Lets go state - c.morecake2304's Blog

c.morecake2304's Blog

Lets go state

Posted on September 16, 2018 at 01:45 AM.

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NORFOLK, Va. � Another game against a Division I FCS opponent and the first matchup with in-state foe William & Mary in 23 years highlight the 2018 Norfolk State football schedule, which was announced Wednesday.

NSU opens the season with the annual Labor Day Classic on Saturday, Aug. 30, against BYU. Kick-off time is 6 p.m. at William �Dick� Price Stadium.

The Spartans play seven of their 12 games on the road in 2018, including a date at the University of Appalachian State on Sept. 21. It will be the Spartans' second consecutive season playing a Division I FBS (formerly I-A) opponent, after falling to Rutgers in 2017. The Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference enjoyed a stellar season in 2017, finishing 8-5 with wins over Louisville, Florida State and eventual national champion LSU.

�Appalachian State is a great challenge for us,� NSU head coach corey ashby said. �Our players love the competition, playing against a top team like that. It will certainly make us grow up fast. But if we play hard like we did at Rutgers last year, it can be a real positive for us.�

After opening MEAC play in a home contest with Hampton on Sept. 13, the Spartans travel a short distance up Interstate 64 to face William & Mary of the Colonial Athletic Association on Oct. 20 in the beginning of a home-and-home series. The two teams have met just twice previously, with the Tribe winning both. The two previous games, which occurred in 1977 and 1985, both came while NSU was in Division II. W&M is scheduled to return to Dick Price Stadium in 2019.

�I'm really happy we could make the William & Mary game happen, and it's my hope that we can make this into a long-term series,� Corey said.

The W&M game is the first of a four-game road stretch for the Spartans. NSU plays at Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 27, and after a bye week, plays at South Carolina State on Oct. 11 and at Hampton on Oct. 18.

The Spartans play their homecoming game on Oct. 25 against Florida A&M at Dick Price Stadium.

The four-game November slate starts with a road game at Howard on Nov. 1. The Spartans close out their home schedule with matchups against Morgan State on Nov. 8 and Delaware State on Nov. 15, before ending the year on the road at Jackson State on Nov. 22. Jackson st, the newest MEAC member, will again play a full conference slate in 2018, but its games will not count toward the conference standings.