Don Carey’s extra-point block helps Norfolk State end years of futility against rival Hampton.
NORFOLK - The Battle of the Bay had become so one-sided in Hampton University's favor the past four years, Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian had renamed it "The Slaughter of the Bay."
But the Spartans' 20-19 victory over Hampton on Saturday not only rejuvenated the rivalry, it produced the most exciting ending in the 45-year history of the series. NSU did not clinch the victory until the Pirates' Carlo Turavani missed wide right on a 48-yard field-goal attempt with 2.1 seconds left in the game.
The first NSU victory in the series since 2001 has huge implications in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference race. The Spartans (5-1, 4-0 MEAC) remain tied with Delaware State for first in the league.
Hampton (4-2, 3-2) saw its hopes of winning a fourth consecutive conference title dashed during an electric final 30 seconds. The Pirates had dominated the Spartans the past four meetings, winning by an average score of 52-9."Coach Adrian (joked), 'I can finally smile. I finally beat your behind,' " Pirates' coach Joe Taylor said. "People are going to come after the three-time defending champion. We did some good things but didn't make enough plays.
"They just made one more play than we did; that's the bottom line."
The final half-minute featured four huge plays. The first was T.J. Mitchell's 16-yard touchdown run to pull the Pirates within a point.
What was arguably the game's biggest play came next. NSU's Don Carey burst through the middle of the line and blocked Turavani's extra-point attempt as the score remained at 20-19.
"I had a clean shot at it," Carey of his block. "On another kick, I recognized that (Hampton's Carson Byrd) was stepping out before I stepped in. So I told our guys to take him out wide.
"I can't describe it. I was in tears."
Photo: Justin Brown makes a catch that gives Hampton a first down and gets the Pirates closer to field-goal range. The 48-yard game-winning field-goal attempt, though, was wide right, giving Norfolk State the 20-19 victory.
The Pirates nearly turned them into tears of agony. James Butts recovered the ensuing onside kick at his own 44-yard line to give the Pirates a final shot at victory.
Mitchell passed to Justin Brown (seven receptions, 152 yards) for 22 yards to move the Pirates to the NSU 32 with 22 seconds left. But Mitchell's next two passes were incomplete before Turavani trotted onto the field with 7.1 seconds remaining. Turavani's field-goal attempt was long enough, but drifted wide of the upright.
The Pirates and Spartans entered the game as the MEAC's top two scoring teams, but the contest was dominated by defense.
Neither could establish the run and generated only 143 total yards on the ground.
Quarterbacks Mitchell (23-of-48 passing 277 yards) and Casey Hansen (17-of-33, 233 yards) of NSU were responsible for much of the offense. The Pirates led 10-5 at half, thanks in part to Mitchell's 10-yard TD pass to Jeremey Gilchrist (8 catches, 73 yards).
But Mitchell was called for intentional grounding while passing from his own end zone early in the second quarter, giving the Spartans two points on a safety. The score would come back to haunt the Pirates.
The Spartans scored twice in the second half on 1-yard TD runs. The second made it 20-10 NSU with 10:24 left in the game. Dario Walker's spectacular leaping catch for 26 yards set up the first one.
Hansen passes of 13 yards to Jeremy Wicker and 16 yards to Dexter Bailey set up NSU's next touchdown.
The 50-yard drive followed Eric Bullock's tackle of Hampton's Kevin Beverly for no gain on fourth-and-inches at midfield.
Earlier in the game a Hampton drive ended at the NSU 16 as Anthony Olumba stopped Beverly for no gain on fourth-and-inches.
"They clogged everything up," Hampton offensive guard Dennis Conley said. "It seemed like they had our number on everything we tried to do."
Turavani's 31-yard field goal and Mitchell's TD run gave the Pirates hope in the waning moments.
But Carey produced the biggest of the big plays in the final 30 seconds.
"Hampton was a school I was looking at and their coach told me I couldn't play college ball," Carey said. "To come out and get this block today to win it, that just sent me over the top.
"It's gratifying to let him know he was wrong."
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