Howard 21, Norfolk State 0

In a meeting of familiar faces, the Howard University Bison defense came up with its strongest performance of the season, shutting out the Spartans of Norfolk State, 21-0, in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference match-up before a crowd of 5,200 in Greene Stadium.

Howard (5-3, 3-2 MEAC) recorded its first shutout since 2000 when the Bison beat the Spartans (2-6, 0-6 MEAC), 14-0 in Howard’s homecoming.

It was Bison head coach Ray Petty’s first time facing his former team since rejoining Howard after a stint as the Spartans’ defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2001. Defensive coordinator Keith Gilmore and special teams coach Jonathan Cannon also joined Petty at Howard after tenures at Norfolk State, and said familiarity with the Spartans’ game plan played a significant role in the successful game plan. The Bison defense allowed a season-low 128 yards of total offense to the Spartans, including 19 net yards on the ground while and the special teams got into the act by scoring a touchdown on a blocked punt.

“Being an ex-Norfolk State coach, I had an idea of what they like to do,” said Gilmore. “We just tried to line people up on people who we thought would have weaknesses. It was just about knowing the personnel.”

“We saw in films this week, in some things that they were doing (on special teams), that we could get in a block,” added Cannon.

Senior defensive tackle Charles Woodall (8 tackles, 3 for losses, 1 sack) led an inspired Bison defense.
“Everyone came out and dominated today,” Woodall said. “Our defensive coordinator used to coach there, so we knew their tendencies and weaknesses.”

Howard played without starting wide receiver Shaun Miller (knee) and quarterback Donald Clark left the game in the first quarter with a possible lacerated kidney. But it was junior running back Jay Colbert, who picked up the slack for the Bison offense for the second week in a row, racking up a career-high 155 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

The special teams got the Bison on the board early in the first quarter when Howard junior defensive back Greg Spriggs blocked Gideon Tekola’s punt at the Spartans’ 2-yard line. Bison safety Donald Lank scooped up the loose ball and took it to the end zone. Freshman Vaughan Waters, returning from a knee injury suffered two weeks ago against Morgan State, split the uprights to give the Bison a 7-0 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the first quarter.

With five minutes remaining in the half, Colbert turned the left corner following some outstanding blocks from fullback Troyce Sanders and offensive tackle Brandon Torrey and raced up the sideline for a 46-yard touchdown run to put the Bison up, 14-0.

Later in the third quarter, Clark’s replacement Marcos Moreno (5-for-11, 1 TD, 2 INTs) found junior wide receiver Jonathan Brewer for a 19-yard scoring strike that all but sealed the Bison victory.

With the loss, the Spartans remain winless in the MEAC this season.

“This was the worst game we have played this year,” said a dejected Norfolk State head coach Mo Forte. “I don’t say that to take anything away from Howard or Coach Petty; I just didn’t feel that things went well, especially on offense.
“We never got on track with our running game. When you’re allowing too much penetration, it’s tough to get your ball carrier going.”

With the win, Howard gains momentum heading into next week’s key match-up with South Carolina State (6-3 overall, 3-2 in the MEAC) in Orangeburg, S.C. The Bulldogs dropped a 27-21 road loss to Delaware State today.

“We had to keep on a roll,” said Bison linebacker Tracy White. “We’ve been looking for that first shutout (of the season).”

With Petty facing his former team, many speculated that there would be a number of sub plots surrounding the game.
“(Petty) and I are good friends,” Forte said. “You always want to beat your good friend. He did that. Regardless who wins the football game, it won’t tear the friendship apart.”

GAME NOTES: The Bison defense sacked the NSU quarterbacks six times and forced them into 7 of 32 passing…freshman defensive end Tariq Amin had his best game as a Bison, recording two sacks…Woodall continues to state his case for All MEAC…the 6-3, 290-pound senior from Philadelphia, PA recorded six solos, 3 assists, 3 tackles for losses and a sack…Vontrae Long picked off his third interception of the season.

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