CSU Buccaneers utilize complete performance in topping Hampton, 48-14

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Charleston Southern played a complete game on Saturday afternoon as the Buccaneers dominated on offense, defense, and special teams in their 48-14 win over Hampton at Armstrong Stadium.

FB 1Q | CSU 7, Hampton 0@TerrenceWil23 takes the handoff and is gone - 68 yards for the touchdown on the opening drive #JoinTheSiege pic.twitter.com/xSVEJ1x88t

— CSU Game Day (@CSUGameDay) September 29, 2018

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CSU (1-2) forced five turnovers, James Allen returned an interception and a kickoff for scores, and London Johnson connected on a pair of touchdown passes as the Buccaneers seized control with a 35-14 halftime lead on their way to coasting to their first win of the season.

Terrence Wilson sparked the offense early with a 68-yard touchdown run on the game's opening possession. The sophomore running back recorded his second career 100-yard rushing game in the win leading the Bucs with 10 carries for 103 yards and the score.

Johnson led CSU's passing attack with an 8-for-15 performance through the air for 63 yards and a score. Saire Davis and Ronnie Harris both recorded their first touchdown receptions of the season in the win.

James Allen led CSU's defensive efforts in the contest with a career-high three pass breakups, his first interception with the Bucs, and a pair of tackles. J.D. Sosebee added 10 tackles, a half sack, and two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in the win.

Shai McKenzie led Hampton (1-3) with 21 carries for 129 yards. Bruce Dixon paced the offensive efforts through the air with an 8-of-17 performance for 38 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Kapri Doucet led the Pirates with three tackles for loss including a pair of sacks. Chaka Diarrassouba and Caleb Brown both added interceptions.

Key Sequence
Hampton appeared to be riding the tide following a Charleston Southern fumble deep in Buccaneer territory early in the second quarter. Bruce Dixon immediately took advantage of the turnover and converted it into an HU touchdown as the junior quarterback targeted Jadakis Bonds on the fade pattern in the left corner for the touchdown to narrow the CSU lead down to 14-7.

Facing a team looking to ride the momentum, James Allen quieted the crowd down with his second touchdown of the contest. Allen fielded the Evan Lomax kickoff at the CSU 20-yard line and weaved his way through the defense. The senior defensive back broke a tackle at the HU 40 and went the rest of the way untouched for the 80-yard touchdown return, CSU's first special teams touchdown of the contest.

Allen's touchdown sparked a 34-7 run over the final three quarters as the Bucs held off Hampton the rest of the game.

How They Scored

• Terrence Wilson put the Bucs on the board in the first quarter as the sophomore tailback took the handoff up the middle and made his way up the right sideline to the end zone for the 68-yard touchdown run to cap the 5-play, 84-yard opening drive for the Bucs.
• James Allen added another score shortly afterward for CSU as the senior cornerback recorded his first interception with the Bucs and returned it 16 yards for the score with 7:04 left in the first quarter.
• Bruce Dixon connected with Jadakis Bonds following a CSU fumble deep inside Buccaneer territory early in the second quarter with a six-yard fade into the left corner to put the Pirates on the board with the touchdown pass.
• James Allen immediately responded once again for the Buccaneers with an 80-yard kickoff return for the touchdown to put the Bucs ahead 21-7 with 14:35 to play in the first half.
• CSU added to the lead again with London Johnson connecting with Saire Davis on the post pattern over the middle for the 13-yard touchdown reception with 11:23 remaining in the first half.
• Hampton's Caleb Brown ended the CSU scoring run with a pick-six of his own with nine minutes left in the half as the defensive back stepped in front of the pass and returned it 28 yards for the touchdown.
• Johnson atoned for the interception with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ronnie Harris on the rollout left before the half to put the Bucs into the break leading 35-14.
• Turnovers led to another CSU touchdown as the Bucs took the 41-14 lead following Adam Allen's two-yard plunge up the middle with 7:38 left in the third quarter.

Inside the Numbers

• Charleston Southern won a sloppy game in the turnover battle as the Buccaneers forced five turnovers, but coughed up three of their own in the win over the Pirates.
• CSU outgained the opposition for the first time this season outpacing Hampton 297-225 in the game.
• The Buccaneers outrushed their opponents for the third time this year, 226-187, behind Terrence Wilson's second career 100-yard rushing effort.
• CSU narrowly won the time of possession battle, 30:02-29:58, against the Pirates.
• CSU missed a PAT for the third consecutive game with Tyler Tekac's attempt in the third quarter going wide.
• Kyle Reighard continued his punting ways with a 40.2 average in the game including pinning three inside the 20.
• J.D. Sosebee eclipsed 10 tackles for the second consecutive game in the win.
• Jonathan Glover II added a season-high six stops to his credit, while Johnny Robinson recorded a half sack in the win.

News & Notes of Interest

• CSU's five-turnover game defensively was the first time the Bucs had reached the mark since the 2009 season. The Bucs forced five turnovers back in 2009 at Presbyterian.
• CSU's four forced fumbles and fumble recoveries marked the fifth time in program history the Buccaneers had recorded at least four of each in a single game.
• James Allen's kickoff return for a touchdown was CSU's first since Gerald Stevenson took one back 81 yards back on October 16, 2010, against Gardner-Webb.
• Allen's interception also marked the first CSU defensive score since Sekwan Jenkins returned an interception 70 yards last season against Mississippi Valley State.
• Terrence Wilson's 100-yard rushing game was the second of his collegiate career and first since the speedster recorded 106 yards last season against Mississippi Valley State.
• London Johnson's pair of touchdown passes was the second multi-touchdown passing effort of his career – his first came against Savannah State last season with four touchdown passes.
• CSU topped Hampton in their first matchup between the two programs in each of their respective histories. The Bucs and Pirates start an annual rivalry next season when Hampton joins the Big South Conference.

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS