Hampton clinches; Southern eyes rematch
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
Hampton University is the latest team to clinch a conference football championship as the Pirates' 51-24 win over North Carolina A&T Saturday gave them the regular season Mid Eastern Athletic Conference championship and an automatic berth into the NCAA Div. I-AA playoffs.
The Pirates (9-1, 6-1) spotted A&T a 3-0 lead before scoring 31 unanswered points to take a commanding lead at the half. After both teams went scoreless in the third quarter, A&T (3-7, 1-5) opened the fourth quarter with two touchdowns off turnovers to get within 31-17. Following the second TD however, Hampton's Ardell Daniels returned the kickoff 89 yards for a TD to restore order for the Pirates.
Hampton RB Alonzo Coleman finished the
day with 106 yards on 25 carries and three TD runs of
34, 2 and 2 yards. Speedy wide receiver/kick
returner Jerome Mathis scored the Pirates first TD on
92-yard kickoff return.
Hampton closes out the regular season Saturday (1:30 p.m.) with a date at 2-7 Savannah State. The Pirates, one of eight teams that will receive automatic bids to the playoffs, will then wait for the announcement of the 16-team I-AA championship field on Sunday (Nov. 21).
In the latest Sports Network Top 25 I-AA poll, South Carolina State (8-2, 5-1) is the other MEAC team that appears in the rankings at 23rd. The Bulldogs who escaped with a 38-35 overtime win vs. Morgan State Saturday, close out their regular season in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday facing N. C. A&T in the Rivalry Classic
SWAC
Southern (8-2, 6-0 SWAC W) took another
step towards a rematch with Alabama State in the Dec.
11 SWAC Championship Game with a 28-0 shutout of winless
Texas Southern Saturday.
The Jags need a win over Grambling State in their final regular season game, the Nov. 27 Bayou Classic in New Orleans, to repeat as West Division champs and earn a spot opposite the Hornets, who have already clinched the East Division crown, in the title game.
A championship game matching Southern and Alabama State would be a double rematch. Southern handed 8-1 Alabama State its only loss of this season, 41-40 on Oct. 2. The Jaguars also downed ASU, 20-9 in last year's SWAC title game.
Though neither is eligible for the I-AA playoffs, Southern is 19th and Alabama State is 20th in the latest Sports Network I-AA poll.
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