Final Stats

HAMPTON, Va. – Senior running back LaMarcus Coker rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns, while junior quarterback Herbert Bynes threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns as Hampton used a balanced attack to take down the Bison of Howard University 37-0 in the Battle for the Real HU Saturday night at Armstrong Stadium.

 

With the win, the Pirates improve to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in MEAC play, while the Bison drop to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

 

The Pirates finished the night with 461 yards of total offense, with 256 of those yards on the ground behind Coker as they had their first shutout since 2004 against Norfolk State. Hampton's defense was not going to be outdone, as they only allowed the Bison to just 117 yards of total offense while also sacking the quarterback four times and finishing the night with 11 tackles for a loss of 52 yards.

 

“The shutout is good and bad. We were intense and tenacious, like wild dogs … I don't want that to stop because they want to win and that's great,” said Pirates coach Donavon Rose on the shutout against Howard.

 

The Pirates converted a fourth-and-12 into a 25-yard touchdown pass from Bynes to freshman Lorenzo Patterson for the only score of the first quarter. From that point, the Pirates defense and special teams got involved into the game.

 

Hampton's special teams forced a fumble early following a Coker touchdown, which the Pirates settled for a 27-yard field goal by freshman kicker Jordan Stovall. On the next possession for the Bison, Jacobi Fenner would hit Brandon Sherman to force the second fumble of the night for the Pirates. The first play from scrimmage, Bynes connected with Reginald Hicks for a 22-yard touchdown to put the Pirates up 23-0.

 

Hampton was not done for the half, as Bynes would throw one more pass for a touchdown when he connected with Isiah Thomas for 50 yards for his third touchdown of the game and following the PAT by Stovall, Hampton went in the half with a 30-0 lead.

 

There was but one touchdown in the second half and that came on a 56-yard run by Coker early in the fourth before he left for the game.

 

The only downside to the Pirates victory was their 23 penalties for 170 yards, which is something Rose was not pleased about.

 

“It's ridiculous – holding, late hits, negating big plays. I told the guys to have fun tonight, but tomorrow, they are going to wish they hadn't. I know we can't go from 23 to zero, but we have to do better,” said Rose.

 

On the season, Hampton has 73 penalties for 623 yards in just five games; but on a brighter note, the Pirates did have season-high 256 yards rushing and 461 yards of total offense on the night.

 

The Pirates will now get ready for the Spartans of Norfolk State, as they travel to William “Dick” Price Stadium for the 2009 addition of Battle of the Bay. Game time is set for a 1 p.m. kick-off time. For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

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