HU is caught short on margin call

Dave Fairbank, Daily Press

NORFOLK - Last-second drama and emotional swings aside, the annual Hampton-Norfolk State border conflict Saturday was about margins for error.

The Pirates, circa 2007, have a much smaller margin than recent versions that sacked and pillaged the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Norfolk State, meanwhile, has greatly improved its ability to withstand all manner of deficiencies.

Thus, as we steam down the backstretch of the MEAC season, Hampton already has as many conference losses as in the previous three years combined and sits in the middle of the pack.

The Spartans, a punchline of a program until very recently, sit unbeaten atop the league standings after their 20-19 exorcism Saturday at Dick Price Stadium.

"They made one more play than we did," HU coach Joe Taylor said.

He was correct, but the Pirates have rarely been in a position where one or two plays were decisive as they rolled through the regular season -- especially where Norfolk State was concerned.

The Pirates and Norfolk State were rivals the way mudslides and hillside homes were rivals. HU had won nine of the past 10 games in the series and the past five by an average of 37.4 points.

It was apparent early that there would be none of that on this day.

The Spartans were game and better equipped to compete, while Hampton was unable to overcome 112 yards in penalties, three empty trips into the Norfolk State red zone, the lack of a running game …

Oh, and just for grins, a brain-lock safety in the first half that only turned out to be the decisive points.

Granted, it's unfair to single out Hampton quarterback T.J. Mitchell for his two-point transgression of intentionally grounding the ball while in his own end zone.

He delivered a championship-caliber performance much of the afternoon, especially given that the Pirates couldn't muster a consistent rushing attack and that he was under duress from the Norfolk State pass rush for most of the second half.

In fact, Mitchell almost pulled this one out -- twice -- in the final minute. He led the 41-yard touchdown drive, scrambling the final 16 yards himself, that pulled HU within one point with 27.7 seconds remaining.

Norfolk State's Don Carey caused joy on one sideline and dismay on the other when he knifed in and blocked the tying extra point to preserve the Spartans' one-point lead.

But HU's perfectly executed onside kick and recovery gave the Pirates one more chance. And Mitchell got his team 24 yards closer with a completion to Justin Brown that gave freshman kicker Carlo Turavani a fighting chance at a game-winning field goal that drifted wide in the dying moments.

As sweet as the victory against Hampton, some within the Spartan camp viewed the game more as another step in the program's resurrection under third-year coach Pete Adrian.

"I just think it feels great that we're playing to our potential," said linebacker and Woodside High product Maguell Davis, who along with twin brother Marquez patrol the middle and help provide a physical and effective presence on defense that had been lacking.

"We don't really worry about who we're playing," Davis said. "We just emphasize the fact that if we play how we play, then we're pretty competitive. And that's what we've been doing a good job at: playing to our potential."

Norfolk State is 3-0 in games decided by one score or less, with victories over the three-time defending league champion Pirates and preseason favorite South Carolina State.

Hampton, meanwhile, is 2-2 in games decided by one score or less. That Norfolk State has ascended and the Pirates have come back to the pack was never more evident than Saturday.

"It hurts," HU defensive end Marcus Dixon said. "Being senior year (and) losing two games hurts. We have to take this pain to the next game and the game after that and win out and not worry about what anybody else is doing. We have to take care of ourselves."