Game Stats
Birmingham, Ala. – It may have been a year later than most would have preferred, but the 13th ranked Pirates of Hampton University showed that they’re still the team to beat in black college football after defeating No. 23 Grambling State, 27-26 in overtime in the Ford MEAC-SWAC Challenge. The two teams shared the SBN Black College National Championship in 2005, but Derius Swinton’s blocked extra point and solid play from some Hampton reserves helped the Pirates win their season opener and their fifth consecutive game over the Tigers.
After forcing Grambling to go 3-and-out on its first possession, the Pirates jumped on the board first with a quick strike on their first ensuing place from scrimmage. Princeton Shepherd found a wide open Marquay McDaniel for a 55-yard touchdown after the Tiger defense was drawn in with a flea-flicker. Alonzo Coleman took the handoff from Shepherd and headed into the middle of the line before pitching it back to the senior signal caller who tossed his 32nd career touchdown pass, giving the Pirates a 7-0 lead with 10:47 to go in the first.
Grambling matched Hampton on its next possession, putting together an 11-play, 78-yard drive. Quarterback Brandon Landers moved the ball around hitting Henry Tolbert for 33 yards and LaKeldric Bridges for 16 more before tossing an 11-yard strike into the hands of Clyde Edwards to tie the game.
A short field helped the Pirates get their next score as they took over at the Grambling 47-yard line after a punt by Tim Manuel. Coleman rushed twice for 22 yards and Van Morgan added four more before Andrew Paterini kicked a 47-yard field goal for a 10-7 Pirate lead.
The score remained there through the first half thanks to a strong defensive effort by Hampton and some Pirate miscues in the kicking game. Hampton allowed the Tigers to cross midfield just once in their next four possessions, one ending with a spectacular interception by senior cornerback Calvin Bannister. The Pirates moved deep into Grambling territory on two occasions, but came away empty both times. The first Hampton drive stalled at the GSU 22-yard line and Paterini’s 39-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright and was no good. Another Paterini attempt from 40 yards was blocked by Melvin Matthews to account for the 10-7 halftime score.
Despite dominating the first half statistically, Hampton only led by three points. The Pirates outrushed the Tigers 91 yards to zero, had 211 total yards to Grambling’s 114 and forced the Tigers into 3-and-out three times, while also picking off a pass. Shepherd completed 8-of-11 pass attempts for 120 yards and a score and Coleman ran 12 times for 78 yards, but neither would return after the break.
Grambling State coach Melvin Spears and the Tigers emerged from the locker room determined to improve upon their first half offensive struggles and they did just that. Ab Kuuan and Landry Carter accounted for consecutive first downs on the ground and a pass interference call on Hampton’s George Knox added another, giving Grambling the ball at the HU 25-yard line. Kuuan was stopped by Justin Durant and Pat Preston for a loss of four yards, but that just seemed to give the Tigers more room for Landers to find Tolbert in the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown. Tolbert beat Preston on a post across the middle to cap a 12-play, 81-yard drive that took just over five minutes.
The Pirates went 3-and-out on their first possession of the second half and quickly faced a 20-10 deficit when Bridges blew past Hampton’s Reginald Knox for an easy 51-yard scoring toss from Landers. Kendall Langford broke through the line for what would be the first of three crucial blocked kicks for Hampton, but the Tigers still led.
Thrust into action in the first half when starters Princeton Shepherd and Alonzo Coleman were forced to leave with severe cramps, West Virginia transfer TJ Mitchell and the HU reserve running backs Van Morgan and Kevin Beverly came into their own. Mitchell found his former high school teammate Jeremy Gilchrist for a 9-yard gain and Morgan rushed for 33 of his game-high 82 yards during a 53-yard scoring drive that ended with a 37-yard field goal by Paterini that made the score Grambling State 20, Hampton 13 with under three minutes to play in the third.
An action packed fourth quarter began when the Tigers took over at the HU 4-yard line following a fumbled punt return by Gilchrist. Hoping to limit the Tigers to a field goal, the Pirate defense stood its ground and drove the Tigers back. Travarous Bain nearly intercepted a Landers’ pass in the end zone and Durant stuffed Kuuan for a 6-yard loss. Grambling settled for a 32-yard field goal attempt by Manuel, but Ray Lewis came up with another block to keep the score at 20-13 Grambling.
With the Tigers still leading and starting a new drive with 3:40 to play, it appeared that GSU was in full control. However, the Hampton defense had other thoughts. The Pirates limited Grambling to just one yard on the first two plays from scrimmage and on third down Alden Blizzard sacked Landers and forced a fumble that was recovered by Vernon Bryant at the Tigers’ 13-yard line.
Using his feet to scramble and avoid the Grambling pass rush, Mitchell rolled to his right and found Onrea Jones at the pylon for a 9-yard touchdown with 1:10 remaining and the extra point knotted the game at 20 apiece.
Grambling opened the potential game-winning drive at its own 29-yard line and promptly drove down the field. Landers completed passes to Tolbert, Tim Abney and Edwards to put the Tigers inside the Hampton 30-yard line, but Tim Manuel’s 44-yard field goal attempt as time expired sailed wide left to send the game into overtime.
Hampton had the first possession of overtime and used it accordingly when Mitchell found Beverly out of the Pirate backfield for a 10-yard score and a 27-20 lead. The Tigers took their turn next and faced with a critical 3rd-and-7, Landers connected with a Tolbert for a gain of 10 yard to keep the Grambling drive alive. Landers then found Tim Abney in the end zone from 12-yards out on the ensuing play and the Tigers were just an extra point away from another overtime. But once again, the Tigers field goal block team came through as Derius Swinton exploded through the line and took the ball of the foot of Manuel to seal the victory for the Pirates.
