Dover, Del. (Oct. 8, 2016) --- Quarterback Jaylian Williamson passed for 252 yards and a touchdown and two players rushed for more than 120 yards to lead visiting Hampton to a 27-17 MEAC win over Delaware State in steady, light rain at Alumni Stadium today
The Pirates defeated the Hornets for the fourth straight year to improve to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in the MEAC. DSU is winless in five games this season, including two league contests.
Hornet quarterback Daniel Epperson (jr.) completed 18-of-30 passes for a season-high 245 yards and a touchdown, while Mason Rutherford (jr.) had five receptions for 89 yards and fellow wideout Fatu Sua- Godinent (fr.) also caught five passes for 84 yards and his first collegiate touchdown.
Hampton scored 13 straight points after DSU tied the score at 14-14 on a late first half touchdown.
The Pirates struck first with a touchdown on the opening possession of the game. Williamson connected with Shakim Alonzo on a 21-yard touchdown pass to cap off the eight-play, 81-yard drive. The extra point kick by Anthony Prevost gave Hampton a 7-0 lead just four-minutes-28-seconds into the contest.
Williamson, the MEAC's top passer, completed 17-of-22 pass attempts in the game.
The Hornets answered with a touchdown on their first possession, thanks in part to a trick play. DSU was facing a fourth down and eight at the Hampton 46 when punter Fidel Romo-Martinez (fr.) took the snap and dashed 14 yards for a first down to the Pirate 32. Later in the drive, Epperson connected with Sua-Godinet on 20 and 14-yard passes. Freshman Mike Waters rushed the final two yards for a touchdown to give DSU its first score of the contest. Wisdom Nzidee booted the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:58 left in the first quarter.
Waters has scored a touchdown in each of the last two games.
Hampton needed just five plays to regain the lead.
On the fifth play, Yahkee Johnson scored on a 48-yard touchdown run. The Pirates led 14-7 after the extra point kick by Prevost with 4:57 remaining in the opening quarter.
Johnson rushed for 121 yards on 15 carries, while teammate Eric Carter racked up 125 yards on 13 carries, also highlighted by a 48-yard run.
Hampton held the seven-point lead until the Hornets had their most impressive drive of the season to tie the score. The 11-play, 99-yard drive was capped off by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Epperson to Sua-Godinet . Epperson completed each of his six pass attempts for 103 yards during the march. DSU gained 109 yards during the eight-minute-24-second drive due to a 10-yard holding penalty on the fourth play of the possession. The extra point by Nzidee tied the score at 14-14 with 19 seconds to go before halftime.
Hampton took advantage of the time left to regain the lead right before intermission.
After starting the possession at its 35-yard line, the Pirates needed just three plays to advance to the DSU 18. Despite three timeouts by the Hornets, Prevost nailed a 35-yard field goal as the first half clock expired to give Hampton a 17-14 lead at the break.
The Pirates stretched their lead to 27-14 on a three-yard touchdown run by Brandon Cox and the second field goal of the game by Prevost in the third quarter.
Delaware State advanced to the Hampton 12-yard line in the fourth quarter, but had to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Nzidee to cut the Pirates lead to 27-17 with 10:22 left to play.
The Hornets kept the Pirates off the board in the final quarter, but could get no closer the rest of the way.
Hampton outgained DSU 551-298 in the contest. The Pirates won the rushing battle 285-53. Waters led the Hornets with 27 yards rushing on 14 carries.
The Hornets return to action next Saturday at home against Florida A&M in their annual homecoming contest. Game time is 2 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
STINGERS
DSU's Javon Barnes (so.) blocked a field goal attempt for the second straight game, knocking down a 35-yard attempt by Prevost in the fourth quarter … defensive back Keyjuan Selby (so.) had a game-high 10 tackles (nine unassisted) for the Hornets.
