Hampton 20, Jackson State 7

September 3, 2005

Detroit, Mich. – Ardell Daniels rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns as the Offensive MVP, and Justin Durant led a stingy Pirate defense as Hampton University defeated Jackson State 20-7 to win the 2005 Detroit Labor Day Classic at Ford Field. The win marked the second straight year the Pirates (1-0) opened their season with a win over the Tigers.

Showing little or no signs of opening day jitters, the Tigers (0-1) came out of the locker room and immediately embarked on the longest drive of the afternoon. Led by quarterback Steve Haren who was 4-of-4 to begin the game, Jackson State put together a 16-play, 80-yard drive on their opening possession. The Tigers had three third down conversions and a fourth down conversion during the nine-minute drive that ended on a 1-yard run by Curtis Hayes at 5:51 in the first quarter.

Calvin Bannister would jump start the Hampton faithful on the ensuing kickoff by coming out of his own end zone for a 51-yard return. From there the Pirates needed just eight plays to tie the game at seven as Daniels ran in from a yard out.

Both offenses struggled as the game continued on, but the Pirates were able take a 10-7 lead into the half behind a 25-yard field goal by junior kicker Andrew Paterini with 33 seconds to play in the first half.

The third quarter was a defensive showdown with the Pirates and the Tigers combining for seven total yards in the period. Special teams provided Hampton’s best opportunity to put points on the board after Marquay McDaniel’s 76-yard punt return gave the Pirates the ball at the Jackson State 13-yard line. However, on the next play from scrimmage Daniels and quarterback Princeton Shepherd had trouble with the handoff and Anthony Dillon recovered the fumble for the Tigers to halt the Hampton scoring threat.

McDaniel began the fourth quarter with a 24-yard reception from Shepherd and Daniels and Alonzo Coleman (17 att, 99 yds) pounded out yard after yard on the ground to put the Pirates in position for another Paterini field goal (33 yards) and a 13-7 lead with 10:12 to play.

Hampton sealed the game when Daniels ran off the left side, broke the tackles of three Tiger defenders, and cut across the field for a 41-yard touchdown run – his second of the afternoon.

With nine tackles (5 solo) and one sack on the day, Justin Durant earned Defensive MVP honors after heading a Pirate defense that surrendered just 82 total yards in the final 51 minutes of the ball game. Fellow linebacker Rudolph Foye also had a solid game with eight tackles and two tackles for loss, as did Kyle Whitehurst who posted seven tackles, one interception and a tackle for loss.

In a game that saw both teams combine for 14 total punts and five turnovers, it was Hampton’s rushing attack that proved to be the difference. The Pirates out gained the Tigers 232-31 on the ground.

Hampton travels to Washington, D.C. next week to open conference play against Howard, while Jackson State takes on Tennessee State.