NORFOLK, Va. (October 29, 2022) – For the second straight week, the Howard University football team used a balanced attack to roll to a win, this time over Norfolk State (NSU), 49-21, at William "Dick" Price Stadium and became the lone unbeaten team in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play.
 
The Bison (3-5, 2-0 in the MEAC) won their second game in a row while snapping a 13-game road skid, dating back to 2019. The victory gave the Bison their first win in Norfolk, Va., since 2016 while sitting atop the MEAC standings.
 
"I feel really good about this win," said Howard football head coach Larry Scott. "Anytime you can win on the road in this league, it's a good win. The big thing for us is that we finished strong."
 
Howard rolled up 274 rushing yards, led by freshman tailback Eden James (Port St. Lucie, Fla.), who led the Bison with 114 yards and a career-best 66-yard run that broke the game open.
 
After the Spartans cut the deficit to 21-14 midway through the third period, Eden took the handoff from senior quarterback Quinton Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.), went left, waited patiently for the blocking to set up and then burst through a small hole and raced to the endzone to put Howard up by two scores again.
 
"We are beginning to find our groove on offense," said James, whose previous high was 54 yards in a game against Morehouse at the NYC Football Classic. "I am just waiting my turn behind two veterans, Ian (Wheeler) and Jarett (Hunter)."
 
James got plenty of support from juniors Jarett Hunter (Mineral, Va.) with 12 carries for 48 yards and Kasey Hawthorne (Sebring, Fla.) with seven rushes for 35 yards and a TD and Williams with nine carries for 39 yards and a touchdown.
 
Williams had yet another efficient game, completing 17-of-22 for 175 yards and three TDs. His main target was second-year Bison Nah'shawn Hezekiah (Orangeburg, S.C.), who grabbed seven catches for 63 yards.
 
Defensively, Howard held the Spartans (1-7 overall, 1-2 in the MEAC) to 229 yards of total offense.
 
Sophomore safety Kenny Gallop, Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.), who is playing as well as anyone in the conference, had eight tackles (seven solos). Senior linebacker Christian White (Highland Springs, Va.) added six tackles (four solos) in the victory.
 
"We tried to be physical, play hard and do our job," explained Gallop, who now has an incredible 27 solo tackles in the last three games.
 
The Preseason All-MEAC selection added that he had special motivation in the game, "Playing before my family gave me added incentive."
 
 
The special teams, which had its problems in the early part of the season, has played better and been a key factor in the two wins. Graduate punter Phillip Richards (Melbourne, Australia) had only three attempts for the second straight game, but he has averaged over 42 yards per attempt and has placed four-of-six inside the opponents' 10-yard line.
 
The special teams added to the party with newcomer Aaron Bickerton (Bonita Springs, Fla.) converting on all seven PATs.
 
The Bison take on North Carolina Central Saturday (Nov. 5) in a big showdown in Durham, N.C. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
The game at NCCU has huge implications in the conference race for the title. It will be homecoming for the Eagles, which makes it even more challenging for Howard's quest for a title.
 
"I think that this team thinks that playing on the road is the norm," Scott stated, which has played only one home game this season. "The reality is that there are three games left on the schedule and we are taking them one game at a time. From here on out, it becomes a one-game season."
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.