Vick’s Norfolk State debut reveals questions about Spartans
The Michael Vick era at Norfolk State didn’t begin the way the former Virginia Tech legend had hoped, as the Spartans fell 27–7 to Towson on Thursday night.
The loss exposed several areas Norfolk State will need to address before their Week 2 matchup against in-state rival Virginia State, a game Spartan fans will be eager to see yield a much different result.
At quarterback, Israel Carter got the start while wearing Vick’s iconic No. 7 jersey. However, Carter struggled early, completing just 2-of-4 passes for 21 yards while losing five yards on the ground. His slow start stalled the offense, and it became clear he may not be the answer moving forward.
Enter Otto Kuhns, last year’s starter, who provided a noticeable spark. Kuhns finished 19-of-27 for 219 yards and led a far more productive offense under new offensive coordinator Brian Sheppard, who joined the staff from Towson. With Kuhns at the helm, Norfolk State looked capable of moving the ball consistently.
Still, the Spartans’ biggest issues came on third down, where they converted just three of 13 attempts. Missed opportunities and stalled drives haunted the offense, which didn’t find the end zone until the fourth quarter.
Discipline was another concern. Norfolk State committed nine penalties for 78 yards, often extending Towson drives or killing their own momentum. Whether that was a case of opening-night jitters or a sign of deeper issues remains to be seen.
Defensively, there were bright spots. St. John’s transfer defensive end David Ojiegbe stood out with 2.5 sacks, while redshirt senior safety Daylon Long anchored the secondary with seven tackles and a tackle for loss.
The running game, however, left much to be desired. Norfolk State mustered fewer than 70 yards on the ground, averaging just 1.3 yards per rush. Leading rusher Kevon King, who nearly hit 1,000 yards last season, was bottled up for just 30 yards on 11 carries. His backfield partner, X’zavion Evans, added only 12 yards. Protection and run-blocking will need to improve drastically if this offense is going to find balance.
One bright moment came from redshirt senior Jaylen Loudermilk, who made the most of his lone carry—an eight-yard touchdown run that provided the Spartans’ only points of the game.
Norfolk State also failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity late, coming up empty on four consecutive plays from inside the five-yard line.
While Vick’s debut ended in defeat, there are reasons for optimism. The staff has pieces to build around and playmakers on both sides of the ball. However, the Spartans will need sharper execution, better discipline, and a stronger ground game if they hope to rebound in Week 2 against Virginia State.