Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team will return to Armstrong Stadium on Saturday for the annual Battle of the Bay against archrival Norfolk State. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.

The Pirates (4-1, 3-0 MEAC) are on a four-game winning streak after a strong defensive effort helped them defeat North Carolina Central 27-13 this past Saturday in Durham, N.C., while the Spartans (2-3, 1-2 MEAC), under the direction of head coach Pete Adrian, have lost two straight following a 34-13 loss to South Carolina State.

The Pirates are 22-24-1 all-time against the Spartans, who won last year's meeting 46-6 at Dick Price Stadium. The last time these two teams met at Armstrong Stadium, in 2008, the Pirates came away with a 35-17 win. In all, the Pirates have won 14 of the last 18 meetings between these two teams dating all the way back to 1992. Norfolk State actually leads the all-time series at Armstrong Stadium 13-10, though the Pirates have won six straight against the Spartans in Hampton.

So far this season, the Pirates are third in the MEAC in scoring defense, giving up just 20.4 points per game, while sitting fifth in total defense after giving up 305.6 yards per contest. Hampton is also third in the conference in rushing defense, only allowing opponents 139.6 yards per game on the ground – and the Pirates are tied for fourth with Morgan State in the conference in sacks, bringing down opposing quarterbacks 11 times so far this season.

Senior Kenrick Ellis (West Palm Beach, Fla.), who is tied with senior linebacker Darius Johnson (Sussex, Va.) for the team lead in tackles with 45, leads the MEAC in tackles per game with 11.2 so far this season. Senior Brandon Peguese (Greensboro, N.C.) leads the MEAC in sacks (6.0, 1.20 per game) and is second in the conference in tackles for loss (11.0 for 48 yards). Junior Micah Pellerin (New Orleans, La.) leads the MEAC with nine pass breakups, while senior Romeo Pellum (Long Beach, Calif.) is tied for second with seven.

Hampton's early success has caught the MEAC's attention, as the conference has already bestowed six weekly honors on Pirate players so far this season. After the Pirates defeated Howard 31-21 on Sept. 11, Ellis was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week and kicker Rodrigo Hernandez (Miami, Fla.) was named Rookie of the Week. Ellis had a career-high 16 tackles against the Bison, including two sacks and a fumble recovery, while Hernandez was a perfect 4-for-4 in PATs and nailed a 36-yard field goal.

After Hampton blasted North Carolina A&T 35-21 on Sept. 18, quarterback David Legree (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was named MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week and running back Antwon Chisholm (Belle Glade, Fla.) was named MEAC Rookie of the Week. Legree passed for a career-high 206 yards and four touchdowns against the Aggies, while Chisholm added 114 rushing yards on just 11 carries – including a 72-yard scoring run.

Chisholm was named MEAC Rookie of the Week again following Hampton's 20-14 road win over Delaware State, where he rushed for a career-high 157 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries.

Senior safety Ricardo Silva (Baltimore, Md.) was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week following Hampton's 27-13 win over North Carolina Central this past Saturday. Silva tied for the team high in tackles with 15, including four solo stops, and his 68-yard interception return for a touchdown with two minutes to play helped seal the deal.

The Pirates are 80-31 against schools from the MEAC. This is only the Pirates' 16th year as a member of the MEAC, as they initially became a member back in 1995. Since joining the MEAC, the Pirates have won the conference championship five times, including three straight in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2006, the last time the Pirates won the MEAC, Hampton went 10-2, losing only to South Carolina State in the regular season and to New Hampshire in the NCAA playoffs. Prior to joining the MEAC, the Pirates were members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

Saturday's contest against Norfolk State will be Hampton's second home game of the season; the Pirates are 1-0 at Armstrong Stadium this season after defeating North Carolina A&T 35-21 on Sept. 18. During Donovan Rose's tenure as head coach, the Pirates are 4-3 at home, having gone 3-3 in Armstrong Stadium last season.

Fans unable to make it to Armstrong Stadium can follow along with Saturday's contest via live stats on the Internet. Simply visit the official Hampton University athletics website, www.hamptonpirates.com, and click the link on the front page for live stats.

The game will also be broadcast live on WHOV 88.1 FM, with Shemar Woods and Matt White calling the action.

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.