Final Stats

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Hampton University's defense held Savannah State to just 150 yards of total offense on Saturday en route to a 22-5 win at Theo Wright Stadium to spoil the Tigers' Homecoming.
 
“After the game today I gave the game ball to my Defensive Coordinator (Keith Goganious), because of the outstanding job they did today,” said head coach Donovan Rose. “They made (freshman quarterback Travis) Champion's job a lot easier.”
 
In the first half, poor field position, penalties and a turnover haunted the Pirates. Hampton started the game by driving down the field on its opening possession and capped a 15-play, 56-yard drive with a 34-yard field goal by Taurean Durham (Uniondale, N.Y.) to put the Pirates up 3-0.
 
Following a great defensive stand, the Tigers were able to get off a punt that was downed at Hampton's 1-yard line. The Pirates' first play of the drive would result in a team safety to cut Hampton's lead to 3-2 heading into the second quarter.
 
The second quarter would be a defensive battle, as the Tigers would come out on the winning end after Nate Clay of Savannah State hit Travis Champion (Moreno Valley, Calif.) from behind and forced a fumble that the Tigers recovered. Savannah State would go 48 yards on seven plays and kick a 22-yard field goal to head into the half with a 5-3 lead. 
 
Hampton came out in the second half and stopped the Tigers on their opening drive, before marching down the field inside the Tigers' red zone. On the first play from the 5-yard line, Champion appeared to make it into the endzone following a fake hand-off that had both Savannah State and the officials fooled; after the officials huddled, they placed the ball inside the 1-yard line.
 
After a false start, the Pirates tried a 22-yard field goal, which sailed wide right.
 
The turning point in the game came when the Pirates pinned the Tigers inside their own 1-yard line and DeVonte` Hawkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) tackled Savannah State quarterback Antonio Bostick in the end zone for a safety to tie the score at 5-5.
 
Hampton would go on to score 17 unanswered points.
 
The run started with a 29-yard field goal by Durham late in the third quarter. Champion then capped a 10-play, 73-yard drive in the fourth quarter with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Reginald Hicks (Hampton, Va.) to give the Pirates a 15-5 lead.
 
“As a freshman, he is pretty much doing what is asked of him and we are playing to his strengths,” Rose said. “I though he did a good job of moving the ball and made some good reads today, and everyone played better.”
 
Antwon Chisholm (Belle Glade, Fla.) would get the final score of the day, when he opened up a run for 46 yards to put the game away at 22-5 on a play that took all of nine seconds.
 
Hampton finished the game with 348 yards of total offense, with 197 yards passing and 151 on the ground behind Champion.
 
The defense was on for the Pirates, as they finished the game with 12 tackles for a loss of 38 yards; three of those tackles came from sacks for 10 yards. Hawkins finished the game with a team-high 13 total tackles, as the Pirates held Savannah State to five points and 150 yards of total offense.
 
Hampton (5-3, 3-2 MEAC) will close out the remainder of the season with three straight at home, starting with a match-up against Howard University on Saturday in the Battle of the Real HU. Kickoff is set for 1 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.