GREENSBORO, N.C. (Sept. 13, 2025) … Leading 20-10 in the game's final minute, North Carolina A&T (1-2, 1-0) stunned Hampton (1-2, 0-1) 33-30 in double overtime in the 50^th meeting between the two teams. It marked the first-ever Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) win for the Aggies since joining the league.

The Aggies scored 10 points in the final minute to send the game into overtime. In the game's closing minutes, a Hampton penalty gave the Aggies a second life. With :57 left, A&T scored a touchdown on a 41-yard pass from Noah Sanders to Thomas Brown to make it 20-17.

A&T recovered the on-side kick and Hampton was assessed another penalty giving the Aggies the ball at the 37-yard line. Andrew Brown kicked a 37-yard field goal with :19 left to send the game into overtime.

A&T had the first overtime possession and Wesley Graves rambled 21 yards to the four-yard line. Two plays later, Sanders bulled for the score. Brown added the extra point to give the Aggies their first lead, 27-20, since the first quarter. It took one play for Isaiah Freeman to connect with Khaioz Watford over the middle for a Hampton touchdown and Starling's PAT tied the score 27-27. After a Brett Starling 42-yard field goal gave the Pirates a 30-27 lead, Graves scored the game-winning touchdown on a four-yard run for the Aggie victory.  

A&T opened the game's scoring with a 49-yard field goal by Brown to stake the Aggies to a 3-0 lead 9:12 into the game. The drive covered just two yards in four plays after a Hampton penalty gave the Aggies the ball at the Hampton 34-yard line.

Hampton stormed back on a nifty drive covering 67-yardS on six plays culminating in an Freeman to Tae'Shaun Johnson 29-yard TD pass to put the Pirates ahead 7-3. The Pirates led 7-3 at the end of the first period in a defensive struggle. The Hampton defense limited A&T just 44 yards in the opening quarter.

Starting at their own 20-yard one, the Pirates engineered a 10-play 70-yard drive before bogging down inside the red zone. A 27-yard field goal by Starling put the Pirates ahead 10-3 with 9:49 left before halftime.

On their next possession, the Aggies scored to tie the contest. A 42-yard pass from Nelson Layne to Jayvonne Dillard put the Aggies inside the red zone. A Hampton penalty gave A&T a first down at the one-yard line where JT Smith ran it in. Brown's PAT knotted the score with 2:43 left. The Aggies drive covered 90 yards in 13 plays draining 7:00 off the clock.

In a first half that was as close as the 10-10 score indicated, both teams managed 156 yards offense and totaled eight first downs. Hampton's Freeman completed 7-of-13 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another 73 yards.  

A&T received the second half kickoff but were unable to move the ball. Hampton took over at 42-yard line and marched 58 yards on eight plays with Freeman scoring from two-yards out on a fourth-and-goal play. The extra point put the Pirates ahead 17-10 with 8:35 left in the third quarter. Neither team was able to mount a drive the remainder of the third period. The Aggies managed just 16 yards in the quarter while the Pirates accumulated 98.

Starling tacked on a 33-yard field goal 4:48 into the final quarter as Hampton increased its lead to 20-10 setting up the dramatic ending.

On the night, Freeman ran for 129 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown while throwing for 153 yards on 12-of-24 and two touchdowns.

It had been a tumultuous few days for the Hampton community. The University was closed on Thursday and Friday after a credible threat was reported. Classes were canceled, faculty and staff were instructed to leave campus and students were asked to shelter in place. As a result, the Pirates Thursday afternoon practice was canceled. Hampton's Friday travel itinerary was rearranged and Coach Trenton Boykin's team departed campus early on Friday for a practice on the campus of North Carolina Central University in Durham before heading to Greensboro.

The Pirates next contest is Sept. 20 when Hampton travels to Washington, D.C to take on Howard in a 4:00 p.m. contest. The game is not only the Battle of the Real HU but the 100^th meeting between the two teams.