2018 Norfolk State Spartans football team

The 2018 Norfolk State Spartans football team represented Norfolk State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Latrell Scott and played their home games at William "Dick" Price Stadium. They were a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). They finished the season 4–7, 2–5 in MEAC play to finish in a tie for eighth place.

2018 Norfolk State Spartans football
Conference	Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
2018 record	4–7 (2–5 MEAC)
Head coach	Latrell Scott (4th season)
Defensive coordinator	Matt Dawson (2nd season)
Home stadium	William "Dick" Price Stadium (Capacity: 30,000)

2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 12 North Carolina A&T $		6	–	1					9	–	2
Bethune–Cookman		5	–	2					7	–	5
Florida A&M		5	–	2					6	–	5
South Carolina State		4	–	3					5	–	6
Howard		4	–	3					4	–	6
North Carolina Central		3	–	4					5	–	6
Morgan State		3	–	4					4	–	7
Norfolk State		2	–	5					4	–	7
Delaware State		2	–	5					3	–	8
Savannah State		1	–	6					2	–	8
$ – Conference champion Rankings from STATS Poll

Previous season

The Spartans finished the 2017 season 4–7, 4–4 in MEAC play to finish in sixth place.

Preseason

MEAC preseason poll

In a vote of the MEAC head coaches and sports information directors, the Spartans were picked to finish in sixth place.[1]

Predicted finish	Team
1	North Carolina A&T
2	Howard
3	North Carolina Central
4	Bethune–Cookman
5	Florida A&M
6	Norfolk State
7	South Carolina State
8	Savannah State
9	Morgan State
10	Delaware State

Preseason All-MEAC Teams

The Spartans had seven players at eight positions selected to the preseason all-MEAC teams.[2]

Offense 2nd team Marcus Taylor – WR Wes Jones – C Kenneth Kirby – OL 3rd team Aaron Savage – RB

Defense 1st team Nigel Chavis – LB 2nd team J.T. Wahee – DB 3rd team Deshaywn Middleton – DL

Special teams 1st team Marcus Taylor – RS

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	6:00 p.m.	Virginia State*	William "Dick" Price Stadium Norfolk, VA	ESPN3	W 34–13	15,173
September 8	6:00 p.m.	No. 2 James Madison*	William "Dick" Price Stadium Norfolk, VA	ESPN3	L 0–17[lower-alpha 1]	6,482
September 22	6:00 p.m.	at South Carolina State*	Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Orangeburg, SC	ESPN3	W 17–7	7,820
September 29	4:00 p.m.	Delaware State	William "Dick" Price Stadium Norfolk, VA	ESPN3	W 54–28	7,103
October 6	4:00 p.m.	at Florida A&M	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL	ESPN3	L 0–17	26,045
October 20	2:00 p.m.	North Carolina Central	William "Dick" Price Stadium Norfolk, VA	ESPN3	L 6–36	15,012
October 27	3:00 p.m.	at Savannah State	Ted Wright Stadium Savannah, GA	ESPN3	L 3–32	7,812
November 3	1:00 p.m.	at No. 17 North Carolina A&T	BB&T Stadium Greensboro, NC	ESPN3	L 20–37	21,500
November 10	1:00 p.m.	Howard	William "Dick" Price Stadium Norfolk, VA	ESPN3	W 29–17	6,004
November 17	1:00 p.m.	Morgan State	William "Dick" Price Stadium Norfolk, VA	ESPN3	L 27–44	3,437
December 1[lower-alpha 2]	2:00 p.m.	at Liberty*	Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA	ESPN3	L 17–52	13,243
*Non-conference game Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

1. The JMU–Norfolk State game was mutually ended after first quarter due to inclement weather.
2. Game originally scheduled for September 15, but moved in anticipation of Hurricane Florence.

• Source: Schedule

Despite also being a member of the MEAC, the game vs South Carolina State will be considered a non-conference game and have no effect on the MEAC standings.

Game summaries

Virginia State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Trojans	7	0	6	0	13
Spartans	7	3	7	17	34

James Madison

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 2 Dukes	17				17
Spartans	0				0

Due to inclement weather, the JMU–Norfolk State game was mutually ended after the first quarter.

at South Carolina State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	7	7	0	3	17
Bulldogs	0	0	7	0	7

Delaware State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hornets	0	0	14	14	28
Spartans	6	21	20	7	54

at Florida A&M

	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	0	0	0	0	0
Rattlers	0	3	0	14	17

North Carolina Central

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	3	9	7	17	36
Spartans	0	0	0	6	6

at Savannah State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	0	3	0	0	3
Tigers	7	10	7	8	32

at North Carolina A&T

	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	10	7	3	0	20
No. 17 Aggies	7	14	6	10	37

Howard

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	10	0	7	0	17
Spartans	3	13	3	10	29

Morgan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	10	14	7	13	44
Spartans	6	0	0	21	27

at Liberty

	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	3	7	0	7	17
Flames	10	28	7	7	52

This game was originally scheduled for September 15, but was moved to December 1 due to Hurricane Florence.

Coaching staff

2018 Norfolk State Spartans coaching staff

Head Coach Head Coach – Latrell Scott Offensive Coaches Associate head coach/tight ends – Andrew Faison Wide receivers/special teams – Dyrell Roberts Assistant head coach/running backs – B.T. Sherman Offensive line– Kris Sweet Tight ends – Josh Firm Defensive Coaches Defensive coordinator/inside linebackers – Matt Dawson Defensive backs – Cordell Taylor Outside linebackers – Zach Tenuta Defensive line – Justin Williamson Administrative staff Director of football operations – Shawn Hunt Source:[3] Last updated 7/13/18

References

1. "North Carolina A&T State Picked To Win 2018 MEAC Championship". Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. July 27, 2018.
2. "NCAT's Raynard, NCCU's Reynolds Headline 2018 All-MEAC Preseason Football Team". Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. July 25, 2018.
3. "2018 Football Coaching Staff". Retrieved July 13, 2018.