Inside the MEAC · recap

Norfolk State's offense puts up 0 points

Norfolk State's offense had the ball in South Carolina State territory six times on Saturday. It came away with two punts, an interception, a fumble and two turnovers on downs.

South Carolina State 22, Norfolk State 7, at South Carolina State's homecoming in Orangeburg. It was the MEAC opener for both teams.

What we said

The preview picked South Carolina State to win a closer game than the last three meetings, which it had won by 27, 32 and 31 points. It won by 15.

We also said the ball would decide it. Norfolk State came in having turned it over 11 times and forced 16. On Saturday it turned it over three times and forced none.

Nine points from two interceptions

South Carolina State led 10-0 after the first quarter, on a 21-yard Mason Pickett-Hicks touchdown run and a Jett Jackson field goal.

Midway through the second quarter Norfolk State drove from its own 19 to the South Carolina State 28. On third and 6, Kenneth Brown Jr. intercepted Da'Jean Golmond at the 15 and returned it 51 yards to the Norfolk State 34. Six plays later Pickett-Hicks scored from seven yards out. The extra point failed, and it was 16-0.

On the first snap after the kickoff, Michael Evans intercepted Golmond at the Norfolk State 28. South Carolina State gained nothing on four plays and Jackson kicked a 46-yard field goal anyway. It was 19-0 at halftime.

Late in the third quarter Golmond ran for eight yards to the South Carolina State 17 and fumbled, and the Bulldogs recovered.

Golmond finished 17 of 35 for 162 yards with no touchdowns. In the three games since he took over he had thrown six touchdown passes and one interception.

Wonodi again

The only Norfolk State points came from the special teams. South Carolina State punted from its own 6 in the third quarter, and Jason Wonodi returned it 47 yards for a touchdown with 9:28 left.

It was his third punt return touchdown this season. The other two came against Hampton on September 19.

Two fourth downs at the end

Norfolk State trailed 22-7 after a Jackson field goal with 7:56 left. It had the ball twice more and got into South Carolina State territory both times, to the 41 and the 37. Both drives ended on fourth down.

The rest of it

Norfolk State was outgained 321 to 279. It ran 28 times for 117 yards, with Jalyn Daniels carrying 12 times for 51. Brevin Caldwell caught six passes for 80 yards. The Spartans converted 4 of 15 third downs and were penalized 10 times for 90 yards.

Coming in, Norfolk State had scored at least 31 points in four straight games.

The defense held South Carolina State to 106 rushing yards. The Bulldogs' two touchdown drives were the 80-yard opening march and the 34 yards after the first interception. Norfolk State's release noted that 22 points was the fewest South Carolina State had scored against the Spartans since 2019.

Where it leaves them

Norfolk State is 4-4 and 0-1 in the MEAC. South Carolina State is 6-2 and 1-0, and has won 11 straight conference games.

Next Saturday Norfolk State plays Delaware State at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Both teams lost their MEAC openers this weekend.