Box Score
Game Statistics
DURHAM, N.C. – Hampton University rallied from a 13-point deficit to score 27 unanswered points for a 27-13 road victory over North Carolina Central University inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, N.C.
Clinging to a one-point lead in the middle of the fourth quarter, Hampton sealed the win by returning two interceptions for touchdowns. The first was a 55-yard scamper by lineman Matt Davis, who leaped in the air to snare a lofted screen pass. The second pick-six was scooped off the turf by senior safety Ricardo Silva, who raced 68 yards to the end zone and sent the home fans scattering towards the exits with 2:10 left to play.
Isiah Thomas did a little of everything for the visiting Pirates. The junior wide receiver topped the team in rushing with 63 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries, an average of 9.0 yards per run. Thomas also completed both of his pass attempts for 37 yards and a touchdown, accounting for both of Hampton’s offensive scores, while also catching three passes for 33 yards.
Hampton’s regular signal caller, David Legree, completed 11-of-23 pass attempts for 141 yards and ran for 23 yards. Javaris Brown collected four receptions for 60 yards, including the 19-yard go-ahead touchdown on an end-around pass from Thomas at 9:14 of the fourth quarter.
Hampton’s balanced offensive output resulted in 341 total yards, an average of 6.3 yards per play, with 163 yards on the ground and 178 yards through the air.
NCCU posted 339 yards of total offense, including 144 yards passing and 195 yards rushing, the second-best ground game of the season for the Eagles.
Senior running back
Tim Shankle led the way with 107 rushing yards on 26 carries, including a 3-yard opening score, marking the first time an Eagle has reached the 100-yard rushing milestone since Shankle ran for 127 yards at Western Kentucky on Oct. 27, 2007.
NCCU starting quarterback
Michael Johnson threw for 134 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-24 passing with an interception. Redshirt freshman
Jordan Reid replaced Johnson late in the contest due to an injury and completed 2-of-7 passes for 10 yards with an interception.
Senior running back
Tony McCord grabbed a team-high four receptions for 10 yards, while
Stanley Wright hauled in a 31-yard pass for a touchdown at 10:56 of the second quarter to give the Eagles a 13-0 advantage.
NCCU return specialist
Arthur Goforth amassed 141 all-purpose yards with 68 yards on two punt returns and 73 yards on four kickoff returns. Sophomore place-kicker
Frankie Cardelle missed a pair of field goals and had a field goal and an extra-point kick blocked.
Defensively, the Eagles were paced by senior linebacker
Kenneth Campbell with nine tackles, including 1.5 hits for a loss, a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry.
Silva and senior defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis recorded 15 takedowns apiece, while Ellis added 4.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Next week, NCCU (2-3) visits the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to play Georgia State, while Hampton (4-1) hosts long-time rival Norfolk State.
