HU's kickoff return provides a kick-start

BY KEITH CANNON, Special to the Daily Press

GREENSBORO, N.C. - A confusing set of circumstances led to one of the biggest plays in Hampton's 59-14 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday night at Aggie Stadium.

A premature call by the A&T captains after the opening coin toss led to the Pirates receiving both the first- and second-half kickoffs. Kevin Teel returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown, sparking Hampton's big third quarter.

Quarterback T.J. Mitchell, one of Hampton's game captains, explained that the Pirates lost the coin toss, but when asked what they wanted to do, the Aggie captains identified which goal they wanted to defend instead of the expected decision to defer to the second half. So, naturally, the Pirates elected to receive for the second half.

Hampton coach Joe Taylor said he was surprised by the whole incident. "First time in my life I've ever seen that," he said.

SHORT SCHEDULE
The Pirates home opener at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Morgan State (TV: ESPNU) will result in changes in the team's routine this week, Taylor said.

"We won't grade this game's film yet, but we'll look at Morgan first," he said. "We usually take Monday off and introduce the next team on Tuesday," he said. "But this time our next day off will be Friday."

TURNOVER STREAK STAYS ALIVE
Kendall Langford's 23-yard interception return for a score late in the third quarter marked the 28th consecutive game in which the Pirates defense has forced at least one turnover. The last time the Pirates didn't get a giveaway from the opposition was on Nov. 8, 2003 at Bethune-Cookman.

THE LAST TIME
Teel's kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half was the second of his career. He repeated the feat he accomplished last season when the opened the second half with a 92-yard return for a score in a 29-14 victory over Delaware State on Sept. 30, 2006, in Dover, Del...It also hasn't been that long since the Pirates scored 59 points in a game. They did it last season in a 59-7 victory over Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Fla. on Nov. 11, 2006.

N.C. CONNECTION
Four players on the Hampton roster hail from North Carolina, including senior safety Henti Baird, a Greensboro Page graduate playing in front of a hometown crowd for the final time. There's also a Hampton connection on the A&T side as Aggie linebacker coach Travis Oliver is a 2003 Hampton graduate. He was a two-time All-MEAC safety for the Pirates.


ALL-TIME SERIES
With the victory, the Pirates' all-time record against North Carolina A&T is now 22-15-2. Hampton has won the last four, and have scored more than 40 points in three of the four. Hampton has a 9-4 advantage in MEAC games between the teams and Pirates coach Joe Taylor is 9-3 against the Aggies in his career at Hampton.

HU continues dominance of Howard

T.J. Mitchell throws three late touchdowns to lead the Pirates to their 11th straight win in the MEAC series.

By David Driver, Correspondent Daily Press

WASHINGTON - For more than three quarters on a humid Saturday afternoon, Hampton quarterback T.J. Mitchell completed passes all over the field.

He had little to show for his effort.

The only touchdown at that point for the Pirates came on a run by Kevin Beverly in the first quarter.

But on third-and-15 late in the third quarter, a screen pass in the left flat from Mitchell to Van Morgan went 38 yards for a touchdown to give Hampton a seven-point lead.

That was the first of three touchdown passes in a matter of minutes for Mitchell, lifting the Pirates to a 31-24 win over Howard in the opener for both MEAC teams.

Hampton, ranked 11th in the Sports Network I-AA poll, beat Howard 46-7 last year en route to a record of 10-2 and a berth in the Division I-AA playoffs.

Hampton has won the last 11 games between the two teams, but this was one was not easy.

"It was just great execution," Hampton coach Joe Taylor said of the screen to Morgan.

"It was a very big play. When you get a strong rush, that is when you want to call that play."

"It was good play-calling," said Morgan, who broke several tackles on the score that put Hampton ahead to stay with 11 minutes and 36 seconds left.

The Hampton defense then forced Howard to punt, and the Pirates' offense took over with about nine minutes left.

On the second play Mitchell connected on a completion on the right sideline to Kevin Teel, who broke a tackle and went down the sidelines for a 78-yard touchdown as Hampton took a 24-10 lead with 8:14 remaining in the game.

Mitchell's third scoring pass later in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach, as Jeremy Gilchrist scored from 21 yards with 3:29 left to make it 31-17.

Mitchell completed 13 of 27 passes in the first three quarters, including six to Gilchrist.

Mitchell ended up 19 of 36 for 310 yards and no interceptions.

"I just have to stay positive. I wasn't frustrated," Mitchell said. "Players make plays."

Beverly, from nearby New Carrollton, Md., gave the Pirates the lead with a 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

The senior, who began his college career at Kent State, played his final game at Howard on Saturday.

Taylor said Beverly was not at 100 percent due to the heat.

"It was fun. You get to play in front of family," Beverly said. "But we came up here for a reason."

After the teams traded field goals, the Bison tied the score with nine seconds left in the third quarter on a pass from Brian Johnson to Jarahn Williams. The PAT by John Mendoza made the score 10-10.

Hampton got the ball back and went 62 yards on eight plays, with the screen play in the left flat giving the Pirates the lead for good on a day the temperature hovered around 90 degrees.

"It was certainly a very warm day. The team that was in the best condition would have an edge," said Taylor.

The coach credited the team's diet the week before the game as a key.

Despite the win, the Pirates feel they have plenty to work on before next Saturday's game at North Carolina A&T.

Howard had 161 rusing yards and 244 passing yards.

Howard was successful on six of its first 14 plays on third down.

"We as a defensive unit need to improve, and not let them have big plays on third down," said senior defensive end Kendall Langford, the preseason player of the year in the MEAC.