DATE: Sunday, November 9, 1997              TAG: 9711090143

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   63 lines

SPARTANS PLAY SAME TIRED TUNE NO. 22 LIBERTY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF NORFOLK STATE'S EARLY MISCUES.

There's a pattern to Norfolk State football games this season, a frustration routine that goes something like: fail to establish run, make mistakes, fall behind early, go pass-happy, rally late, come up short.

This script played out yet again Saturday, when the Spartans dropped a 17-6 homecoming decision to 22nd-ranked Liberty before 6,207 fans on a muddy pitch at Price Stadium.

Despite being competitive in virtually every game they've played - four of their losses have come by eight points or less - the Spartans (2-7) have now tied the school record for losses in a season. Norfolk State teams in 1973, 1992 and 1993 also lost seven games.

The Spartans will try to avoid making history Saturday when they host Bethune-Cookman in their season finale.

``We have to win that game,'' Norfolk State receiver Tyrone Sellers said. ``We just have to.''

As usual, the Spartans weren't far removed from winning Saturday's game. But they couldn't overcome the destructive chain of events which have become an unfortunate staple of Norfolk State's play.

Let's review each point individually:

Fail to establish run: The Spartans, the weakest rushing team in the MEAC (2.6 yards per carry), were held to minus-nine yards rushing Saturday. The lack of a ball-control attack, especially in a a persistent drizzle on sloppy turf, was particularly ominous for the Spartans because they tend to:

Make mistakes: A bad snap forced Greg Howell to lose nine yards out of punt formation and set up the Flames' final touchdown. Norfolk State turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble) led to Liberty's other 10 points, and the Spartans cracked the 100-yard mark (9 for 107) in penalties.

``Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes,'' said Spartans coach Darnell Moore in reference to the problems that forced Norfolk State to:

Fall behind early: Angelo Todd's fumble midway through the first quarter set the Flames up at the Norfolk State 48. Two plays later, Flames running back Stacy Nobles (29 carries, 142 yards) dashed 40 yards for a touchdown. A Morris interception set up Phil Harrelson's career-long 48-yard field goal. And the bad punt snap led to Ben Anderson's 12-yard scoring toss to former Green Run High star Glenwood Ferebee.

Without running a single play in their own territory, the Flames had run up a 17-0 lead by the 10:55 mark of the second quarter. Needing points in a hurry, Norfolk State had to:

Go pass-happy: Morris threw it 44 times - compared to 19 running plays - and completed 22. Twelve of his completions came in the second half, helping the Spartans:

Rally late: Morris hit a sliding Sellers in the end zone from 12 yards out to make it 17-6 at the 14:45 mark of the fourth quarter. But two fourth-quarter interceptions and some time-consuming running by Noble insured the Spartans' bid for victory would, once again:

Come up short. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

NHAT MEYER/The Virginian-Pilot

Norfolk State's Charles Burnette stretches unsuccessfully for a pass

in the end zone as Liberty's Ramsey Moore gives chase.

Norfolk State's Delvin Peeks loses the grip on this pass from Robert

Morris in the fourth quarter of the Spartans' 17-6 loss to Liberty.

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