Hampton Pirates are probably playoff purged

Photo: r-Sr. QB Casey Hansen #3, r-Jr. Center and Brandon Nance #63.

By MARTY O'BRIEN, Daily Press

NORFOLK — It's not the kind of thing players are fond of talking about, but Norfolk State's 20-19 victory over Hampton University on Saturday had important Football Championship Subdivision playoff implications.

The loss means that the Pirates have almost no chance of defending the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title they've won the past three seasons. The MEAC usually receives only one playoff berth, so it is unlikely the Pirates (4-2, 3-2 MEAC) could get an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs even if they win their final five games. The Pirates reached the playoffs the previous three seasons.

"We have to take care of our business," HU defensive end Kendall Langford said. "We just have to win out and let everything take care of itself."

Winning out would give the Spartans (5-1, 4-0) their first MEAC title and first FCS playoff berth. They are currently tied for first in the MEAC with Delaware State. But NSU linebacker Maguell Davis says it is to early to starting thinking playoffs.

"I definitely feel we have the potential to be a playoff team," he said. "But if you're focusing on something like playoffs, that's distracting you from your opponent the next week and they can come and sweep the carpet from under you.

"The way I look at it, we keep playing hard and look back and we'll be pretty happy with the results."

STILL IN FRONT

The Spartans' victory means they will remain ahead in the Battle of the Bay series for at least the next two seasons. NSU denied Hampton a chance to tie the series and now leads 23-21-1.

Norfolk State won the first five games in the series, beginning with a 42-0 victory in 1963, and has been ahead ever since. The Spartans' six-game winning streak against HU from 1969-74 also remains a series high. HU carried a five-game winning streak against NSU into Saturday's game.

Photo: r-Jr. WR Dario Walker

BIG CROWD

Attendance was 27,756, the second largest gathering in the history of Dick Price Stadium. The attendance record at Dick Price is 34,000, set in 1997 for the stadium opener against Virginia State.
NSU quarterback Casey Hansen attributed the crowd to the importance of the matchup.

"This was a big-time win," he said. "You can feel the rivalry. Here it's so much greater. It makes you want to play to the best of your ability. It feels great and it's going to feel great for one night.
"The reality is that we have to come back and Monday and get ready for another game."

THIS AND THAT

Norfolk State's win over No. 18 HU is its first against a team ranked in the Sports Network's top 25. The Spartans were 0-18 against nationally ranked teams. … Hampton defensive end Kendall Langford, the MEAC's highest rated NFL prospect, did not have a sack entering the NSU game. He had 2.5 sacks and 11 total tackles on Saturday. … NSU plays at Florida A&M at 7 p.m. Thursday. Hampton hosts South Carolina State for homecoming at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Norfolk State University Spartan Legion Marching Band(10/13/07)