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Football

HU Football Returns Home to Host Norfolk State in the Battle of the Bay

Hampton, Va. (Sept. 8, 2023) … After starting the season off with a win defeating Grambling State 35-31, the Pirates return to Armstrong Stadium for the Battle of the Bay against Norfolk State. The series recently has been a battle between these two rivals with the last ten matchups being split evenly. 

A Look at Your Pirates

During coach Prunty's time at Hampton, the Pirates have not lost a home opener. The last time HU dropped their home opener was the 2016 season against William & Mary. Hampton during this stretch has defeated their opponents by an average of 26 points.

In the season opener, the offense was led by Christofer Zellous. Zellous would be named the Brick City Offensive MVP and earn CAA Player of the Week Honors. He rushed for over 100 yards giving HU their first 100-yard plus rusher since October of last season. Senior Darran Butts also broke that mark, compiling 103 yards on the ground along with a touchdown. Butts averaged 7.4 yards per carry in the winning effort. 

Through the early portion of the 2023 campaign, Hampton's special teams unit has been one of the best in the CAA. On kickoff returns the Pirates are only allowing 11 yards on average which is the second best in the conference. With HU's punt defense giving up two yards per return, Tristan Heaton ranks as one of the league's top kickers. Against Grambling State, Heaton consistently produced around 42 yards per punt. 

Defensively, Qwahsin Townsell led the way. The Egg Harbor, N.J., native produced a game-high 12 tackles. Townsell also finished the season opener with three quarterback hurries. Defensive back Stanley Garner was another key contributor for the Pirates. Garner finished with a game-high two pass breakups. Currently, he sits second in the CAA and ninth in the FCS for passes defended.

Scouting Norfolk State

The Spartans are coached by Dawson Odums who enters his third season with the program. In Odum's first season, Norfolk State posted a (6-5) record giving them their first winning season since 2007. Odum's squad would also win six straight contests for the first time since 1984. However, since coach Odums' first season, NSU has only won two games. 

Norfolk State opened up the 2023 campaign against CIAA Virginia State. The Spartans would drop the season opener to Virginia State 33-24. NSU finished the contest with 183 yards of offense less than VSU. A bad snap on the last play of the game allowed Virginia State to come away with the victory.

NSU's offense sits third in the MEAC for yards per game and produced just shy of five yards per play. Otto Kuhns got the start in week one for the Spartans. Kuhns finished the contest with 166 passing yards and two touchdowns. Otto is more of a traditional pocket passer with eight rushing attempts last week.  Kuhn's top target this season is Andre Pegues. The 6-3 wide receiver produced a team-high 83 yards and a touchdown in the season opener.

Through week one the Spartans rank towards the bottom of their conference after giving up 487 yards. Most of them came from the run. The 316 rushing yards given up by NSU is the worst in the MEAC. However, Norfolk State's pass defense ranks towards the top of the MEAC. The Spartans only allowed 171 yards through the air.
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Players Mentioned

Darran Butts

#22 Darran Butts

RB
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Chris Zellous

#1 Chris Zellous

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Stanley Garner

#3 Stanley Garner

DB
6' 2"
Graduate Student
Qwahsin Townsel

#4 Qwahsin Townsel

LB
6' 0"
Graduate Student
Tristan Heaton

#36 Tristan Heaton

K
6' 1"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Darran Butts

#22 Darran Butts

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
RB
Chris Zellous

#1 Chris Zellous

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
QB
Stanley Garner

#3 Stanley Garner

6' 2"
Graduate Student
DB
Qwahsin Townsel

#4 Qwahsin Townsel

6' 0"
Graduate Student
LB
Tristan Heaton

#36 Tristan Heaton

6' 1"
Graduate Student
K