Game Stats
Hampton, Va. – Princeton Shepherd and TJ Mitchell combined to go 19-of-29 for 270 yards and a touchdown to lead the Blue Team to a 38-22 victory over the White Team in Hampton’s final preseason scrimmage Saturday morning at Armstrong Stadium. The Pirates’ next action will be Saturday, Sept. 2 when they take on Grambling State in the Ford MEAC-SWAC Challenge.
A third-year starter at quarterback, Shepherd came out the gate and completed his first seven passes, including a 30-yard strike to Marquay McDaniel and a 33-yard completion to Virginia Tech transfer Jeremy Gilchrist. Van Morgan’s 10-yard run up the middle and Alonzo Coleman’s 32-yard sprint around the right side put the Blue Team in front 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Starting their next drive at their own 40-yard line, the White Team used a string of Blue penalties to get their first score. A pass interference call and personal foul allowed freshman quarterback Herbert Bynes to lead the White Team inside the 20-yard line where they were forced to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Andrew Paterini.
Kicking for both teams, Paterini missed a 28-yard kick on the Blue Team’s next drive and on the ensuing play, Bynes connected with fellow rookie Brian Omeally who beat the coverage by Tobin Lyon and Robert Parker, for a 40-yard touchdown strike. The extra point attempt was blocked, but the Blue Team’s lead had been cut to 14-9 and it remained there heading into the half.
Van Morgan and Shepherd led the Blue Team on a 9-play, 59-yard drive to open the second half, ending on a 1-yard plunge by Morgan to increase the Blue lead to 21-9.
The West Virginia transfer TJ Mitchell directed the Blue Team’s next drive and he picked up where Shepherd left off. Mitchell connected on his first five passes, finding speedy sophomore Kevin Teel for gains of 26 and 10 yards respectively. Kevin Beverly capped the drive with a 1-yard run of his own and it appeared the Blue Team was well on its way to running away with the game. However, the White Team, comprised mostly of third string players had other thoughts.
With their drive starting at the Blue 40-yard line, the White Team quickly took advantage of the short field. Another personal foul and a 24-yard reception by Darius Mullen from Daniel Brooks put the White Team on the 4-yard line where Antonio Brown scored on an end-around to bring the score to 35-15 in favor of the Blue.
Paterini added a 45-yard field goal for the Blue and Bynes found Marcel Roache for a 29-yard White touchdown on 4th-and -19 to provide the final 38-22 margin.
Shepherd finished the day 14-of-20 for 174 yards, while Mitchell was 5-of-9 for 96 yards and a touchdown. Jeremy Gilchrist and Onrea Jones led the Blue Team with four catches apiece and Kevin Beverly’s 69 yards rushing were a game-high as starter Alonzo Coleman took most of the day off.
Bynes completed just four passes for the White Team, but two went for scores. Brian Omeally led the White receivers with two catches for 52 yards.
The White Team’s Devan Dunson and Justin Holland turned in the top defensive performances of the day with 11 and 10 tackles respectively.
Freshman punter Jahmal Blanchard averaged 42.4 yards per kick with a long of 53 yards, and placekicker Andrew Paterini showed that he can punt as well with a 47-yard boot.
