Sept. 5, 2009

Final Stats

HAMPTON, VA. - North Carolina Central University played well enough to win its season-opener at MEAC foe Hampton University on Saturday night in Hampton, Va. The visiting Eagles, however, could not overcome a handful of miscues and a baker's dozen worth of penalties, as Hampton pulled out a 31-24 victory inside Armstrong Stadium.

NCCU was flagged 13 times for 106 penalty yards, not including the positive yards gained on plays that were negated by the yellow markers on the field. Most notably, an apparent 57-yard touchdown strike to red-shirt freshman receiver Andrew Johnson that would have put the Eagles on top by eight points with three minutes left in the game, was called back from a holding penalty.

That was immediately followed by a delay of game penalty and an illegal motion infraction that backed the Eagles up to their own 24-yard line. Trying to protect a one-point lead and facing fourth down and 32 yards to go, NCCU rookie punter Brian Haselsberger could not handle a bouncing snap from center and managed to only kick the ball back to the line of scrimmage.

Two plays later, Hampton senior running back LaMarcus Coker rumbled 29 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 1:28 left. The Pirates converted the two-point conversion to make the margin seven points, which held up as the final score.

NCCU out-gained the Pirates with 284 yards of total offense, including 152 yards rushing, compared to 226 total yards by the home team.

NCCU red-shirt sophomore quarterback Michael Johnson was responsible for three touchdowns, including two through the air and one via the ground. He completed 9-of-21 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns with a pair of interceptions. Johnson, who was taken to the locker room early in the third quarter for treatment of cramps, returned to the contest to engineer a four-play, 41-yard drive that he capped with an 11-yard dash into the end zone to put the Eagles on top 24-23 with 11:08 remaining in the contest.

Senior receiver Will Scott caught three passes for 18 yards and a touchdown, while adding a 48-yard rush to set up a 30-yard field goal by rookie kicker Frankie Cardelle. Junior tight end Earthan Ward had four receptions for 59 yards to lead the Eagles, while red-shirt freshman Geovonie Irvine made the most of his one catch with a 34-yard touchdown.

NCCU's rushing effort was paced by junior Tim Shankle with 58 yards on 10 carries.

The Eagle defense flew around the field, making 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage with three sacks, forcing four fumbles and recording two turnovers. Junior linebacker Calvin Hillie topped the NCCU defense with seven tackles, including 2.5 hits for a loss with a forced fumble and a pass break-up. Junior safety Ja'Quez Canty recorded six stops with a sack, while junior linebacker Donald Laster added five solo takedowns with a sack, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble and three quarterback hurries. Junior corner back David Ingram contributed four tackles, two pass break-ups, an interception and a forced fumble for the Eagles.

Hampton was sparked by wide receiver and return specialist Damon McDaniel, who caught three passes for 59 yards and a score, and also returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown.

Pirate signal caller David Legree completed 10-of-18 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown, while Coker finished with a game-high 59 ground yards on nine carries.

NCCU returns to Virginia next week to face two-time defending Big South champion Liberty University at 7 p.m.