Running back Jalyn Daniels (3) rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns to help Norfolk State beat Chicago State at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday. (Photo by NSUSpartans.com)
By Barry Bottino
Ten seconds was all it took for Chicago State to take a lead Saturday against Norfolk State.
The Cougars recovered a fumbled kickoff and scored on quarterback Ashton Pannell’s 30-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Kymari Gray.
The momentum didn’t last, though, as Norfolk State scored 29 unanswered points and rolled to a 43-20 victory over CSU (1-4) at SeatGeek Stadium.
NSU (3-2), which is coached by NFL legend Michael Vick, outgained the Cougars, 623-284, in total yardage.
That discrepancy was helped by NSU’s powerful running game. The Spartans rushed for 358 yards and four touchdowns, including a 95-yard, fourth-quarter rushing TD from Jalyn Daniels.
The Spartans averaged 7.8 yards per carry.
Chicago State closed the NSU lead to 29-20 with a 7-yard Pannell rushing TD midway through the second quarter and Adrian Bowers’ 50-yard punt return for a score early in the third quarter.
However, Daniels scored on runs of 1 and 95 yards – the longest rushing TD in Norfolk State history – to help the Spartans secure the victory.
Game changers
14:50, 1st quarter: CSU turned a fumbled kickoff recovery into points when Pannell threw a 30-yard pass to Gray.
10:15, 2nd quarter: Jason Wonodi’s 76-yard TD run gave Norfolk State a 29-7 lead and 29 unanswered points.
10:28, 4th quarter: Daniels raced for a 95-yard touchdown to secure the win for NSU.
What’s next?
CSU heads south for a 6 p.m. kickoff Oct. 3 against Tarleton State, one of the top teams in FCS.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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