HAMPTON, Va. (Oct. 3, 2025) … The 60th game in the Hampton-Norfolk State series has all the ingredients needed to make it one of the top match-ups:

• The two schools are just 14.8 miles apart. The 3.5-mile long Hampton Roads Tunnel connects the two cities.
• Both have shared membership in the CIAA and the MEAC.
• The rivalry have been hotly contested with Norfolk State holding a slim 30-28-1 margin.
• Hampton students have friends, classmates and relatives who attend Norfolk State. Norfolk State students have the same.

In its last trip to Hampton, Norfolk State surprised the Pirates with a 31-23 victory on Sept. 9, 2023. Hampton turned the tables last year with a 37-7 thumping of the Spartans in Norfolk.

The Battle of the Bay rivals Homecoming in attendance and fan interest as thousands come to cheer on their team.

Last year, 15,011 fans attended the game at Norfolk State's Dick Price Stadium. In 2023, 10,021 fans flocked to Hampton's Armstrong Stadium for the contest.

There is no home field advantage when these two teams play. The Spartans have won the last four games at Armstrong Stadium. The Pirates have won the last three match-ups in Dick Price Stadium.

The Game
Hampton (1-4) will look to return to its winning ways when the Pirates host longtime rival Norfolk State (1-4) in the annual Battle of the Bay match-up on Oct. 4 at Armstrong Stadium.

The game marks the 60th anniversary of the series that began in 1963. At one time or another, both teams have dominated the series. The Spartans won 11 of the first 12 meetings between the two teams between 1963-1974. Hampton had the decided edge from 1993-2006 when Coach Joe Taylor's Pirates won 13 of the 15 match-ups. Overall, Norfolk State holds a 30-28-1 edge.

Linebacker Harold O'Neal III has been an anchor on defense. The graduate is third in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in tackles averaging 10.4 stops per game. He is second in the conference in solo tackles with 31 (6.2 per game).

Hampton's prides itself on a potent running attack. In three seasons in the CAA, the Pirates have placed first or second in rushing.  Hampton currently leads in the CAA in rushing. Isaiah Freeman is the conference's sixth-leading rusher, averaging 62.0 ypg.

Graduate Ja'Quan Snipes, the centerpiece of the Pirate offense, has been on the shelf for the last two weekends. Donovan Shepard and Jah'Kei Chavis (94 yards at Elon last week) have carried the load in his absence.

Redshirt freshman placekicker Brett Starling is a perfect 11-of-11 on PATs and made all seven of his field goals.

Quarterback Otto Kuhns leads the Spartan offense. He is averaging 188.8 ypg through the air with three touchdowns and three interceptions. In his last outing, he passed for 119 yards at Wagner in an 18-13 loss.

The Pirates in October
The Pirates are 125-83-4 (.605) in games played in the month of October. Hampton was 2-1 in games played in October 2024.

This Date in Pirate History
Hampton has a 4-1 (.800) record in games played on Oct. 4. If history is any indication, the game will be a a low-scoring affair. Hampton has scored 18 or fewer points in five of the six games played on Oct. 4. The first game played on this date was in 1947 when Hampton posted a 13-8 win at Johnson C. Smith. In the last game on this date, the Pirates topped Delaware State 17-14 on the road in 2008.