ATLANTA, GA (WTKR) – Norfolk State challenged the No. 25 FCS team in the country on Saturday night, but unfortunately it was one point short.
Jalen Daniels’ attempt at a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter failed and the Spartans were unable to touch the ball again, losing the MEAC/SWAC Challenge to Florida A&M 24-23.
Things were looking good for the Green and Gold at the start. Oscar Smith product Kevon King opened the scoring with an 82-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the game. Daniels scored another running touchdown later in the period, giving NSU a 14-0 lead.
The Rattlers were far from defeated, however, and scored the next 17 points. After a touchdown pass from Daniel Richardson with 55 seconds left in the first quarter, Florida A&M scored a field goal, cutting Norfolk State’s lead to 14-10 at halftime. Richardson wasted no time after the break, catching a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Gassett early in the third quarter.
NSU responded with a field goal to tie the score at 17-17 before Richardson and Gassett teamed up again with 3:27 left in the third quarter to score a nine-yard touchdown, putting the Rattlers back in the lead (24-17).
The Spartans had one more attack left. Daniels played to Kam’ryn Thomas, who adjusted well despite defensive pass interference and caught the ball inside the five-yard line. This play enabled King’s second touchdown run of the night, bringing the Green-Gold within one point with 6:29 minutes left.
Grandin Wilcox’s extra point attempt was off, but Florida A&M was called for offside, giving NSU another chance from inside the two-yard line. Head coach Dawson Odums and the Spartans settled for two points, but Daniels was tackled well short of the goal line on his attempt.
The Rattlers held the ball and controlled the clock for the rest of the game, keeping the ball out of the Spartans’ hands.
King carried the ball 14 times for 146 yards and scored two touchdowns, while Daniels completed seven of his nine pass attempts for 142 yards. The quarterback added five rushing yards and a touchdown. Jacquez Jones was the top receiver, catching four passes for 78 yards, while Thomas contributed two catches for 57 yards.
Saturday’s game continued a trend of close losses for Norfolk State from last season. NSU finished the 2023 season with a 3-8 record, but four of the losses came by seven points or less.
The Spartans are back in action next Saturday when they travel to East Carolina with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.
