Football | 11/23/2024 3:14:52 AM

NORFOLK, Va. - The final week of the conference season kicks off this weekend. Howard will travel 47 miles to Baltimore to face Morgan State in the Battle for the Beltway. North Carolina Central heads up to Delaware State for the Hornets senior day, while Norfolk State travels down to Orangeburg to close the season at South Carolina State’s senior day.
 
WEEKLY NOTES | COACHES CALL
 
Here’s a look inside this week's matchups...
   
Howard enters the matchup following a 26-3 loss to North Carolina Central last week under the Friday night lights. Howard boasts the second-best kick return unit averaging 20.6 yards on kickoffs and 7.3 yards on punts. RB Jarett Hunter ranks fourth in the conference in rushing with 67.5 yards while QB Ja’Shawn Scroggins is fifth with 53.0 ypg. DB Kenny Gallop Jr. ranks second in the MEAC in total tackles with 77 (7.0 avg.) while teammate Noah Miles is fourth in tackles for a loss (10.5) and fifth in sacks (7). LB Terrence Hollon leads the MEAC in fumbles recovered with four on the season (0.36). Morgan State enters Saturday’s game after falling to South Carolina State 54-7 in their last matchup. DL Elijah Williams ranks second in the MEAC in sacks (11) and tackles for loss (14.0). The Bears lead the MEAC in punt returns averaging 17.9 per return. In the national stats, Morgan State ranks T-No. 3 in blocked kicks (5),  No. 7  in passing yards allowed (160.6), No. 20 in total defense (315.3), T-No. 17 in fumbles recovered (9), No. 23 in red zone defense (.735), No. 14 in first downs defense (171), T-No. 6 in 4th down conversion pct. defense (.308), and No. 9 in time of possession (32.3). Saturday's matchup marks the 77th meeting between the two schools with Morgan State leading the overall series 43-32-1 dating back to 1931. Howard has won six-in-a-row, including last year's 14-7 win at Greene Stadium to win the 2023 MEAC Title.
 

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North Carolina Central enters Saturday's game after defeating Howard in their last outing, 26-3. The Eagles lead the MEAC in scoring offense (33.9 ppg) and defense (19.2), total defense (297.4 ypg), run offense (175.2 ypg), pass defense (152.8 ypg) and kickoff returns (26.3 avg). N.C. Central ranks second in total offense (379.9 ypg), pass offense (204.7 ypg) and rush defense (144.6 ypg). RB J’Mari Taylor earned MEAC Player of the Week honors after registering a career-high 206 rushing yards against Howard. He became the sixth Eagle to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. Taylor leads the conference with 106.8 ypg and scoring (9.6 ppg). Delaware State enters Saturday’s matchup looking to pick up their second victory of the season after falling to Norfolk State, 38-19, in their last outing. DSU leads the MEAC in PAT kicks making all 25 attempts. RB Jaden Sutton ranks second in the MEAC in rushing (100.3 ypg) and scoring (6.5 ppg). DB Kyree Benton and DL Darren Cook rank two and three in fumbles recovered. Saturday’s game will be the 30th meeting all-time between the Eagles and Hornets dating all the way back to 1945. N.C. Central leads the all-time series against Delaware State 22-7 and have won nine of the last 10 meetings.
 

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Norfolk State enters Saturday’s contest after picking up a 38-19 victory over Delaware State on senior day. Norfolk State’s run game ranks second overall (156.3 avg.) while RB Kevon King ranks third in the MEAC in rushing yards (80.0 ypg) with nine rushing TDs. The Spartan defense leads the MEAC in sacks against (16) and is second in interceptions (12) and fumbles recovered (9). South Carolina State boasts a seven-game win streak entering the matchup following a 54-7 victory at Morgan State to claim the 2024 MEAC Championship Title. The Bulldogs lead the MEAC in total offense (418.1 ypg), pass offense (273.7 ypg), run defense (105.9 ypg), first downs (209) and first down average (20.9), third down conversation (42.3), interceptions (13), sacks by (36) and fumble recoveries (10). S.C. State’s defense sits second in total defense (298.4), forced fumbles (11), sacks against (14), opponent first (16.4 percent) and third down conversions (31.4 percent). Saturday's matchup marks the 28th meeting between the two schools with the Bulldogs leading the all-time series 21-5. SCSU defeated NSU 44-17 last season in Norfolk, Va.