Sports · American Football · 4 hrs ago
Norfolk State loses after offense fails to take a knee on Mike Vick's order
Norfolk State lost 29-28 to North Carolina Central in a college football game on Saturday.
With 1:34 left, Norfolk State led by five points and had the ball, while North Carolina Central had no timeouts.
Coach Mike Vick said he ordered the team to take a knee to run down the clock.
Instead, the offense ran a play from shotgun formation, and the quarterback fumbled; North Carolina Central recovered.
North Carolina Central scored a touchdown five plays later to take the lead, though its two-point attempt failed.
Norfolk State then got close enough to try a 37-yard field goal, but the kick missed wide left, and the team lost.
Vick said he did not know why a run play was called, and the sources do not establish who made that decision.
Norfolk State lost 29-28 to North Carolina Central after a fumble late in the game led to a go-ahead touchdown.
Norfolk State had led 28-23 with 1:34 remaining and North Carolina Central had no timeouts.
Coach Mike Vick said he had ordered the offense to take a knee, but the team ran a play from shotgun formation instead.
North Carolina Central recovered the fumble and scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass.
Norfolk State later attempted a game-winning 37-yard field goal, which missed wide left.
- Who
- Norfolk State and North Carolina Central.
- What
- Norfolk State lost 29-28 after a late fumble led to a North Carolina Central touchdown.
- When
- Saturday; the article was published on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Norfolk State fumbled after running a play instead of taking a knee, as coach Mike Vick said he had instructed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Norfolk State led 28-23, had the ball at the 50-yard line and faced second and five.
The quarterback fumbled, and North Carolina Central recovered at the Norfolk State 37.
North Carolina Central scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass to take a 29-28 lead.
Norfolk State moved into position for a game-winning field goal, but its 37-yard attempt missed wide left.
- Final score
- North Carolina Central 29, Norfolk State 28
- Norfolk State's lead
- 28-23 with 1:34 remaining
- North Carolina Central timeouts
- None remaining
- Turnover location
- Norfolk State 37-yard line
- Missed field goal
- 37 yards
- Norfolk State record after loss
- 4-6
What people are saying
I called victory formation.
All we had to do was take a knee, kneel the clock out.
I don’t know what happened at the end of the game.
Posts on X
Suppose to have been victory
Exciting final moments of the MEAC showdown between BCNC #9 (FCS) NCCU Eagles vs Norfolk State Spartans! The Eagles defeated Norfolk State, 29 - 28, and with the win, improved to 5 - 5 on the season and 3 - 0 in MEAC play! pt.1 🏈🏈🏈 #nsuspartans #nccueagles #meacfootball