted a field goal but it was missed, leaving the score 0-7 to end the first quarter.
Both teams were spearheading the first four minutes of the second quarter, trying to get a good handle on the game.
The Bison advanced their score 0-10 with a 28-yard field goal, but the Spartans responded with a 97-yard kick return touchdown from running back Jaylen White, and a point after touchdown kick from kicker Grandin Wilcox, putting the Spartans on the board 7-10.
The Spartans’ defense stopped Howard at the Spartans’ 20-yard line and forced the Bisons to attempt a 38-yard field goal that was missed, leaving the score 7-10. When trying to make a touchdown pass, Spartan defensive back Terron Mallory intercepted the ball within the last minute of the game to end the first half.
Coming out of halftime, the Spartans received the ball and the third quarter was fairly slow for both teams. The Spartans inched their way across the field play-by-play, and reached the Bison 20 yard line where they missed a field goal.
Making up for the no good kick, the Spartans got their second touchdown from running back Xzavion Evans jumping over a defender and rushing 16-yards into the end zone. Another good kick from Wilcox advanced their score 14-10.
As the teams were battling for the game, the start of the fourth quarter had both ups and downs for the Bison. They got a touchdown pass 14-17 but received multiple penalties that included one on their punt kick, unsportsmanlike conduct, and a face mask call.
Those calls placed the Spartans on the Bison 34 yard line and led the Spartans to another touchdown and point after kick 21-17 from a 4-yard rush up the middle by running back, Kevon King.
The Bison worked their way down the field having a 33-yard gain from Scroggins rushing left, but the Spartan’s defense pushed them back when they were close to the end- zone and forced a Bison field goal. With a little over five minutes left of the game, the Spartans took their time making plays to run the clock, and turned the ball over with downs at 18 seconds remaining, leaving the score 21-20 to take the win.
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