In the battle of the real HU, the Hampton Pirates outlasted the Howard Bison 27-20, with big plays on the ground and a strong start helping them secure the win. The Pirates, led by a balanced attack, held off a late surge from the Bison to take the victory.
The Pirates got on the board first in the opening quarter, when quarterback Chris Zellous connected with Tyler Hatcher for a 6-yard touchdown pass at 3:51, capping off a 9-play, 79-yard drive. Brian Csehoski’s extra point made it 7-0 Hampton.
Hampton extended their lead early in the second quarter. This time it was quarterback Malcolm Mays breaking free for a 34-yard touchdown run at the 10:32 mark, finishing a 6-play, 65-yard drive. Another extra point from Csehoski pushed the score to 14-0.
Howard, however, found life late in the second quarter. Richie Ilarraza hit Kasey Hawthorne with a 24-yard touchdown pass at 1:51, finishing off a quick 7-play, 95-yard drive that trimmed the lead to 14-7 going into halftime.
The Bison carried that momentum into the third quarter. Eden James scored on a 16-yard run at 3:04, tying the game at 14 after a 4-play, 48-yard drive. With the game seemingly shifting in Howard’s favor, Hampton responded. Ja’Quan Snipes broke off a 53-yard touchdown run with just 14 seconds left in the third quarter, reclaiming a 21-14 lead for the Pirates.
In the fourth quarter, Hampton put together a crucial 9-play, 87-yard drive that culminated in a 5-yard run by Snipes for his second touchdown of the day, giving the Pirates a 27-14 lead at the 8:34 mark.
Howard would not go down without a fight, scoring on a 2-yard run by Jaylon Tolbert with 4:12 left in the game. The Bison used a 12-play, 73-yard drive to close the gap to 27-20, but Hampton’s defense held strong in the final minutes to seal the victory.
Hampton’s ground attack, highlighted by Snipes’ two touchdowns and Mays’ big run, proved to be the difference, while Howard’s comeback effort fell just short. The Pirates improve to 3-1 in their season while taking the crown of the real HU, while Howard will look to regroup after the loss.
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