title image via Hampton Football
Courtesy of Hampton Athletics
Hampton’s (2-1) efficient offense and smothering defense held kept Norfolk State (1-3) off-balance throughout the evening as the Pirates registered a 37-7 victory over their longtime rival before a crowd of 15,111 at Norfolk’s Dick Price Stadium.
Hampton got on the board first on 22-yard field goal by Brian Csehoski. Hampton drove the ball 74 yards on the first possession and moved to the one-yard line. But back-to-back penalties moved the ball back to the 15. A 10-yard run by Chris Zellous moved the ball to the five setting up Csehoski’s field goal.
After a quick three-and-out by Norfolk State, Hampton took over on the Spartan’s 42-yard line. Two third down runs for first downs by Zellous had Hampton knocking at the door with the ball in the red zone. Zellous barreled his way into the endzone from seven yards out. The extra-point attempt failed and the Pirates led 9-0 after the first quarter. Norfolk State had two yards offense and no first downs in the opening quarter.
After another three-and-out by the Spartans to start the second quarter, Hampton moved 72 yards in nine plays covering 3:46, capped by a three-yard TD run by Tymere Robinson. Csehoski’s extra point made it 16-0 at halftime.
Hampton dominated the first half in every category. The gang-tackling Pirates limited Norfolk State to just two first downs compared to 18 for Hampton. The Pirates amassed 259 yards offense (135 rushing and 124 passing) while the Spartans managed just 21 (nine rushing and 12 passing).
The Pirates outscored and outplayed the Spartans in the third quarter. Robinson scored his second touchdown of the day from two yards out as Hampton moved the ball 67 yards on 13 plays. Late in the third quarter the Pirates found the endzone again. Zellous bulled in from one-yard out as the Pirates moved the ball 47 yards on nine plays to make the score 30-0.
Hampton’s defense continued to dominate the Spartans. After three quarters, Hampton had 388 total yards while limiting Norfolk State to just 26. Hampton had 24 first downs to Norfolk State’s three.
Norfolk State got on the scoreboard when Jalen Daniels found Jahee Blake for a 26-yard scoring pass with 10:14 to go in the game. The Spartans only sustained drive of the game covered 82 yards in 10 plays covering 4:46.
Hampton scored the game’s final touchdown when Christian Greenlawcaught a 35-yard pass from Zellous with 1:17 to go making it 37-7.
Zellous completed 20-25 passes for 185 yards while rushing for 60 yards two TDs for the night. Elijah Burris ran for 77 yards to lead all rushers.
For the game, Hampton totaled 466 yards (227 on the ground and 239 through the air) while limiting Norfolk State to just 99 total yards (53 rushing and 46 passing). Hampton had 27 first downs to Norfolk State’s seven.
Hampton travels to Washington, D.C. next Saturday to take on Howard in the Battle of the Real HU. The Pirates won the 2023 battle 35-34, overcoming a 31-14 third quarter deficit to win in the game’s final minutes.
Hampton (2-1) 9 7 14 7– 37
Norfolk State (1-3) 0 0 0 7– 7
HU- Brian Csehoski 37 FG
HU- Chris Zellous 7 run (kick failed)
HU- Tymere Robinson 3 run (Csehoski kick)
HU- Robinson 2 run (Csehoski kick)
HU- Zellous 1 run (Csehoski kick)
NSU- Jahee Blake 26 pass from Jalen Daniels (Grandin Wilcox kick)
HU- Christian Greenlaw 35 pass from Zellous (Chesoski kick)
A- 15,111
