Final Stats
HAMPTON, Va. – Behind the efforts of senior wide receiver Damon McDaniel and running back LaMarcus Coker, Hampton University was able to score eight points in the fourth quarter as the Pirates won their seventh straight home opener at Armstrong Stadium in a 31-24 win over North Carolina Central on Saturday night.
“Overall I thought that both teams played a good game, but I tip my hat to NCCU, as they came in here tonight with a game plan and they stuck to that plan throughout the game,” said Pirates head coach
Donovan Rose. “I felt let we got off to a slow start on both sides of the ball, but you know that is all in that first game and we have some things that we need to work out.”
The Eagles got on the board first after converting a Hampton turnover into a touchdown. North Carolina Central scored when Michael Johnson connected with receiver Geovonie Irvine on a 34-yard pass to get on the board first. The Eagles capped a six-play, 78-yard drive to score first.
The Pirates would then get on the board following a forced fumble recovery by junior linebacker Julio Sanchez. Sophomore quarterback David Legree hit McDaniel on a 32-yard pass to get the Pirates on the board and tie the game up at 7-7 following a good extra point kick by freshman Jordan Stovall.
Hampton would then score again on a 39-yard field goal by Stovall to take the lead for the first time of the game at 10-7. The Pirates defense would then hold off the Eagles to head into the half with the lead.
NCCU came out in the second half and scored on their opening drive to cap a 9-play. 60-yard drive off with Johnson connecting with Will Scott for a four-yard touchdown pass to put the Eagles back up 14-7, but the Pirates were not going to be outdone as they scored on the their possession with Steve Robinson capping an 11-play, 63-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run to go ahead 17-14 in favor of Hampton.
Following a three-and-out forced by the Pirates defense, McDaniel took the Eagles' punt back 82 yards for a touchdown that placed Hampton up 23-14 headed into the fourth quarter.
“The 82-yard touchdown punt return by Damon was a great one and we needed it at that time and that seems to pretty much be the flow of the game for us … we got plays when we needed them,” said Rose.
The Eagles would score first in the final quarter on a 30-yard field goal by Frankie Cardelle. NCCU would then get the possession back on an onside kick that the Eagles turned into an 11-yard touchdown run for Johnson to put NCCU up 24-23.
The score would remain the same until the Pirates got the ball back with 2:02 left in the contest, when Coker rushed for 29 yards to give Hampton the game-winning touchdown to make the score 31-24 following a good two-point conversion when Legree connected with Isiah Thomas.
North Carolina Central would go three-and-out in their final possession to end the game.
The Pirates had only 226 yards of total offense, with 140 of those yards coming in the air. Coker finished the night with just 59 yards rushing and a touchdown, while McDaniel led the Pirates in receiving yards with 59 yards and two touchdowns.
Sanchez and Brandon Peguese led the Pirates in tackles with eight each on the night.
“Overall on the night, both the defense and the offense made plays as the game moved on and we got off to a slow start, but I think that players like Sanchez and Ricardo Silva did a great job and Ricardo was all over the field, and then Julio made some plays that stopped some touchdowns including forcing and recovering that fumble for us,” said Rose. “Now we will go and make some adjustments and try to work out some of the miscues and get ready for out next game.”
The Pirates will now get ready to get on the road as they travel to Huntsville, Ala. to face the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M. Game time is set for a 6 p.m. (CST) 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.
