Hampton Steals Homecoming From UALBANY 38-37

Enve

2022-10-19

“ I told the guys trust the process, we got to have faith, believe in ourselves , you know you gotta have faith, faith of a mustard seed.”
Hampton head coach Robert Prunty

HBCU Game Winner
Malcolm Mays ➡️ Jadakiss Bonds @HUAthletics1868 | #CAAFB | #HBCUBUZZ | #HBCUs

🎥: @sonofajones pic.twitter.com/UjqXRY9Kjz
— DeShaun Jones (@SonOfAJones) October 19, 2022

Week Seven CAA Football had a lot of story lines going in. Especially with three of the top four teams in the conference only having one loss. One of the main games and teams that were being looked at and watched, was the Hampton Pirates. The Pirates came into the game looking for a win and to rebound from last week loss to Maine 31-24. The Pirates were not only looking for victory, but to also get their first victory in the conference.

The Great Danes were also looking for a victory, and rebounding from the difficult loss to Monmouth last week 38-31. They also were going into this game without one they’re top threats, in Julian Hicks. Who suffered a concussion the previous week, at the end of regulation. For most of the the first quarter, the game was a defensive battle. The first four drives resulted in punts. The next drive was the turning point of the game. Hampton was starting to drive down the field, AJ Simon tipped a pass and ran it back for a touchdown. The touchdown was called back due to a penalty. When Albany took the field QB Reese Poffenberger completed a 47 yard touchdown pass to Thomas Greaney. This gave the Great Danes a 7-0 lead.

Reese ➡️ Roy Alexander 🏈 #CAAFB pic.twitter.com/2qBjFfJyPE
— Enveonline (@Enveonline) October 20, 2022

Hampton would respond right back. The Pirates marched right back down the field taking 4 minutes and 36 seconds off the clock. to tie the game at 7. UAlbany took back control of the game on the next drive. Methodically moving down the field, taking seven minutes and fifty seconds off the clock. UALBANY ended up with a field goal and taking the lead 10-7. The game was starting to look like it was going to be a defensive battle. Then UAlbany scored on the next two drives with touchdown passes from Poffenbarger to Roy Alexander and Thomas Greaney. This put them up by 14, going into the half (24-10).

With a 14 point lead going into the second half all the great Danes had to do was keep controlling the clock. On Hampton first drive, they ended up throwing an interception. UAlbany put together another drive taking a lot of time off the clock. The Great Danes ended up missing a field goal at the end of the drive. This was a crucial turning point of the game. Even though the Great Danes had the lead, they did not score but Hampton did. On the next drive Malcolm Mays hit Jadakiss Bonds for a 12- yard touchdown pass. This cut the lead to 7 (24-17).

The Turning Point For Hampton University

Going into the fourth quarter, the Great Danes had looked like they were in great position. Todd Sibley scored at the beginning of the quarter with Todd Sibley 5-yard touchdown run. Like the Fordham game, UAlbany had a 14 point lead and once again. Things started to unravel defensively. On the next drive Malcolm Mays threw a 43-yard pass to Tyler Thompson, cutting the lead 7 (31-24). This was an impressive TD pass. Like coach Gattuso claimed, he did not understand how that play happened. When they called a cover 3 defense to prevent passes from happening like that. It was also the beginning of the comeback.

Hampton got the stop that was needed and on their next drive methodically moved down the field. With Mays completing a five-yard touchdown pass to Kymari Gray, tying the game at 31. The defense for Hampton stepped up again and got another stop. Driving back down the field to the 11-yard line with 2:09 left but unfortunately, missed the field goal. Hampton would get another shot, as the game went into overtime.

On the first possession of overtime the Pirates scored. From the combination that had been punishing UAlbany defense all day. Mays to Jadakiss Bonds, on a seven-yard touchdown pass. With Hampton scoring the pressure was now on the Great Danes. It did not look good at all as they ended up on third and 15. Freshman QB Poffenbarger prevailed throwing a 15-yard touchdown pass Quinn Zinoble. What happened on the next play, is the highlight of the game. Instead of tying the game and continuing overtime, the Great Danes decided to go for it. They attempted to go for it on a wide receiver screen pass to running back Todd Sibley, and was stopped. UAlbany end up losing the game 38-37.

Hampton University Wide Receiver Jadakiss Bonds Scores TD — Hampton University Wide Reciever Jadakiss Bonds Scores TD

For UAlbany this was there second straight loss. When coach was asked about how he felt after the game he stated that he is at a loss for words. He does not understand why they are giving up leads and big plays and allowing teams to come back. Also when he was asked about the decision to go for it, he stated that they practice that play all the time and if the situation presented itself that is what they were going to do. For the Great Danes this puts a damper on there season as they are now 1-5 and have to travel to Villanova to get their next win, Hampton on the other hand, snapped a two game losing streak, which was especially important to them, because it was also their first conference win. As coach Prunty put it after the game, when it came down to it, we trusted the process and made more plays then them at the end of the game. Now at 4-2, they get to return home and host a 4-2 Richmond team that is looking to continue their streak just Hampton will be, stay tuned!