Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team will hold its 2015 home finale on Saturday afternoon, celebrating Senior Day against Florida A&M at Armstrong Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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Last Time Out: The Pirates (4-5, 3-3 MEAC), in their second season under head coach Connell Maynor, are coming off a 34-20 loss at South Carolina State this past Saturday, while the Rattlers (1-7, 1-4 MEAC), in their first season under head coach Alex Wood, fell 28-10 to North Carolina A&T this past weekend.
 
Coach Speak: "We knew it would be a tough game (at South Carolina State last week) against a very good program, well-coached, and they were in position to make another run at the MEAC title. We needed to win that game to keep our hopes alive, for the chips to fall right our way, just not able to do it."
 
Coach Maynor on Florida A&M: "They're better than their record. They have continued to get better as the season has gone on, and that's what you want to see. They haven't quit, they continue to get better. They're a dangerous team; if they get some confidence, get going early, they can make some things happen in the last couple games."
 
The Series: The Pirates are 8-13 all-time against Florida A&M, and the teams have alternated wins and losses over the course of the past six meetings. The two teams last met in 2012, when the Rattlers defeated the Pirates 44-20 in Tallahassee, Fla. Hampton last defeated Florida A&M in 2011, a 23-17 victory on national television at Armstrong Stadium. The Pirates have won each of the last four meetings with Florida A&M at Armstrong Stadium, and Hampton is 5-4 against the Rattlers at home.
 
Pirates at Home: Hampton is 2-2 at home this season after beating Kentucky State 35-20, falling 31-28 to Richmond, falling 45-31 to North Carolina A&T, and defeating Delaware State 21-7 for Homecoming. The Pirates went 2-4 at home last season, with the highlight coming in the form of a 40-35 win over nationally-ranked Bethune-Cookman in the team's home finale on Nov. 13. The Pirates fell 42-14 to William and Mary on Sept. 6, defeated Miles College 34-30 on Sept. 20, lost 17-10 to South Carolina State on Sept. 27, fell 21-13 to Norfolk State on Oct. 18, and lost 38-35 to Morgan State on Nov. 1 of last season.
 
Pirates Against the MEAC: The Pirates are 203-178-6 all-time against schools currently competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) after falling 34-20 to South Carolina State this past Saturday to fall to 3-3 in conference play this season. Hampton is 10-10 against Bethune-Cookman; 27-14 against Delaware State; 8-13 against Florida A&M; 48-43-1 against Howard; 25-37-2 against Morgan State; 25-27-1 against Norfolk State; 26-17-2 against North Carolina A&T; 18-7 against North Carolina Central; 5-0 against Savannah State; and 11-9 against South Carolina State. Since joining the MEAC in 1995, the Pirates have won the conference championship five times, including three straight in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
 
Pirates Picked to Finish Sixth: The MEAC preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors, picked the Pirates to finish sixth this season. In addition, the Pirates landed eight players on the conference's preseason teams, headlined by wideout Twarn Mixson, defensive lineman Miles Grooms, linebacker Joshua Thorne, and punter Christian Faber-Kinney – all of whom were First Team selections. Four Pirates were named Preseason Second Team All-MEAC: offensive lineman Michael Young, defensive lineman Charles Owens, wideout Rashawn Proctor, and offensive lineman Torrian White.
 
Counting To 1,000: The Pirates' game against rival Howard on Sept. 18 was the 1,000th in the history of Hampton University football. Hampton won that game 37-19, and heading into this weekend, the Pirates are 552-420-34 all-time (a .549 winning percentage).
 
Quarterback Returns Home: For David Watford, who transferred to the Pirates from the University of Virginia, Hampton is home. Watford played his high school football at nearby Hampton High, totaling over 3,000 yards as a senior en route to All-District and All-Region honors. He did not throw an interception that season, guiding the Crabbers to an 11-2 record – the only losses coming to eventual state champion Phoebus. In 2012 with U.Va., Watford set a school record with 244 completions, and against Georgia Tech, he completed a school-record 43 passes for a career-high 376 yards. In his Pirates debut against Kentucky State, Watford threw for 335 yards and five touchdowns – four of which went to T.J. Mixson. He also threw three touchdowns against both Richmond and North Carolina A&T. Through seven weeks, Watford leads the MEAC in passing (226.0 yards per game) and total offense (249.4 yards per game). He has at least one touchdown pass in each of the Pirates' first eight games.
 
Antoine Getting it Done: After starting the last five games of the 2014 season, quarterback Jerrell Antoine completed 85 of 157 passes for 967 yards and 11 touchdowns. His best game of the season came in the Pirates' upset win over nationally-ranked Bethune-Cookman, when he went 21-for-34 through the air for 249 yards and five touchdowns. He followed that performance with a 19-for-39, 240-yard performance at Howard – a game in which he threw two touchdowns. Antoine threw at least one touchdown pass in every game he started, and he had two touchdown passes against Morgan State. Antoine also rushed 52 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Antoine made his first start of 2015 this past Saturday at South Carolina State, completing 17 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Mixson Leading Pirates Receivers: Mixson was a First Team All-MEAC selection last season and was on the conference preseason First Team. In 2014, Mixson led the team and the MEAC in receiving, averaging 68.3 yards per contest. He caught 5.6 passes per game, and Mixson had a team-high 615 receiving yards on the season with six touchdowns. He opened the 2015 season in style against Kentucky State, catching seven passes for 135 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 93 yards and a score against Richmond, while also throwing a touchdown pass. He then racked up 119 receiving yards against Howard, before catching five passes for a career-high 136 yards against North Carolina A&T. He had both a receiving touchdown and a passing touchdown in that contest. Through nine weeks, Mixson leads the MEAC in receiving yards (83.9 per game) and receptions (5.2 per game), and he is sixth in all-purpose yards (85.2 per game).
 
At or Near the Top of the Pile: Through the first nine weeks of the regular season, the Pirates are at the top or near the top of the MEAC in several statistical categories. Hampton leads the conference in field goals (4-for-5), while also ranking second in passing offense (231.6 yards per game), pass efficiency (122.1), pass efficiency defense (108.4), sacks on defense (22), first downs on offense (173), and red zone defense (68.3 percent). The Pirates are third in the MEAC in total offense (348.9 yards per game), total defense (337.1 yards per game), and interceptions on defense (8).
 
Grooms a Force on the Line: Grooms was a Preseason First Team All-MEAC selection coming into 2015, after being named Third Team All-MEAC in 2014. He was sixth on the team with 52 total tackles in 2014, while also ranking second on the team in tackles for loss (13.0) and third in sacks (5.0). His 10 quarterback hurries were a team high, and Grooms also forced a pair of fumbles last season. In the opener against Kentucky State, Grooms had four quarterback hurries, seven tackles, and 1.5 sacks. He also had two sacks and three tackles for loss in the Pirates' win over Delaware State. After nine weeks of play, Grooms is third in the MEAC in sacks with 6.5.
 
Thorne a Tackling Machine: Thorne had 113 total tackles last season, leading both the team and the MEAC while recording 100 tackles for the second straight season. Thorne was a Second Team All-MEAC selection in 2014, and he also led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss – while his 5.5 sacks tied for the team lead. Thorne averaged 5.5 tackles per contest, and twice last season he racked up a career-high 19 tackles: at Delaware State and at North Carolina Central. He also had three sacks and six tackles for loss in Hampton's shutout win over the Hornets. Thorne was a Preseason First Team All-MEAC selection leading into the 2015 season. He led the Pirates with 12 tackles, three for loss, this past Saturday at South Carolina State.
 
Faber-Kinney One to Watch Out For: After being named Second Team All-MEAC in 2013, Faber-Kinney was a First Team All-MEAC selection last season. He led the conference in punting in 2014, averaging 42.9 yards per kick and recording 14 punts of at least 50 yards. The VaSID Second Team All-State selection pinned 10 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line, and he had a career-long 72-yard punt at Delaware State. Faber-Kinney, who was also a Third Team All-MEAC honoree in the indoor heptathlon and outdoor decathlon, was a Preseason First Team All-MEAC selection coming into the 2015 campaign. Through nine weeks, Faber-Kinney is second in the MEAC in punting (40.9 yards per punt).
 
Coaching Staff Changes: Michael Ketchum is but one of the new faces roaming the Pirates sideline this season, coming over from Delaware State to serve as defensive coordinator. Tremayne Henry, who served as defensive coordinator for part of last season, will coach the defensive line in 2015. Marc Bacote also joined the staff, where he will serve as safeties coach, and Bryant Foster has come on board to serve as cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator. Former Pirate Marcus Wade has also joined head coach Connell Maynor's staff, serving as a graduate assistant.
 
Pirates Wideouts Standing Out: Mixson received all of the accolades, but the Pirates receiving corps boasted two other high-caliber threats on the outside. In fact, two Pirate receivers ranked in the top 10 in the conference in receptions per game last season; Rayshad Riddick was tied for fourth in the MEAC with 4.2 catches per game, while Proctor was sixth in the MEAC with 4.1 catches per contest. Proctor was also seventh in the MEAC in receiving yards, averaging 50.0 per game. So far this season, Proctor is 10th in the MEAC in receiving yards (40.8 per game).
 
For more information on Hampton University athletics, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.