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SPARTANBURG, S.C. — For five weeks, Wofford football came close but couldn’t finish. On Homecoming Saturday, that changed in front of a lively Gibbs Stadium crowd.
In his first start for Wofford, sophomore quarterback J.T. Fayard led a balanced and determined attack as the Terriers rolled to a 31–14 victory over Norfolk State, capturing their first win of the 2025 season.
Quick Response Sets the Tone
Norfolk State struck first, marching 82 yards before Otto Kuhns found Elijah Mitchell for a 12-yard touchdown.
Wofford answered immediately. Fayard directed a three-play, 65-yard drive, connecting with Isaiah Scott for a 22-yard touchdown to even the score at 7-7.
In the second quarter, Ihson Jackson-Anderson capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a three-yard rushing score, giving Wofford a 14-7 halftime lead and control of the game’s momentum.
Fayard Finds His Rhythm
Making his first start in a Terrier uniform, Fayard displayed confidence and accuracy. The sophomore completed 23 of 34 passes for 248 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, guiding the offense with composure.
After Norfolk State tied the game early in the third quarter with a 33-yard touchdown from Kuhns to Keshaun Thomas, Fayard responded immediately. He led a six-play, 76-yard drive, connecting with C.J. Adams for a 23-yard touchdown that reclaimed the lead 21-14.
Adams paced the receiving corps with eight catches for 112 yards, while Scott added three receptions for 38 yards. Jackson-Anderson led the rushing attack with 113 yards on 17 carries, powering the ground game throughout the afternoon.
Terriers Close the Door
Wofford dominated time of possession in the fourth quarter, relying on long, efficient drives to seal the win.
Sam Spence extended the lead to 24-14 with a career-long 46-yard field goal following a 13-play, 40-yard drive that chewed up more than five minutes of clock.
Moments later, Gerald Modest added the finishing touch — a two-yard touchdown run to cap an 11-play, 52-yard drive, putting the game out of reach and sparking a Homecoming celebration.
Defense Dominates the Day
While the offense executed cleanly, Wofford’s defense turned in its strongest performance of the season.
The Terriers held Norfolk State to 45 rushing yards and 234 total yards, forced two turnovers, and held the Spartans to just one third-down conversion in 12 attempts.
Linebacker Darius Malcolm Jr. led the way with 17 total tackles and three tackles for loss, while Jalen Rambert and Wyatt Ward anchored a front seven that controlled the line of scrimmage and disrupted Kuhns throughout the afternoon.
Numbers That Tell the Story
| Category | Wofford | Norfolk State |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 438 | 234 |
| First Downs | 23 | 12 |
| Third Downs | 10 of 17 | 1 of 12 |
| Time of Possession | 35:29 | 22:36 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Penalties (Yds) | 8 / 80 | 6 / 55 |
Looking Ahead
The win snapped a five-game skid and rewarded head coach Shawn Watson’s team for weeks of persistence.
Now 1-5 overall, the Terriers turn their focus to Southern Conference play as they host Furman next Saturday at Gibbs Stadium.
For Wofford, Saturday’s victory wasn’t just another result — it was validation. With Fayard leading the way, Wofford football’s 31-14 Homecoming win over Norfolk State could mark the true turning point of the 2025 season.
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