Hampton-Princeton gamer for Newport News Daily Press

Pirates shake off slow start, dominate Tigers

After a sluggish first half, Hampton outscores Princeton 34-0 to pull away.

By Denis Gorman

Correspondent

12:59 AM EDT, October 7, 2007

PRINCETON, NJ-- Sam Pope was all by himself, not a soul within 30 yards.
As Pope closed in on the goal line, he made a decision. Why not celebrate?

So, he did, somersaulting a la Reggie Bush, into the end zone at Princeton Stadium. Penalty flags rained down, but they were irrelevant. Not after Pope's 65-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed Hampton's 48-27 win over Princeton.

"I told my guys that if I get a pick, I was going to dive into the end zone," the grinning cornerback from St. Helena Island, S.C., said. "(Coach Joe Taylor) told me he'll take that one."

And why wouldn't he? One week after a 24-17 loss to Delaware State and after a half that saw Princeton dominate his team, the Pirates are 4-1 and play four of their last five games at Armstrong Stadium.

At the half, Hampton was behind 27-14, having struggled with the Tigers' blitz packages on defense and spread-option offense. Princeton (2-2) scored 20 points on its last four possessions of the first half -- two field goals and two touchdowns -- due to the defense forcing turnovers deep in Pirates territory.

"It looks like we shot ourselves in the foot in the first half," said Taylor. "I thought we needed to clean it up. On offense, we (needed) to run the football. Defensively, we went from man versus zone. The big thing was to clean it up."

Pope, who finished with two interceptions for 96 yards and the score, said that while Taylor told his team to "turn it up," it was senior defensive end Kendall Langford who inspired his teammates.

"Lankford gave a great speech and we came out on fire," said Pope.

That they did. The Pirates picked off four passes in the second half and outscored the Tigers 34-0 in that span.

"Once the momentum swung, that's when things went our way," Taylor noted.

Ironically, the Pirates' momentum started with a stop. Trailing 27-20 at the start of the fourth quarter, Pope stopped Princeton reserve running back Kenny Gregory on a fourth-and-1 on the goal line. Hampton was energized. Princeton, which had a chance to go up by two touchdowns, was deflated.

"It was a big play. I tell the team, 'Empower the team with plays,' and that certainly was big for us," said Taylor.

The Tigers' offense responded with a masterful 16-play drive that was culminated with Van Morgan's second touchdown to tie the game at 27. Princeton's Matt Murphy blocked the extra point.

Morgan had 22 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns, plus two catches for 8 yards.

"In the second half, we picked up the tempo and began to move faster," said sophomore quarterback T.J. Mitchell (18-for-28 for 229 yards, one interception and two fumbles). "We were able to execute."

Defensive end Marcus Dixon forced a fumble that linebacker Franklin Frazier recovered on the next series. The offense took full advantage with a 10-play, 43-yard drive that ended with the second of three Kevin Beverly touchdown runs. It was 34-27 Hampton.

One play after the score, Pope picked off Bill Foran (11-of-20, 181 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions; 16 carries, 84 yards and two scores). Beverly scored four plays later to put the game away.

Copyright © 2007, Newport News, Va., Daily Press

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