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By Ellis Williams
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The Norfolk State Spartans recovered a fumble with 1:36 remaining and a five-point lead Saturday.
Within nine seconds, they had given the ball back to the North Carolina Central Eagles.
Norfolk State head coach Michael Vick said he had instructed his offense to kneel before the turnover that helped turn a 28-23 advantage into a 29-28 home defeat at William “Dick” Price Stadium.
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Vick explained his decision after the game.
“I put my headset down, I called victory formation,” Vick said. “All we had to do was take a knee and just kneel the clock out.”
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In his postgame interview, shared by WTKR sports director Marc Davis, Vick said he did not know why the Spartans ran the ball after his instruction. He described looking up and seeing the fumble.
The official play-by-play lists a five-yard run by Norfolk State running back Jalyn Daniels after the Spartans recovered possession at their own 45. Quarterback Deljay Bailey then lost 13 yards on a rushing attempt and fumbled.
North Carolina Central defensive lineman Khareem Thompson forced the turnover, and defensive back John Clifford Jr. recovered at the Norfolk State 37 with 1:27 left.
The Eagles needed five plays to move ahead. Quarterback Joshua Jones connected with wide receiver Mehki Wall for a 26-yard touchdown with 27 seconds remaining. A failed two-point attempt kept the margin at one.
Norfolk State still had another chance. Two North Carolina Central unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties, along with Bailey completions of 18 and 15 yards, helped put the Spartans in field-goal range. Kicker Marco Peery missed from 37 yards with four seconds left, and the Eagles knelt to finish the game.
The late turnover erased a chance to salvage a game Norfolk State had led 21-7 at halftime and 28-17 early in the fourth quarter. The Spartans fell to 4-6 overall and 0-3 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, while North Carolina Central improved to 5-5 and 3-0.
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