NSU campus
FIRST LOOK: Norfolk State Makes First Trip to Rocky Mountains for Saturday's Stripe the Stadium Game
9/18/2019 9:49:00 AM | Football
NSU has never before faced a Big Sky school
FIRST LOOK – Norfolk State
Summary: The Cats return to Bobcat Stadium Saturday for the team's final non-conference tune-up, hosting Norfolk State at 1 pm on Saturday.
2019 Record: The Spartans enter Saturday's game 1-2 overall, but Montana State stands as Norfolk State's first FCS opponent. NSU has lost to FBS foes Old Dominion and Coastal Carolina, while beating NCAA Division II entry Virginia State.
2018 Record: After winning three of its first four games Norfolk State suffered through a four-game mid-season losing streak to finish 4-7 overall, 2-5 in conference play.
Current Conference Standings: Norfolk State owns the only 1-2 non-conference record in the MEAC, and places the Spartans in the middle of the league's standings through week three. Like the Big Sky, MEAC play starts in earnest next week.
Preseason Conference Prediction: Norfolk State was picked to finish seventh in the MEAC in 2019, according to the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Rankings: Norfolk State is unranked. Montana State is 8th in the STATS FCS poll, 14th in the AFCS FCS Coaches Poll.
MSU vs. Norfolk State
Series: first meeting
Jeff Choate vs. Norfolk State: 0-0
Jeff Choate vs. Latrell Scott: 0-0
Latrell Scott vs. MSU: 0-0
Spartans Leaders
Rushing: Juwan Carter 24-91-1, Kevin Johnson 10-63-0, Aaron Savage 24-58-0
Passing: Juwan Carter 40-67-4, .597, 458 yards, 7 TDs
Receiving: Da'Kendall James 9-128-1, Gerald Hulett 7-65-1, Justin Smith 5-93-0
Tackles: Nigel Chavis-22, De'Shaan Dixon-20
Sacks: Chris Myers-3
Interceptions: one each by four players
About Norfolk State University
Founded in 1935 as Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University, it became the independent Norfolk Polytechnic College in 1942, and two years later the Virginia State Legislature transitioned the school into Virginia State College. The College offered its first bachelor's degrees in 1956, and in 1969 it again separated from the College to once again become a fully independent Norfolk State College. Over the course of the next decade it began granting graduate degrees, and in 1979 began granting terminal degrees and attained University status. A nationally-known HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), Norfolk State resides on the site of a former golf course. NSU's notable alums include former NBA star Bobby Dandridge and actor Tim Reid, who played Venus Flytrap on '70s sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.
What the Pundits Say
Jason Alvine, Bobcat Play-by-Play Man – "The Montana State Bobcats came away from Macomb, Illinois with the statement win they wanted and now turn their focus to Norfolk State in the final non-conference game of the season. The Spartans are a team head coach Jeff Choate describes as 'athletic and opportunistic.' The offense starts and stops with the play of quarterback Juwan Carter, a true dual threat guy that can extend plays with his feet. Coach Choate compared him to a shorter version of former Bobcat quarterback, Chris Murray. On the defensive side of things, Nigel Chavis is their jack-of-all trades, as the former end and outside linebacker has been planted in the middle of the defense to anchor a veteran unit. With 18 returning starters, this is a veteran team primed to prove the pre-season polls wrong."
Summary: The Cats return to Bobcat Stadium Saturday for the team's final non-conference tune-up, hosting Norfolk State at 1 pm on Saturday.
2019 Record: The Spartans enter Saturday's game 1-2 overall, but Montana State stands as Norfolk State's first FCS opponent. NSU has lost to FBS foes Old Dominion and Coastal Carolina, while beating NCAA Division II entry Virginia State.
2018 Record: After winning three of its first four games Norfolk State suffered through a four-game mid-season losing streak to finish 4-7 overall, 2-5 in conference play.
Current Conference Standings: Norfolk State owns the only 1-2 non-conference record in the MEAC, and places the Spartans in the middle of the league's standings through week three. Like the Big Sky, MEAC play starts in earnest next week.
Preseason Conference Prediction: Norfolk State was picked to finish seventh in the MEAC in 2019, according to the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Rankings: Norfolk State is unranked. Montana State is 8th in the STATS FCS poll, 14th in the AFCS FCS Coaches Poll.
MSU vs. Norfolk State
Series: first meeting
Jeff Choate vs. Norfolk State: 0-0
Jeff Choate vs. Latrell Scott: 0-0
Latrell Scott vs. MSU: 0-0
Spartans Leaders
Rushing: Juwan Carter 24-91-1, Kevin Johnson 10-63-0, Aaron Savage 24-58-0
Passing: Juwan Carter 40-67-4, .597, 458 yards, 7 TDs
Receiving: Da'Kendall James 9-128-1, Gerald Hulett 7-65-1, Justin Smith 5-93-0
Tackles: Nigel Chavis-22, De'Shaan Dixon-20
Sacks: Chris Myers-3
Interceptions: one each by four players
About Norfolk State University
Founded in 1935 as Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University, it became the independent Norfolk Polytechnic College in 1942, and two years later the Virginia State Legislature transitioned the school into Virginia State College. The College offered its first bachelor's degrees in 1956, and in 1969 it again separated from the College to once again become a fully independent Norfolk State College. Over the course of the next decade it began granting graduate degrees, and in 1979 began granting terminal degrees and attained University status. A nationally-known HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), Norfolk State resides on the site of a former golf course. NSU's notable alums include former NBA star Bobby Dandridge and actor Tim Reid, who played Venus Flytrap on '70s sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.
What the Pundits Say
Jason Alvine, Bobcat Play-by-Play Man – "The Montana State Bobcats came away from Macomb, Illinois with the statement win they wanted and now turn their focus to Norfolk State in the final non-conference game of the season. The Spartans are a team head coach Jeff Choate describes as 'athletic and opportunistic.' The offense starts and stops with the play of quarterback Juwan Carter, a true dual threat guy that can extend plays with his feet. Coach Choate compared him to a shorter version of former Bobcat quarterback, Chris Murray. On the defensive side of things, Nigel Chavis is their jack-of-all trades, as the former end and outside linebacker has been planted in the middle of the defense to anchor a veteran unit. With 18 returning starters, this is a veteran team primed to prove the pre-season polls wrong."
Players Mentioned
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