DOVER, Del. – Just a few days after the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame named him a semifinalist for the Aeneas Williams Award, honoring the best defensive back in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Division I college football,
Terron Mallory made history during Norfolk State's 44-21 victory at Delaware State on Saturday at Alumni Stadium.
Mallory recorded three interceptions during NSU's first MEAC win of the season, becoming the first Spartan to pick off three passes in the same game in the program's Division I history.
Norfolk State (3-7, 1-3 MEAC) tallied 459 yards of total offense on Saturday, including 285 yards on the ground. The Spartans held the Hornets (1-9, 0-4) to 201 offensive yards.
The Spartans struck first, and it didn't take long.
X'Zavion Evans started the game with a nine-yard rush, but a sack on the next play brought up third and 11.
It proved no issue for Evans. The sophomore running back took the ensuing handoff and immediately found the gap, breaking free for a 66-yard touchdown.
The Spartans forced a three-and-out on Delaware State's opening possession, and
Kevon King sped past the defense along the sideline for a 44-yard rush on NSU's next offensive play. The rush put the Spartans in enemy territory, eventually setting up a 36-yard field goal from
Grandin Willcox.
The Norfolk State defense continued to provide pressure, as
Miguel Rijo sacked quarterback Marqui Adams, before
Terron Mallory came down with an interception moments later, returning possession to the Spartans.
The Spartans moved forward with strong rushes from King and Evans, before Willcox knocked down a 42-yard field goal, increasing Norfolk State's lead to 13-0.
The Hornets found some success rushing the ball on the next possession, pushing forward to midfield. Defensive lineman
Grant Gaffney put a stop to that drive, however, bulldozing his way into the backfield for a sack.
A pair of long passes from Sapp to Pegues got the Spartans into striking distance. Sapp scampered in for the first touchdown rush of his career on the very next play.
Norfolk State forced the Hornets to punt from their own goalline on the ensuing possession, giving the Spartans prime field position. NSU took advantage, with King punching the ball in for the score.
Delaware State got its first points on the board late in the first half from a Marquis Gillis touchdown rush with 52 seconds on the clock.
But the Spartans weren't done yet. Norfolk State's
Taron Biles-Walker returned the kickoff 70 yards, giving NSU another chance to score. The Spartans converted, as Sapp found
The score sent Norfolk State to halftime with a 34-7 advantage, the most points in a half by NSU since recording 35 points in the first half against Elizabeth City State on Sept. 18, 2021.
The Spartans kept the momentum going in the third quarter, getting an immediate stop and marching down the field to add three points on the board. Willcox converted from 47 yards for his third made field goal of the day in as many tries.
Delaware State responded with a 51-yard touchdown pass, but the Spartans regrouped quickly. Sapp threw a deep ball to Pegues to get NSU into the red zone, before finding
Gregory Perkins for another score and pushing Norfolk State's lead out to 44-14.
Mallory picked off Delaware State for a second time on the next possession, becoming the first Spartan to record two interceptions in the same game since
Justin Toler at Hampton on Oct. 21, 2021. Fans would hear his name called once more, though.
After Delaware State added a rushing touchdown and Evans fumbled to give the Hornets possession in the fourth quarter, the Hornets appeared to have found some momentum. But Mallory took care of that issue, coming up with his record-breaking third interception of the afternoon, and putting a stamp on the Spartans first MEAC victory of the season.
Checking The Box Score
- Norfolk State amassed 459 yards of total offense on Saturday, including 285 on the ground
- Delaware State recorded 201 yards of total offense, only earning 68 yards on the ground
- The Spartans scored the game's first 27 points
- Terron Mallory recorded three interceptions, two solo tackles, and one pass breakup
- Norfolk State quarterback Cameron Sapp completed 8-of-12 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns, adding a rushing score as well
- Kevon King became the first Norfolk State player to record a 100-yard rushing game this season, tallying 116 yards and one touchdown on Saturday
- Andre Pegues became the first Norfolk State receiver to record a 100-yard receiving game this season, catching three passes for 100 yards on Saturday
- Grandin Willcox knocked down all three of his field goal attempts (36, 42, and 47 yards) and all five PATs
- AJ Richardson led the Norfolk State defense with five tackles, include three solo and one tackle for loss.
News & Notes
- Norfolk State improved to 3-7 with the win, 1-3 in the MEAC
- NSU scored 34 points in the first half, more than they had recorded in any full game this season going into Saturday
- Norfolk State's 34 first half points were the most in a half by the Spartans since recording 35 in the first half against Elizabeth City State on Sept. 18, 2021.
- Defensive back Terron Mallory recorded an interception in the first quarter on Saturday another in the third quarter, and another in the fourth quarter. He became the first player in Norfolk State's Division I history to intercept three passes in the same game
- Earlier in the week, Mallory was named a semifinalist for the Aeneas Williams Award, honoring the best defensive back in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Division I college football
- Norfolk State produced three takeaways on Saturday, all by Mallory. Through nine games, the NSU defense has recovered 11 fumbles and recorded nine interceptions
UP NEXT
Norfolk State returns home for Senior Day at William "Dick" Price Stadium against South Carolina State (4-6, 2-2 MEAC) next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
