WASHINGTON (October 26, 2024) – Redshirt sophomore Ja'Shawn Scroggins (Las Vegas) rushed for 109 yards and 159 yards in the air with two TDs (one passing & one rushing), but Norfolk State (NSU) made just enough plays to outlast the Howard University football team, 21-20, in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game at William Dick Price Stadium.
 
It was the first MEAC game for the Bison, who came into the game as the defending champions.
 
Howard got off to a quick start, taking the opening kickoff and marching 75 yards on six plays to take a 7-0 lead. Scroggins capped off the drive with a 48-yard sprint up the middle to paydirt.
 
The Spartans countered with a drive of their own, taking the ball from their own 15 and smartly using 14 plays to get down to the Bison two-yard line. But the Buffalo Soldier defense, which has played well all season, tightened and forced a missed field goal from 22 yards.
 
Buoyed by the success on defense, Howard (3-5, 0-1 MEAC) proceeded to use 15 plays to travel 70 yards before the drive stalled and the Bison were forced to settle for a Dylan West (Akron, Ohio) 28-yard field goal early in the second quarter to make the score 10-0.
 
Then, the Spartans were able to get a spark when Jaylen White took the kickoff and raced down the left sideline that resulted into a 97-yard return to narrow the deficit, 10-7, at the half. It marked the second straight game that the Bison have allowed a kick return for a score. In last week's game, Tennessee State retuned a kick 99 yards that proved to the determining play in the loss to the Tigers.
 
Norfolk State (3-6, 1-1 MEAC) took advantage of the momentum swing when it drove 59 yards on seven plays to take its first lead of the game. X'Zavion Evans scored from 16 yards to make it 14-10 with under three minutes in the third quarter.
 
The never-say-die Bison answered on a 10-play drive as senior Jamel Stewart (Richmond, Va.) capped off the drive with his first career TD from three yards out.
 
The Spartans regained the lead, 21-17, following a 53-yard drive that was capped off with a four-yard TD run.
 
After stopping the Spartans on their next possession, forcing an errant field goal attempt, West nailed his second field goal of the game, this time 36 yards.
 
The Bison were in a position to still pull out the victory but three costly penalties helped Norfolk State run out the clock and secure the victory.
 
Howard outgained the hosts in total offense, 371-287.
 
Defensively, senior Terrance Hollon (Cleveland) registered a team-leading eight total tackles (two solos) in the loss.
 
On Nov. 2, Howard returns to Greene Stadium to face Delaware State in a crucial MEAC showdown. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.