Game Stats
Dover, Del. – Trailing 14-9 at the half, the 12th ranked Pirates of Hampton University scored 20 unanswered points in the second half and limited Delaware State to a mere 23 yards of total offense after intermission, to walk away with a 29-14 victory over the host Hornets. With the win the Pirates (5-0, 4-0 MEAC) extended their regular season winning streak to 22 games, a streak that dates back to a 2004 loss at Delaware State. Hampton also retains sole possession of first place in the league standings as the only team without a blemish on its conference record.
After a scoreless first quarter that saw the Hornets (2-2, 1-1 MEAC) control the ball for over 11 minutes, Delaware State received the first break when Hampton’s Marquay McDaniel mishandled a punt return and Ryan Robinson recovered it at the Pirates’ 11-yard line. Three plays later Vashon Winton found All-MEAC wideout Shaheer McBride in the corner of the end zone for an early 7-0 DSU lead.
The Pirates were forced to punt on their next possession but freshman Jahmal Blanchard launched a career-long 54-yard kick, pinning the Hornets back at their own 12-yard line. Delaware State went 3-and-out giving the Pirates great field position at the Hornets’ 37 following a 33-yard punt. It took Hampton just six plays to score from there as Kevin Beverly capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run up the middle for his team-leading fifth rushing touchdown of the season. The extra point attempt failed, but the DSU lead was now one.
Another muffed punt by McDaniel, who appeared to have been interfered with while trying to make the catch, gave the Hornets superb field position once again at the Hampton 41. A 17-yard completion to Ocatvius Everett and a 20-yard scramble by Winton set up a 15-yard touchdown run by Emmanuel Marc to put the Hornets on top 14-6 with 1:24 to play in the first half.
However, the Pirates drove 43 yards in eight plays to set up a 39-yard field goal by Andrew Paterini and send the teams into the locker room with the Pirates trailing 14-9.
Sophomore speedster Kevin Teel shifted the momentum of the game and ignited a Pirate rally before the DSU fans could return to their seats for the second half. The Hornets had been kicking away from Teel who came in ranked sixth in the country in kickoff returns. Yet after the opening kickoff of the second half sailed out of bounds, Hampton coach Joe Taylor made the decision to have the Hornets re-kick instead of taking possession at the 35-yard line. The decision proved to the right one as Teel fielded the ball at his own eight, picked up several key blocks and broke two tackles on his way to a 92-yard kickoff return and a 16-14 Hampton lead.
Taking a cue from Teel, the Pirate defense added to DSU’s misery when Marcus Dixon recovered an Emmanuel Marc fumble at the Hornets’ 14-yard line. After Princeton Shepherd converted a 4th-and-1 with a quarterback sneak, he then found McDaniel running free across the back of the end zone for a 9-yard scoring strike to put the Pirates in front 23-14 with 4:13 remaining in the third.
Senior cornerback Travarous Bain intercepted his fourth pass of the season and returned it to the DSU 1-yard line where Alonzo Coleman ran in from to seal the victory and provide the final 29-14 margin. Coleman’s final yard put him at 92 yards on the night and exactly 4,000 yards for his career.
Led by Justin Durant’s team-high 10 tackles the Hampton defense turned in its best effort of the year, surrendering just 121 total yards, including a mere 48 yards rushing on 32 attempts. The Pirates recovered two fumbles and also had an interception to mark the 31st consecutive game in which they’ve forced at least one turnover. In addition, they held the Hornets to a dismal 2-of-14 (14%) on third down conversions.
