Box Score
HAMPTON, Va. – North Carolina Central University thought its losing streak was over. After kicking a field goal on their possession in overtime, the Eagles started celebrating a victory after an official indicated that NCCU recovered a Hampton University fumble, which would have ended the game.
However, other officials uncovered the pile of players and indicated that Hampton had the ball. The Pirates took advantage of the new life, scoring the game-winning touchdown five plays later on a 1-yard run by Jeremiah Schwartz. Hampton’s homecoming crowd erupted and started its own celebration with a 30-27 overtime victory at Armstrong Stadium in Hampton, Va.
It was just one of those days for the visiting Eagles. Hampton fumbled three times, but all went back to the home team. NCCU fumbled twice, both going to the Pirates and leading to scores.
And just when NCCU seemed in control of the contest - scoring on a seven-play, 85-yard drive to take a 17-16 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 8-yard touchdown scamper by redshirt freshman Idreis Augustus - a bouncing snap from center on a punt attempt gave the Pirates the ball just five yards away from the go-ahead touchdown.
Still, after NCCU senior wide receiver Jonathan Nicely hauled in a 36-yard bomb from senior quarterback Michael Johnson to tie the score at 24-24 with just 1:54 left in the fourth quarter, it seemed as if the Eagles would overcome those setbacks. The NCCU defense even thwarted a last-second charge by the Pirates when senior cornerback Brian Frierson refused the let a Hampton ball carrier get out of bounds to stop the clock, as the final seconds ticked away before the Pirates’ field goal unit could execute a play.
So after a 60-minute roller coaster ride, the victor came down to one possession for each squad.
Hampton won the overtime coin toss and elected to play defense first. NCCU pushed the pigskin to the 11-yard line, but had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by rookie kicker Oleg Parent.
On Hampton’s first offensive play in overtime, NCCU lineman Chase Tripp knocked the ball away from running back Antwon Chisholm and safety Marc Lewis appeared to recover the loose ball for the Eagles. But when a mass of bodies cleared, it was Hampton offensive lineman Jamal Wilson who was holding the game in his hands. Five plays later, a pass interference call against NCCU put the Pirates on the 2-yard line with first down and goal to go. Schwartz ended the drama with his 1-yard touchdown plunge, giving Hampton its eighth straight win in the series with the Eagles.
NCCU amassed 381 yards of total offense, but Hampton surpassed that effort with 450 total yards for an average of 5.5 yards per play.
Hampton quarterback David Legree completed 26 of 35 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with an injury in the second half. Chisholm ran for 81 yards and two touchdowns, while Dyrri McCain collected eight receptions for 143 yards and a score for the Pirates.
Johnson threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns on 22-for-45 passing for the Eagles. Demario Lackey tallied a team-high six catches for 100 yards, while Nicely found the end zone on two of his three receptions for 62 yards. Augustus finished the day with 113 yards and a score on 21 carries.
Linebackers Tyriqe Williams and Brandon Outlaw topped the NCCU defense with nine tackles apiece, while James Reese contributed eight stops and Rickie Hubbard added seven takedowns.
Up next, NCCU hosts the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University for homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m.
