By Brittany Webb, Sports Editor
Posted 1:20 PM EST, Sun., Oct. 2, 2016
On Saturday, Oct. 1, the Howard Bison faced the Norfolk State University Spartans at Dick Price Stadium for their third Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game of the season. Following two consecutive divisional losses, the Howard University football team proved why people say “the third time’s a charm,” as the Bison won with a 33-28 victory over the Spartans.
Saturday’s game marked the first victory for the Bison for the season as they previously lost to Hampton Pirates in the Nation’s Classic at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium September 17 and Morgan State Bears at Hughes Stadium September 24.
In a previous interview following the Howard University defeat to Hampton University, Howard Bison Head Coach Gary Harrell said that the team needed to find a quarterback that was consistent. He expressed that junior quarterback Kalen Johnson would plead his case on why he deserved his spot in Saturday’s game.
Johnson threw two touchdown passes during the game with junior running back Anthony Philyaw and sophomore fullback Da’Vaun Johnson both running in for a touchdown. Despite their ability to make successful plays, the Bison struggled to score extra points from field goals.
Even with their inability to score field goals in the first half, the Howard Bison had a strong comeback in the the second half, having a 21-point run which allowed them to take control of the game.
According to HU Bison Sports, with their first win, the Bison (1-4, 1-2 in the MEAC) snapped a seven-game losing streak dating back to last season.
The Howard Bison’s next game will be on Saturday, Oct. 8, in a breast cancer awareness game against the Monmouth University Hawks (3-2) at home in William H. Greene Stadium.