In a fiercely contested rivalry matchup, the Bison fell to the Hampton University Pirates, 27-20, in the annual Truth and Service Classic in front of 16,813 fans at Audi Field. This weekend’s defeat means Howard has lost eight straight contests to Hampton.
The final blow to the Bison was a series that included a 53-yard run from running back Ja’Quan Snipes and a fumble on fourth-and-goal by Howard’s Jarett Hunter that gave Hampton the ball in the fourth quarter, which saw a second Snipes touchdown put the game away at 27-14.
Howard responded with a late touchdown but missed the two-point conversion, which drew the score within seven.
The Bison, who have had much success against HBCUs in recent seasons, will still have to work to get over the roadblock that is the “other HU.”
“I would love to say it was disappointing but it’s what was scheduled. I can’t be disappointed four years in a row,” senior health science major Zachary Hawkins said. Hawkins is part of the current class of seniors who will graduate without having seen Howard beat Hampton in football.
“I don’t know why they keep losing. We won the MEAC last year so there is no reason why we can’t beat Hampton,” Hawkins said.
Hampton Head Coach Trent Boykin spoke on how big the rivalry is for him and his team.
“This game means a lot to us. I circled the date on the calendar for next year,” he said.
He boasted about their running game being a key factor in their success.
“I’m old school: ‘you’re gonna have to prove that you can stop us on the ground,’” Boykin said after the game. He said that at the end of the day, “We want to leave the stadium saying we are the real HU.”
The Bison fought an uphill battle much of the game, as Hampton made an early statement on its second possession with a six-yard touchdown pass from Hampton quarterback Chris Zellous to Hampton tight end Tyler Hatcher. A second touchdown by Malcolm Mays—a 34-yard rushing score—made it 14-0 Hampton in the second quarter.
The Bison battled back despite the early setback. Senior wide receiver Richie Ilarraza was a key factor in the comeback, hauling in a 24-yard touchdown pass to Kasey Hawthorne after an acrobatic 29-yard catch earlier in the drive.
“There’s nothing that they did that made us lose the game, we made our own mistakes,” lIarraza said. “We had a good game plan, but we just didn’t come out and execute.”
Howard drew a 14-14 tie into the fourth quarter on junior running back Eden James’ 16-yard run late in the third. James, who led all the rushers with 107 yards, paced the Bison in the first half.
“They out executed us,” he said. “The main thing I would say is you can’t take these games for granted—with football, you never know when it’s going to end, so seize every game possible that you can play in.”
The Bison fell to 2-2 with the loss and will seek redemption as they travel to New Jersey to take on the Princeton Tigers next Saturday, Sept. 28, at 3 p.m.
Copy edited by Jalyn Lovelady
