HAMPTON, Va. (Sept. 26, 2025) … On Sept. 13, Hampton battled North Carolina A&T for the 50th time. A week later, the Pirates traveled to Washington, D.C. to take on Howard in the 100th meeting between the two teams.
Next week, the Pirates will host local Norfolk State for the 61st time in the Battle of the Bay.
But while some rivalries have been ongoing for decades, other Pirates opponents are relatively new to the Hampton fanbase.
On Sept. 27, Hampton plays at Elon in just the fourth meeting in the series. The two teams had never met on the gridiron until Hampton joined the CAA. The series dates back only to 2022.
In the first meeting between the teams, Elon posted a 38-24 win at Armstrong Stadium. In 2023, the Phoenix won 51-14 at Rhodes Stadium. Last season, Hampton turned the tables with a convincing 41-21 victory on Oct. 26, before a happy Homecoming audience of 6,027 at Armstrong Stadium.
The game also brings to an end a stretch of three consecutive games on the road (at North Carolina A&T, at Howard and at Elon). The Pirates will play back-to-back home games hosting Norfolk State (Oct. 4) and Campbell (Oct. 11). Five of Hampton's final seven games of the season are at Armstrong Stadium.
The Game
Hampton (1-3) will look to return to its winning ways when the Pirates travel to play at Elon (2-2). Coach
Trenton Boykin's troops have suffered back-to-back losses falling to CAA rival North Carolina A&T in double overtime and to Howard in the 100th meeting between the two squads.
The game will end a stretch of four road games in the first five contests of the season. Hampton is 0-3 on the road in 2025.
In the loss at Howard, Hampton played without the services of graduate running back
Ja'Quan Snipes, the centerpiece of the Pirate offense, who was injured.
On Sept. 20, Elon lost at East Tennessee State 26-16 in a game that was delayed nearly three hours due to a lightning storm. Laden Clark passed for 223 yards and a pair of TDs. Elon was limited to just 70 rushing yards.
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.
On defense, Hampton's veteran secondary has been a strength. Harold O'Neal III had 18 tackles at North Carolina A&T, the most for a Pirate in 11 years.
After falling to Duke to open the year, the Phoenix beat Davidson and Western Carolina before a loss at East Tennessee State.
In addition to passing for 219.0 yards per game with seven TDs, Clark is the team's leading rusher with 54.3 yards per game with four of the team eight rushing TDs. Defensively, linebacker Brodie Carroll averaged 7.5 tackles per game with six tackles-for-loss. Defensive back Tony Hart III has 6.8 tackles in the team's first four games.
Monumental Sports Network to Carry Six Games
Hampton has expanded its Monumental Sports Network partnership. The network will carry six Pirate football games and is available to three million homes in the D.C.-Baltimore-Metro area.
Aug. 31-Hampton vs. Jackson St. (12:00) (taped)
Sept. 6-Hampton vs. Elizabeth City St. (6 p.m.)
Oct. 4-Hampton vs Norfolk St. (4 p.m.)
Oct. 25 – Hampton vs. Monmouth (2 p.m.)
Nov. 8-Hampton vs. Maine (1 p.m.)-MNMT2
Nov. 15-Hampton vs William & Mary (1 p.m.)
