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NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State (2-4, 0-3 MEAC) and Hampton (0-4, 0-2) meet for the 50th time in the annual Battle of the Bay this Saturday at HU's Armstrong Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
Both teams are looking to end four-game losing streaks in one of the most celebrated rivalries in all of HBCU sports.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
NSU dropped its fourth straight game last Saturday, squandering a 17-13 fourth-quarter lead in a 20-17 loss to Delaware State. The Spartans appeared to take a 10-point edge early in the fourth, but a penalty negated a touchdown and allowed DSU the chance to hang around. Nick Elko's 23-yard TD pass to Justin Brewton with 10:01 left was the deciding score. NSU got 312 passing yards from Jake Basmagian in the sophomore's first start as a Spartan. Brendon Riddick rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown and Xavier Boyce made six receptions for 66 yards. The Spartans outgained the Hornets 455-293. Through six games, NSU is fourth in the MEAC in total offense (346.5 ypg) and second in total defense (281.3 ypg). Riddick and fellow running back Takeem Hedgeman have combined for 648 rushing yards and nine touchdowns (seven rushing). Defensively, linebacker Lynden Trail leads the MEAC with 8.0 tackles for loss and ranks second with 4.0 sacks.
SCOUTING THE PIRATES
Hampton comes off its second bye week of the season still searching for its first victory of 2012. The Pirates fell to 0-4 after a 38-26 loss to Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 29. Hampton outgained the Wildcats 536-320 but committed seven turnovers. Travis Champion and Jaylian Williamson combined for pass for 279 yards but threw four interceptions. Running back Jeremiah Schwartz racked up 201 yards rushing and a score. Hampton enters this week ranked first in the MEAC in total offense (361.8 ypg) but ninth in total defense (426.8 ypg). Champion ranks second in the conference in passing yards per game (218.5) and total offense (222.2 ypg), while Schwartz is second in rushing yards per game (90.2). Linebackers Devante Hawkins and Lyndell Gibson both have 40 tackles, ranking in the MEAC's top five.
MEDIA COVERAGE
• Radio: NSU Sports Network, WXTG 102.1 FM The Game (Play-by-Play: Ross Gordon; Color: Maguell Davis; Pre-Game: Gordon, Davis and Matt Michalec) (Note: WNSB 91.1 FM is still experiencing technical difficulties and is not on air. Listen via 102.1 FM or 1490 AM The Game)
• Audio Stream: Click here (or click “Live Audio” link under Inside Athletics tab)
• Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/hampton/football/scoreboard.aspx
• Twitter Updates: @NSUSpartans
THE SERIES
• This will be the 50th meeting all-time between NSU and Hampton in a series that dates to 1963. The Spartans lead 25-23-1.
• NSU is 0-7 at HU's Armstrong Stadium since joining the MEAC. The Spartans' last win at Hampton was a 14-7 decision in 1996, NSU's last season in Division II.
• Since 2006, every meeting between the two teams has been won by the home team.
QUICK HITS FROM DELAWARE STATE
• NSU has now lost its three MEAC games by a combined 18 points. This marked the second MEAC loss this year by three points or less.
• Eric Hitch led NSU in tackles for the first time this season, matching his career high with eight.
• Walk-on Blair Reid made his first career appearance, serving as one of the team's punt returners. He returned one punt for six yards.
• Everett Goldberg kicked one touchback, running his MEAC-leading total to 10 this year (in 25 kickoffs, including three “squib” kicks).
• Jake Basmagian's 86-yard TD pass to Takeem Hedgeman marked not only Basmagian's first career TD pass, but Hedgeman's first career TD reception. It was also NSU's longest play this year.
• Basmagian passed for 312 yards, giving NSU two separate QBs who have thrown for 300+ yards in a game this season. Eastern Washington (Kyle Padron, Vernon Adams) is the only other school to have done that so far in 2012.
BASMAGIAN GETS 1ST CAREER START
Sophomore quarterback Jake Basmagian made the first start of his Spartan career last Saturday against Delaware State. The transfer from Los Angeles' Pierce College threw three interceptions, one of which was deflected, but did complete 24 of his 35 passes for 312 yards and a score. His TD pass covered 86 yards – NSU's longest play this season – to senior running back Takeem Hedgeman. Basmagian completed passes to seven different receivers.
DEFENSE STANDS TALL ONCE MORE
Last year marked the third consecutive season in which the NSU defense ranked in the top 10 among all FCS schools in total defense. After finishing sixth nationally in both 2009 and 2010, the 2011 defense proved to be the best in the Pete Adrian era at NSU, ranking second in the country. This year's defense is also off to a good start, allowing just 281.3 yards per game so far, good for No. 5 nationally. The Spartans also rank:
• 9th nationally in pass defense (150.17 ypg)
• 20th in tackles for loss (7.2 per game)
• Tied for 29th in sacks (2.3 per game).
ON YOUR TRAIL
Sophomore Florida transfer linebacker Lynden Trail has emerged as one of the top defensive players in the MEAC. Despite coming off the bench in all six NSU games this season, the 6-7, 250-pound Trail leads the team in tackles, with 34 through six games (5.7 per game). Trail is first in the MEAC in tackles for loss (8.0) and second in sacks (4.0). He also leads the Spartans with five quarterback hurries and has one forced fumble and one fumble recovery to his credit. Trail was a four-star recruit coming out of Miami, Fla.'s Booker T. Washington High School and was ranked the No. 7 defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com. He selected Florida over dozens of offers from top-flight schools, including Michigan, USC, Florida State, LSU, Georgia and more. Trail did not play in any games during his two seasons at UF, which included a redshirt season.
DOUBLE DUTY
NSU senior Eric Hitch pulled off a rare feat last week against Delaware State: he started on both offense and defense. Hitch has started all six games this season at inside linebacker, and led the Spartans with eight tackles against DSU. But he also started at fullback for the NSU offense last week. Hitch played both positions in high school and had seen some action in goal-line offensive formations earlier in the year. Saturday was his first start on offense, however.
GARRETT OUT FOR THE SEASON
NSU suffered another blow to its offense when redshirt senior receiver Reggie Garrett suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of the Delaware State game last week. He was injured following a 15-yard reception. Since Garrett already redshirted once in his career (2008) and played in the first six games of this season, his NSU career is likely over. Garrett has caught 73 passes for 815 yards and three touchdowns in 29 career games.
LOTS OF LAUNDRY
NSU continues to struggle this season with penalties. The Spartans were called for 14 infractions against DSU last week for 119 yards. Those figures are both the second-most committed by a NSU this year, following the Virginia State game (20 penalties, 164 yards). The Spartans are tied for 117th out of 121 FCS schools nationally in penalties, committing 11.17 per game. NSU is 115th in penalty yards per game, at 92.8.
BOYCE'S MILESTONES
Xavier Boyce led NSU with six catches for 66 yards last week against Delaware State. In the process, Boyce reached both the 100-reception plateau and 1,000-yard receiving mark at NSU. Through 18 games over a year and a half with the Spartans, the Virginia Tech transfer now has 100 catches for 1,048 yards and five TDs.
HOT POTATO
The Spartans will be attempting this week to do a better job of holding onto the football. NSU is 10th out of 11 MEAC schools in turnover margin, at minus-8 on the year. Only Hampton (minus-10) has a bigger disparity in takeaways vs. giveaways. The Spartans have committed a MEAC-high 17 turnovers while forcing just nine. In 2011, NSU finished the year plus-3 and had just 16 turnovers all year (in 12 games).
