Football | 9/5/2024 10:20:30 AM

NORFOLK, Va., Sept. 5, 2024 - Five teams are in action in week two of the 2024 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football season with the Hornets of Delaware State enjoying an early season bye week. Here is a glimpse at this week’s contests. South Carolina State is entering the game following a heartbreaking four-point loss to Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Fla. S.C. State recorded 286 yards of total offense, including 154 on the ground, with two touchdowns in the game. Quarterback Eric Phoenix threw for 132 yards completing 12-of-25 passes with one touchdown, while running back Deondra Duehart rushed for 74 yards on 10 attempts to lead the run game. Kicker Kyle Gallegos garnered MEAC Rookie of the Week honors with two successful field goal attempts and 238 yards (59.5 per kick) on four kickoffs. The Citadel enters the weekend coming off a thrilling one-point, come from behind, win over cross-town rival Charleston Southern, 22-21, in their season opener. The Bulldogs registered 360 yards of total offense with three rushing touchdowns, each from a different player, and a field goal. The Citadel holds a 4-1 all-time record against S.C. State, however, S.C. State won the most recent matchup 31-10 a season ago.
  Norfolk State enters their third game of the season with a 0-2 record after falling to East Carolina in Greenville, N.C., 42-3. The Spartans defense recorded three interceptions in the game with defensive back Terron Mallory securing two. Linebacker Daylan Long led the Spartans with six tackles, five solo, with two tackles for a loss and one sack for a four-yard loss. Virginia State enters the game riding a 23-7 victory over Benedict College in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Game. The Trojans recorded 384 yards of total offense while holding the Tigers to just 76 passing yards. Running back Jimmyll Williams ran for 150 of the team's 187 rushing yards with two touchdowns. Quarterback Romelo Williams was 13-of-21 with 197 yards through the air with one touchdown pass. Virginia State holds a 31-22-2 all-time record against Norfolk State reaching back to the CIAA Division II era. The Trojans defeated the Spartans 33-24 in last year's contest.
 
North Carolina Central returns home with a trophy in hand after defeating Alabama State 31-24 in the Orange Blossom Classic last weekend. The Eagles were led by MEAC Offensive Player of the Week, J’Mari Taylor with 128 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Kole Jones garnered MEAC Defensive Player of the Week accolades. Jones registered seven tackles, six solo, while also collecting one interception which he ran back for a 31-yard pick-six touchdown. Elon opened their season with a 26-3 loss against ACC opponent Duke in Durham, N.C. The Phoenix recorded just 140 total offensive yards, 110 through the air. Former Eagle defensive back Khalil Baker, the 2022 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, led Elon with 10 tackles and two pass breakups in the game. The Phoenix holds a 9-4 all-time record against the Eagles, however, N.C. Central defeated Elon in the match-up last year, 34-23.
 
Morgan State enters the weekend coming off a 30-28 road win over the Pirates of Hampton University in Hampton, Va. The Bears displayed a strong running game that amassed 244 yards on 55 carries with four rushing touchdowns led by Myles Miree with 68 yards and two TDs. Senior kicker Beckett Leary garnered MEAC Specialist of the Week honors with a 23-yard field goal. 3-of-4 PAT kicks and 371 yards on six kickoffs (61.8 avg.) with two touchbacks. Towson enters the weekend following a 38-20 loss to Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Tigers collected 438 total offensive yards with two passing TDs and two field goals. Quarterback Carloa Davis threw for 244 yards completing 21-of-37 attempts with two touchdowns. The Tigers had six receivers with 20 or more receiving yards, led by Jaceon Doss with 87 including a TD. Towson leads the series 22-6 all-time against Morgan State, with their most recent victory in 2023, when they defeated the Bears 20-10. 
 
Howard enters the weekend following a tough 44-7 loss to Big Ten foe Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J. The Bison recorded 261 total yards, 145 rushing, with one touchdown in the season opener. Quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins collected 116 passing yards going 14-of-25 at the line of scrimmage while also recording the most rushing yards on the team with 67.  Running back Eden James registered the Bison’s only score of the game, a two-yard touchdown to cap 10-play, 76-yard drive. Mercyhurst is in their first season of Division I football after moving up from Division II where they competed in the PSAC. In their season opener, the Lakers emerged with a 28-25 victory over Wheeling Univ. In Wheeling, W.Va. Mercyhurst recorded four touchdowns, three receiving, on 418 yards of total offense. Adam Urena, quarterback for the Lakers, threw for 267 yards and three TDs on 21-of-31 attempts. Wide receiver Cameron Barmore amassed 104 receiving yards on eight catches with two touchdowns. Saturday’s contest marks the first-ever meeting between Howard and Mercyhurst on the gridiron.