Final Stats

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In a game that the Pirates of Hampton University wanted to win and the Rattlers of Florida A&M needed to keep their hopes of a MEAC championship alive, it all came down to the last possession on Saturday, as FAMU came away with a 17-12 win at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

 

The Pirates dropped to 5-5 on the season and 4-3 in MEAC play with their fourth straight loss, while the Rattlers improved to 7-3 and 6-1 in conference play.

 

“Everyone knew that this was going to be an intense game coming into today,” said Pirates head coach Donovan Rose. “They (FAMU) knew that this was a game they had to win in order to stay in the hunt for the championship and Coach (Joe Taylor) was going to have them ready.”

 

The game started out in the Pirates' favor, but a questionable spot on a 4^th-and-1 forced a turnover on downs for Hampton and gave the Rattlers the ball on their own 21-yard line. It would take Florida A&M one play to go 79 yards when running back Phillip Sylvester broke a run for the first score of the game to put the Rattlers up 7-0.

 

Not to be outdone, the Pirates would mount a drive and go 77 yards in 10 plays, but the Pirates would have to settle for a 22-yard field goal to get on the board. The Rattlers would get on the board again when quarterback Austin Trainor capped a seven-play, 50-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to keep FAMU ahead.

 

The scoring would go back and forth as the Pirates would kick a 39-yard field goal following an eight-play, 39-yard drive.

 

FAMU would kick a 25-yard field goal just before the half to go into the intermission with a 17-6 lead.

 

In the second half the Pirates defense would keep the Rattlers out of the endzone and get a big interception by Micah Pellerin, who returned it 38 yards to the FAMU 8-yard line to set up 1^st-and-goal.

 

Hampton was unable to convert on the great field position when quarterback David Legree was picked off in the endzone by Curtis Holcomb.

 

Hampton would put together a touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter, when the Pirates went 85 yards on nine plays and Legree connected with Javaris Brown from 22 yards out, but a failed two-point conversation made the score 17-12 in favor of FAMU.

 

The Pirates would get two more chances at a score, with the first coming with 4:09 remaining when Hampton's defense stopped the Rattlers on 4^th-and-1 and Hampton got the ball on their 27-yard line. The Pirates got as far as Florida A&M's 42-yard line before a penalty and two sacks forced a turnover on downs.

 

Time ran out for the Pirates, as they got the ball back with just 23 seconds reminding.

 

Hampton would finish the game with 362 yards of total offense, as Legree throw for a career-high 299 yards and rushed for another 40. Brown also recorded his first 100-yard receiving game of the season.

 

The Pirates defense was led by senior Darius Johnson, who finished the game with a game-high nine tackles. Hampton held FAMU to 316 yards of total offense.

 

The Pirates will try to close out the 2010 season on a winning note as they travel to Baltimore, Md. to face the Bears of Morgan State on Saturday. Game time is set for 4 p.m.

 

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.