Hampton 42, Norfolk State 13

October 14, 2006

Hampton, Va. – Princeton Shepherd passed for 209 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to lead Hampton to a 42-13 win over visiting Norfolk State in the Greyhound Battle of the Bay at Armstrong Stadium. With the win, the Pirates’ ninth in the last 10 meetings against the Spartans, Hampton extended its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) winning streak to 17 games dating back to the 2004 season.

The Pirates (7-0, 5-0 MEAC) wasted very little time getting things started, as they took the opening kickoff and promptly marched down the field. Beginning the drive at its own 33-yard line, Hampton needed just seven plays to get into the end zone. Kevin Beverly burst through the middle of the Norfolk State line and ran into linebacker Maguell Davis whom he spun way from and raced 29 yards for a 7-0 Hampton lead.

Likewise, Norfolk State (3-3, 1-3 MEAC) also put points on the board with its first possession. On their first play from scrimmage Spartan quarterback Casey Hansen found James Callaham for a 46-yard gain down to the Hampton 18-yard line. The Pirates’ defense kept NSU out of the end zone, but Antonio Gomez’s 47-yard field goal made the score 7-3 in favor of the Pirates.

Gomez added another field goal just minutes later after Brandon Feagin recovered a fumble by Hampton wide receiver Onrea Jones at the Pirates’ 36-yard line. However, that would be Norfolk State’s last highlight for some time.

Hampton regained the lead on the ensuing possession by marching 59 yards in just six plays, the final one being a 32-yard touchdown to Marquay McDaniel. Shepherd found McDaniel on crossing route at the Norfolk State 20 and McDaniel picked up a great down-field block from fellow wide receiver Jeremy Gilchrist to go in untouched and put the Pirates back in front, 14-6.

For the 33rd consecutive game the Hampton defense forced a turnover when Calvin Bannister picked off Hansen to give the Pirates great field position at the NSU 27-yard line. A false start penalty pushed the Pirates back, but Shepherd and McDaniel connected again, this time for a 31-yard score and a 21-6 Hampton lead at the end of the first.

The Pirates opened the second quarter with a 12-play drive down to the NSU 4-yard line, but the Spartans defense came up big when Brandon Sawyer sacked Shepherd on 4th-and goal.

It appeared that the first half would end with Hampton holding on to the 21-6 lead, but Onrea Jones made up for his earlier fumble by hauling in a diving catch in the back corner of the end zone with just 11 seconds remaining before the break. Andrew Paterini’s extra point made it 28-6 Hampton at the half.

Norfolk State came out in the second half looking to establish the running game and the Spartans did just that. Utilizing a trio of backs the Spartans rushed for 58 yards on their second possession to march as deep as the Pirates’ 26-yard line. Gomez came on to attempt a 43-yard kick, but he appeared to lose his footing on the approach and the kick sailed wide left.

McDaniel caught his sixth touchdown from Shepherd in the last two weeks when he got behind the NSU defense for a 43-yard reception on the Pirates’ next possession.

Hampton’s Derius Swinton sent spectators heading for the exits when he stepped in front of a Hansen pass intended for Jonathan Allen and raced 55-yards untouched for a 42-6 Pirate lead with 14:00 remaining in the game.

DeAngelo Branche helped the Spartans close the gap with a 47-yard run to the Pirates’ 19. Five plays later Hansen found Emery Sammons for a 6-yard touchdown to provide the final 42-13 margin.

Despite the loss the Spartans did manage to put up 322 total yards, 158 on the ground, most coming from Branche who carried just nine times for 105 yards.

The Offensive MVP of the game, Shepherd finished the afternoon 12-of-19 for 209 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 50 yards. McDaniel hauled in six receptions for 115 yards and the three touchdowns.

Defensively the Pirates kept NSU from maintaining any drives by allowing the Spartans to convert on only 1-of-12 third down conversions. Swinton registered a game-high nine tackles, but Wakeem Goode earned Defensive MVP honors after totaling six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.