 |
| |||
 Football Index Composite Schedule 
Newsroom Index |
Norfolk State 31, Virginia State 21Norfolk, VA- Norfolk State opened up the 2002 football season with a 31-21 victory over state-rival Virginia State in front of 8,363 rain soaked fans at Price Stadium.Virginia State (0-1) scored the game’s first touchdown with 11:26 left in the second quarter, as Rashad Cook scampered 21 yards to give the Trojans an early 7-0 lead. Norfolk State got a 27-yard field goal from Gideon Tekola to trim the VSU lead to 7-3 at halftime. Norfolk State (1-0) started the third quarter in impressive fashion with an eight play 68-yard scoring drive. William Smith plunged in from seven-yards with 10:27 remaining in the third quartet to give NSU the lead for good. The point after attempt was good and NSU lead 10-3. Freshmen Terrell Johnson capped off an 11-play 53-yard scoring drive with his first collegiate touchdown on a seven-yard run to push the NSU lead to 17-7 with 4:54 left in the third quarter. Dontrell Leonard and Howard Gilmore hooked up for a 75-yard touchdown strike to increase the Spartan lead to 24-7 with 11:53 left in the fourth quarter. Norfolk State continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter, as Michael Vann scored his first collegiate touchdown on an 11-yard run to give NSU its largest lead of the night 31-7. Virginia State added two late scores in the fourth quarter on a Bernard Comer three0yard run and an 18-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Jones to Jerome Jeter to close out the scoring for Virginia State. Offensively, Dontrell Leonard completed 11-of-13 passes for 168 yards and one touchdown for NSU. Howard Gilmore had four receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown. Terrell Johnson led the Spartans with 63 yards rushing on 15 carries with one touchdown. William Smith had 54 yards rushing on 14 carries with one touchdown, while Michael Vann chipped in with 15 yards on three carries with one touchdown. Defensively, Marcus Gray had an outstanding game for the Spartans. Gray recorded five solo tackles and two assisted tackles, blocked one punt, and two pass breakup. Jamal Naji also had a solid game with 4 solo tackles and three assisted tackles, including three for losses of 12 yards and one sack for seven yards, and one pass breakup. NSU has a bye next week and will return to action on September 14, 2002, as they host Savannah State. Game time is set for 7:00p.m.
|
