NORFOLK, Va. -- A pair of programs hungry to get back in the win column will square off this weekend, as Norfolk State (1-3) and Virginia Military Institute (0-3) square off at Alumni Memorial Field.
The Spartans and Keydets meet on Saturday afternoon for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff. The game will mark just the third time the in-state foes have met on the gridiron, and the first matchup in 18 years.
The Norfolk State football team started slow in a home loss to Hampton last week, falling to the Pirates 37-7. Despite the setback after a momentous rivalry win over Virginia State the week prior, Norfolk State head coach
Dawson Odums remains confident that his team will bounce back in stride.
"I take full responsibility for that because we did not play how we did those first three games," Odums said. "We'll see what we did. We'll look at it, identify it, and correct it for this next oppponent in VMI, a very good football team. I know their record says 0-3, but they've faced a tough schedule."
VMI fell in blowout losses to FCS-ranked William & May and ACC opponent Georgia Tech, but held its own against Bucknell in a 35-28 result. Keydets running back Hunter Rice has accumulated 257 yards on the ground with three touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry to power the team's offense.
Saturday's game will air live on ESPN+, while also available for radio listeners on WNSB 91.1 FM.
ABOUT THE GAME
- This is the second meeting between the schools with the series tied 1-1.
- The last meeting came in 2006 when Norfolk State defeated Virginia Military 32-19.
- Neither team has won on the road in the series between the schools.
- Norfolk State head coach Dawson Odums is in his fourth season
- VMI head coach Danny Rocco is in his second season
ABOUT NORFOLK STATE
- Norfolk State fell to 1-3 on the season following a loss to Hampton in the 65th edition of Battle of the Bay, 37-7, last weekend
- NSU seeks its first road win since Nov. 11, 2023.
- The Spartans have recovered the most fumbles in the MEAC (four)
- Kevon King ranks third in the MEAC with 331 rushing yards and second in rushing touchdowns (three)
- Redshirt junior wideout Jahee Blake recorded the first touchdown of his collegiate career against Hampton, a 26-yard reception in the third quarter.
- Defensively, AJ Richardson leads the MEAC with 34 total tackles that includes nine solo tackles
- Terron Mallory is tied for first in the MEAC with two interceptions on the season
ABOUT VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
- Virginia Military is 0-3 on the season following a loss to FBS foe Georgia Tech 59-7
- VMI has gone 4-of-4 in the redzone on the season with four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing)
- Hunter Rice ranks second in the SoCon in rushing with 257 yards and three touchdowns.
- Kouri Crump stands fourth in the SoCon in tackles with 26 on the year (13 solo).
- Sophomore wide receiver Egypt Nelson is a Norfolk, Va. native
