Pirates’ running back Kevin Beverly seemed to be in full force, as he rushed for a season high of 158 yards and scoring all three of Hampton’s touchdowns from one, three, and six-yards out. It seemed like this would be the game that the Pirates got things going in their direction because they were able to run the true balanced offense that Coach Taylor always talks about.

 

With the score 12-14 in favor of the Rams, after a Hampton score, it seemed as if the Rams were headed back for the end zone.  On a fourth and goal at the 2-yard line, the Rams took a timeout to set up what many thought was another score, but the Pirates’ defense had something different in mind.  The defense stopped the Rams on fourth and goal to put the ball back in TJ Mitchell’s hand for what many though would be the game winning drive. Mitchell and the Pirates offense drove 98 yards to score another touchdown to make the score 19-14 in favor of Hampton with 4:34 left on the clock. WSSU took their shot and on fourth and four with 1:36 reminding in the game, the Rams were able to break through the Pirates defense for the 1st down which led to a Jed Bines’ 27 yarrds touchdown run.

 

Mitchell and HU’s offense got one more chance to make a go at a touchdown or get in field goal range for the third time in three games. Mitchell and crew were able to get the ball to the WSSU 37-yard line with 0:01 left in the game and the Pirates decided to give sophomore punter/kicker Jahmal Blanchard a shot at the 49-yard field goal, but it was blocked by the Rams.

 

“I thought that Blanchard had the stronger leg and a good chance to make the field goal and besides I did not want to put Carlo in that position again,” said Coach Taylor, “After we drove down the field and scored to make the score 19-14, I thought that the game was over. You cannot allow them to get to fourth and four because you stop them there and the game is over,” said Coach Taylor.  “We talked to the defense all week about the boot leg that they like to run because we knew coming into the game that both the quarterback and the running back were going to run the ball a lot. We told them about it and they scored twice on the same play.”

 

The Pirates accumulated 348 yards of total offense with 209 yards rushing and 139 yards passing.  The Pirates’ defense was able to hold the Rams to only 36-yards passing but they made up for it on the ground with 262 yards rushing.  Mitchell only had 139 yards passing, but Beverly led both teams in rushing yards with 158 yards. The defense was led by Charles Robinson with 6 total tackles.