By Rob Daniels, Greensboro News-Record
GREENSBORO -- ESPNU's telecast of Saturday's N.C. A&T-Hampton game didn't start until 10 p.m., and for the Aggies, the hour was appropriate. Perhaps suitable for television, the Aggies aren't yet ready for prime time.
Burned by big plays in all phases, A&T absorbed its 19th straight loss after Hampton used a long punt return to set up a field goal, a 65-yard return of the second-half kickoff for a touchdown and two defensive TDs in a 59-14 victory.
The Pirates, the three-time defending MEAC champions, won their 22nd straight regular-season game.
A&T took positive vibes into halftime after redshirt freshman quarterback Shelton Morgan led a 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive that he finished with a 10-yard pass to fullback Trey Green, slicing the Pirates' lead to 17-7.
"We were still in the game," Green said. "We were excited. We had the momentum."
The Aggies (0-3, 0-1 MEAC) hoped for a big special-teams play to start the third quarter, but those aspirations were complicated by A&T's decision to kick off to start the game after winning the coin toss.
"I'll take the blame for that," Aggies coach Lee Fobbs said. "We wanted to defer until the second half. Coaching error."
The Pirates (2-0, 2-0) had the choice for the second half, and they wanted the ball. The rules of the game were also uncooperative. Under new NCAA regulations, kickoffs now come from the 30, which means those who can't smack the ball to the end zone are often tempted to pop up high, intentionally short kicks in the name of coverage.
That was fine with the Pirates, whose special-teams play has complemented offensive and defensive units armed with NFL prospects in the past three years. Kevin Teel took this one at his 30, bolted laterally, made the turn upfield at the precisely the right moment and went the distance.
"We expected them to kick it short because they did it on the last one and kind of caught us off guard," Teel said. "We made the correction, and we executed our assignment."
The Pirates, whose offense includes transfers from Virginia Tech, Kent State and West Virginia, were vastly superior anyway. The addition of excellence in the kicking game merely compounded the Aggies' difficulties.
Morgan, the Aggies' only viable option at quarterback now that Herb Miller is out with another knee injury, had some encouraging moments in facing an often oppressive defensive line. His two touchdown passes came on screens that beat blitzes and showed appropriate recognition of the situations.
"That's something we like to run near the goal line," Morgan said. "That's the first read on the play, and it was open."
Morgan had a poised and credible first half but saw his evening take a downturn when he threw one in the flat that he instantly regretted. Roaming in pursuit of a running back, defensive end Kendall Lankford saw the pass was overthrown, and when he snared it at the 22, he had nothing but turf in his way.
Morgan was 3-for-16 in the second half but showed off enough of an arm to encourage offensive coordinator Kenneth Ray to throw several deep balls and open the playbook.
"After the first interception, I started rushing things, and the game got out of control," Morgan said. "But overall, I laid a foundation, something to build on for next week."
GREENSBORO -- ESPNU's telecast of Saturday's N.C. A&T-Hampton game didn't start until 10 p.m., and for the Aggies, the hour was appropriate. Perhaps suitable for television, the Aggies aren't yet ready for prime time.
Burned by big plays in all phases, A&T absorbed its 19th straight loss after Hampton used a long punt return to set up a field goal, a 65-yard return of the second-half kickoff for a touchdown and two defensive TDs in a 59-14 victory.
The Pirates, the three-time defending MEAC champions, won their 22nd straight regular-season game.
A&T took positive vibes into halftime after redshirt freshman quarterback Shelton Morgan led a 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive that he finished with a 10-yard pass to fullback Trey Green, slicing the Pirates' lead to 17-7.
"We were still in the game," Green said. "We were excited. We had the momentum."
The Aggies (0-3, 0-1 MEAC) hoped for a big special-teams play to start the third quarter, but those aspirations were complicated by A&T's decision to kick off to start the game after winning the coin toss.
"I'll take the blame for that," Aggies coach Lee Fobbs said. "We wanted to defer until the second half. Coaching error."
The Pirates (2-0, 2-0) had the choice for the second half, and they wanted the ball. The rules of the game were also uncooperative. Under new NCAA regulations, kickoffs now come from the 30, which means those who can't smack the ball to the end zone are often tempted to pop up high, intentionally short kicks in the name of coverage.
That was fine with the Pirates, whose special-teams play has complemented offensive and defensive units armed with NFL prospects in the past three years. Kevin Teel took this one at his 30, bolted laterally, made the turn upfield at the precisely the right moment and went the distance.
"We expected them to kick it short because they did it on the last one and kind of caught us off guard," Teel said. "We made the correction, and we executed our assignment."
The Pirates, whose offense includes transfers from Virginia Tech, Kent State and West Virginia, were vastly superior anyway. The addition of excellence in the kicking game merely compounded the Aggies' difficulties.
Morgan, the Aggies' only viable option at quarterback now that Herb Miller is out with another knee injury, had some encouraging moments in facing an often oppressive defensive line. His two touchdown passes came on screens that beat blitzes and showed appropriate recognition of the situations.
"That's something we like to run near the goal line," Morgan said. "That's the first read on the play, and it was open."
Morgan had a poised and credible first half but saw his evening take a downturn when he threw one in the flat that he instantly regretted. Roaming in pursuit of a running back, defensive end Kendall Lankford saw the pass was overthrown, and when he snared it at the 22, he had nothing but turf in his way.
Morgan was 3-for-16 in the second half but showed off enough of an arm to encourage offensive coordinator Kenneth Ray to throw several deep balls and open the playbook.
"After the first interception, I started rushing things, and the game got out of control," Morgan said. "But overall, I laid a foundation, something to build on for next week."
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