HAMPTON, Va. (Nov. 2nd, 2023) ... Coming off a home victory over longtime rival North Carolina A&T by a 26-24 score, Hampton (4-4, 2-3) travels to Orono, Maine to take on the Black Bears.
The Pirates are 3-1 in games away from Armstrong Stadium this year with wins over Grambling State (neutral site), at Howard and at Richmond and a loss at Monmouth.
With three games left, Hampton has matched its 2022 win total with four. After posting a 1-7 record in CAA play in 2022, the Pirates are 2-3 this season.
Picked to finish last in the CAA standings this year in a vote of the league's coaches, the Pirates have proven to be no pushover.
The game marks Hampton's first visit to Maine. And the 860-mile trip is the longest and furthest from the Hampton, Va. campus this year.
The two teams first met on the gridiron last season when the Pirates joined the CAA. The Black Bears won, 31-24, on Oct. 8, 2022 as Maine scored the game's final two touchdowns in a come-from-behind victory over the homestanding Pirates.
The Game
Coming off a 26-24 triumph over longtime rival North Carolina A&T for Homecoming, Hampton (4-4, 2-3) takes travels to Orono, as Maine (1-5, 2-7) celebrates Senior Day in its last home game of the season.
The homestanding Black Bears fell to Albany, 37-21, last weekend. Maine quarterback Derek Robertson completed 29-of-43 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. He suffered two interceptions.
Hampton and Maine have shared two common opponents this season. Hampton downed Richmond 31-14 on on Sept. 30 and the Black Bears fell to the Spiders, 42-31 a week later on Oct. 7. Campbell beat Hampton, 30-27, on Oct. 7 and the Camels topped Maine, 34-28, on Oct. 21.
The victory over North Carolina A&T marked the return of Hampton quarterback
Chris Zellous and running back
Elijah Burris. Zellous missed the Delaware game and Burris did not play against Monmouth or Delaware due to injuries.
Against the Aggies, Zellous completed 11-19 passes for 198 yards and two TDs and was the game's leading rusher with 89 yards. Burris had 63 yards on 18 totes.
The game with Maine will features different offensive schemes. Hampton leads the CAA in rushing with 225.9 yards per outing. Maine is last in the conference, rushing for 77.2 yards per contest. The Black Bears are third in passing with 265.7 yards through the air while Hampton ranks 13th, averaging 149.5 passing yards per game.
While Hampton is dangerous with Zellous and Burris in the backfield, the return of injured running back
Darran Butts would complete the Pirates full house backfield.
Burris is second in the CAA in rushing with a 105.0 ypg average. Teammate Butts, who has missed the last two games, rushes for 83.8 ypg, sixth best in the league.
The defense is anchored by linebacker
Qwahsin Townsel, who is fourth in the league in tackles with 9.9 per game. Maine quarterback Derek Robertson is fourth in the league in passing with 252.1 ypg. He averages 34 passes per contest and his favorite target, Joe Gillette, has caught 36 passes for 570 yards and five scores this season.Â
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The Black Bears defense boast linebackers Kahsir Brown (29th in the CAA with 5.7 tpg) and Tyshawn Stewart (5.6 tpg) with three interceptions.
Next Up for the Pirates
Hampton returns home for Senior Day on Nov. 11 at 1:00 p.m. against William & Mary. William & Mary slipped past the Pirates, 20-14, a year ago. The Tribe leads the series that began in 1997 by an 8-0 margin. The William & Mary campus is just 31 miles from Armstrong Stadium.
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