Hampton downs Jackson State in MEAC/SWAC Challenge
ORLANDO, FL – Hampton
defeated Jackson State 17-13 in the 2008 MEAC/SWAC Challenge played Sunday,
August 31 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The win gives the MEAC a 3-1 series lead in
the four-year challenge series.
For
Hampton (1-0), QB Herbert Bynes – named
Hampton Most Outstanding Player – finished the game completing 14-of-23 passes
for 151 yards and a touchdown. RB Dennis
Mathis rushed 15 times for 47 yards while WR Justin Brown caught four passes
for 49 yards. Wakeem Goode led the
Pirates with 11 tackles (three solo).
For
Jackson
State
(0-1), QB Trae Rutland finished going 14-for-23 for 198 yards, a touchdown and
an interception. He also led the Tigers
in rushing with nine carries for 39 yards. WR Keenan Tillman caught five passes for 59 yards while WR Carlos
Simpson had four receptions for 75 yards. LB Marcellus Speaks led the Tigers’ defensive effort with 12 tackles
(4.0 tackles for loss) and two forced fumbles. Speaks was named JSU Most Outstanding Player of the game.
After holding
Hampton
to no score on the opening possession,
Jackson
State marched 89 yards on nine plays,
capping the drive with a 32-yard pass play from
Rutland to Rodney Gray. Both teams would struggle for the remainder
of the half, with
Hampton
getting on the board with a 43-yard field goal by Carlos Turavani to end the
first half.
A 1-yard plunge by Jerry
Cummings gave the Pirates a 10-7 lead with just over five minutes remaining in
the third period. The Pirates would push
the lead to ten on a Bynes to Jeremy Gilchrist pass early in the fourth period.
The Tigers would continue to
fight as backup QB Michael Mosely found Rashad Smith for a 10-yard touchdown
completion with eight minutes remaining. JSU would get the ball back, but could not convert on a late fourth-down
opportunity with under two minutes remaining in regulation.
While the game started off slow
for both teams,
Jackson
State outgained
Hampton
offensively 336 to 227.
Hampton
overcame nine penalties for 126 yards in the game while
Jackson
State
fell victim to an interception and two lost fumbles.
The Tigers now turn their
attention to
Stillman
College in the inaugural
W.C. Gordon Classic in their 2008 home opener. The Pirates will travel to
Carbondale
to face the Salukis of Southern Illinois.
|
|
