Football | 11/4/2022 1:30:00 PM

Date: Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022

 Time: Noon

 Location: Truist Stadium, East Greensboro, N.C.

 Radio: Donal Ware (pxp); Al Swann (analyst); Billy Covington (halftime)

 Radio Stations: WKEW 1400 AM; 96.3 FM; Sirus X.M. Radio 381/online 971

 TV/Stream: Spencer Turkin (pxp); Daimeon Banks (analyst)  

 Platform: ESPN+

NORTH CAROLINA A&T AGGIES (5-3, 3-0 Big South): The Aggies return to action after a thrilling homecoming victory over Campbell last Saturday. The Aggies trailed 28-10 at halftime to secure their best come-from-behind win in homecoming history in the 45-38 win. The Aggies are on a five-game winning streak as they step outside of conference play this week to play old Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) rival Norfolk State. The Aggies are looking to continue their winning ways with two massive Big South Conference games remaining on their schedule after their tilt against the Spartans. There is also a need to play well because the Aggies hope not to hurt their standing in the Division I-FCS world as they pursue an NCAA playoff berth and a good seed.  

The A&T offense has also come alive over the past four games. The Aggies have exceeded 400 yards of offense in four of their last five games, including a season-high 566 yards against Campbell. The offense was fueled by 256 yards on the ground by reigning FedEx Ground STATS Preform national player of the week, Bhayshul Tuten. Tuten had the best rushing performance in A&T homecoming history. But one of the game's biggest plays came from the defense in Jacob Roberts' 39-yard pick-6 to make it a 28-23 game in the third quarter. 

NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS (1-7, 1-2 MEAC): The Spartans are off to a bad start this season after they were picked to finish third in the MEAC by sports information directors and head coaches. A big part of the issue is stopping the opponent from putting points on the board as NSU opponents are averaging 38.6 points per game, including 32.7 points per game to MEAC opponents. The Spartans also surrender 436.9 yards per game and 23 first downs per game. Despite some defensive troubles, the Spartans have two outstanding linebackers, Tyler Long and Marquis Hall. Long leads the MEAC in tackles with 75. He also has 3 ½ tackles for loss, three sacks and one interception. Hall has 63 tackles on the season with 2 ½ tackles for loss, one sack and one INT. Offensively, the Spartans leader on the ground is Jordin Lennon. Lennon is coming off a 114-yard rushing performance in the Spartans 49-21 loss to Howard last week.  

A&T HEAD COACH SAM WASHINGTON: Washington is in his fifth season overall and his fourth season on the sideline after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Aggies to cancel the 2020 season. Washington is 29-14 (.674) as A&T's head coach. Washington won coach of the year honors in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 2018. He won 19 games over his first two seasons in AggieLand, the most of any A&T coach in his first two years on the job for the Aggies. Washington served as the Aggies defensive coordinator from 2011-17 before becoming head coach. He designed one of the best defenses in the nation during his time as the defensive coordinator. 

NORFOLK HEAD COACH DAWSON ODUMS: Odums returns to Aggieland after spending three seasons at A&T as an assistant coach. For the final two years, he was A&T's defensive coordinator. Odums came to Norfolk after experiencing many successes at Southern University for nine seasons. He went 63-32 at Southern, which included one SWAC championship (2013) and four SWAC West division titles. 

THE QUARTERBACKS: Jalen Fowler had an excellent second-half performance in the Aggies come-from-behind win over Campbell last week. Fowler threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns in the second half, with both going to Zach Leslie. His 77-yard T.D. throw to Leslie in the fourth quarter was the longest completion of his career. He has thrown more than 200 yards in his last three games. 

Norfolk State quarterback Otto Kuhns has completed 55.2 percent of his passes while throwing for 983 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. In the Spartans only win of the season, Khuns threw for 288 yards and an interception on 25-for-34 passing in the 24-21 win over Morgan State. Khuns averages 163.8 yards passing per game.  

NEWS AND NOTES 

• Tuten has rushed for more than 100 yards in seven straight games. He already has the school record for consecutive 100-yard rushing games. He needs three more 100-yard games to break the Big South record. 
• Tuten not only earned FedEx Grounds STATS Preform national offensive player of the week, but he also claimed Big South offensive player of the week and BOXTOROW HBCU national offensive player of the week. 
• His performance is tied for the sixth-best in school history. It marked the 20th time in program history an A&T back has exceeded 200 yards rushing. 
• The Aggies are 5-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference as they go after their sixth postseason appearance in seven seasons. They are seeking their fifth conference title in seven seasons.  
• Coach Sam Washington will face his second pupil this season. After coaching against one of his former players, Trei Oliver at North Carolina Central, Washington will face another NCCU Eagle turned head coach, Dawson Odums. 
• The Aggies lost to Oliver's Eagles 28-13 in Charlotte, N.C., earlier this season. Odums will bring in his NSU Spartans on Saturday. Washington served as the Eagles defensive coordinator when Oliver and Odums played at NCCU. 
• After their homecoming win last week, the Aggies improved to 46-46-4 during homecoming games. They are 24-17 in homecoming games at Truist Stadium. They have won 10 of their last 11 homecoming games.