Football | 10/24/2026 10:18:26 PM

NORFOLK, Va. – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opened conference play Friday with North Carolina Central defeating Delaware State, 31-12, on ESPN2. On Saturday, Howard rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Morgan State, 26-20, in overtime, while South Carolina State topped Norfolk State, 22-7.

Scores Around the League
Friday, Oct. 23
North Carolina Central def. Delaware State, 31-12

Saturday, Oct. 24
South Carolina State def. Norfolk State, 22-7
Howard def. Morgan State, 26-20 (OT)

Weekend Roundup
North Carolina Central (3-5, 1-0 MEAC) def. Delaware State (4-4, 0-1 MEAC) – Box Score
North Carolina Central opened MEAC play with a 31-12 victory over Delaware State on Friday at Alumni Stadium, powered by a career performance from Gino Addison. Addison rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries to lead the Eagles, who finished with 272 rushing yards and 427 yards of total offense.

After trailing 6-0 early, North Carolina Central scored 31 unanswered points to take control. Zion Dobson tied the game with a 5-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and Riley Daniels added a 25-yard field goal before halftime. Addison scored on runs of six and 16 yards in the second half, and Cobey Thompkins connected with Luke Bracey for a 21-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Thompkins completed 15-of-18 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown.

Delaware State finished with 257 yards of total offense. Kyree Benton opened the scoring with a 26-yard touchdown run, while Marqui Adams added a 10-yard touchdown run on the final play. The Hornets were held to 117 rushing yards and managed just one third-down conversion on eight attempts. Jaylin Terzado led Delaware State with 65 receiving yards on two catches.

South Carolina State (6-2, 1-0 MEAC) def. Norfolk State (4-4, 0-1 MEAC) – Box Score
South Carolina State built an early lead and held off Norfolk State for a 22-7 victory Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Mason Pickett-Hicks scored twice on the ground, and Jett Jackson converted three field goals as the Bulldogs opened conference play with a win.

Pickett-Hicks scored on runs of seven and 21 yards in the first half as South Carolina State took a 16-0 lead. Jackson added field goals of 28 and 46 yards before halftime and a 34-yarder in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs finished with 321 yards of total offense and held Norfolk State without an offensive touchdown. Pickett-Hicks led South Carolina State with 52 rushing yards and 86 all-purpose yards, while Keely Watson completed 21-of-38 passes for 215 yards.

Norfolk State’s lone touchdown came on a 47-yard punt return by Jason Wonodi in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 19-7. DaJean Golmond completed 17-of-35 passes for 162 yards, but the Spartans were held to 279 yards of total offense. Brevin Caldwell led Norfolk State with six catches for 80 yards, while Jalyn Daniels added 51 rushing yards.

Howard (4-4, 1-0 MEAC) def. Morgan State (5-3, 0-1 MEAC) – Box Score
Howard rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Morgan State, 26-20, in overtime Saturday at Hughes Stadium. Ben Chandler IV returned an interception 87 yards for the game-winning touchdown on the first possession of overtime.

Morgan State led 20-6 early in the fourth quarter after Cameron Edge threw touchdown passes of 36 and 14 yards to Joseph Towler and Alex Simmons, respectively. Howard responded with a 2-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Freeman and a 4-yard touchdown pass from Freeman to Billy Roberson II to tie the game at 20 with 3:09 remaining. Freeman finished with 42 rushing yards and a touchdown while Roberson added 76 rushing yards. Morgan State’s Edge completed 23-of-33 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns, while Keith Jenkins Jr. totaled 223 all-purpose yards, including 82 rushing yards.

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters its 56th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2026–27 academic year. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, the MEAC is comprised of eight distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along the Atlantic seaboard: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State University. Since its founding in 1970, the MEAC has been dedicated to promoting academic excellence, sportsmanship, and the personal growth of student athletes. For more information, visit www.MEACSports.com.