For the first time since 2014, Howard University stands tall over its biggest rival, Hampton University.
In front of 18,672 fans at Audi Field, the Bison snapped an eight-game losing streak to Hampton with a commanding 34-7 victory in the 100th meeting of the P&G Truth & Service Classic on Saturday.
“The Truth and Service game is about Black excellence,” Davis said. “And today we were more excellent than them.”
Howard set the tone early. On the opening drive, freshman running back Travis Kerney took a handoff 38 yards for his first career touchdown, capping a three-play, 65-yard burst that gave the Bison a 7-0 lead. From there, the momentum never shifted.
Quarterback Tyriq Starks orchestrated the offense with precision, completing 12-of-15 passes for 165 yards. He got the ball to eight different receivers, while Howard’s running game powered its way to 274 rushing yards.
The balanced attack kept Hampton’s defense guessing, as the Bison seamlessly mixed short passes with explosive runs to control the tempo. The offensive line set the tone early, opening lanes and giving Starks plenty of time to make the right play.
Kerney led the charge with 113 yards and two touchdowns, while redshirt freshman running back Billy Roberson, and sophomore running back Anthony Reagan Jr. added yardage to keep the chains moving.
Starks said opening the year with a win, remaining undefeated in HBCU classics and ending the long drought against Hampton, means a lot to him.
“Especially for the FAMU game, Coach Scott really wanted to get the game back after the Pro Bowl game,” Starks said. “So I definitely wanted to get that for him, and we’re gonna keep improving, having fun and executing.”
Starks said the rivalry didn’t hold weight for him personally at first.
“To me it was just any other game, but as soon as I stepped on this campus the talk from the jump was Hampton, Hampton, Hampton. I felt what it meant to this campus,” he said.
While the offense piled up points, it was Howard’s defense that cemented the win. The Bison’s front seven swarmed the Pirates. They held Hampton to minimal rushing yards and forced costly turnovers, including a 44-yard interception return that set up Howard’s second touchdown of the day.
Last season, Hampton’s run game carved up Howard’s defense, exposing gaps at the line of scrimmage and keeping the Bison on their heels for much of the contest. That became a major talking point heading into this year’s matchup.
Senior Linebacker Cam Dyson explained the difference in preparation and mindset this time around.
“We went the extra mile. We have a shift in our defensive identity, and that’s to strike fear,” Dyson said, highlighting how the group made it a priority to close running lanes and set the tone physically from the start.
For Howard, the victory meant more than just football. The annual Truth & Service Classic celebrates the legacy of HBCUs and showcases their impact on and off the field. “This game was for the alumni and people who have stuck with us and the future Bison to come,” Dyson said.
With the streak snapped and momentum growing, the Bison now turn their attention to Richmond next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
Copy edited by Daryl Thomas Jr.
