The
Hampton University Pirates staged a furious second-half rally to defeat the
Alabama A&M Bulldogs 21-20 in the 14th annual Chicago Football Classic
Saturday at Soldier Field.
The game
began one-half-hour late due to a severe thunderstorm and when the action
finally commenced both teams were a little sloppy, as each team turned the ball
over on their first possessions.
But
Alabama A&M gathered its composure first and scored on a 15-yard TD run by
junior quarterback Deaunte Mason who had a productive outing for the Bulldogs
with 51 yards running and a score, as well as 244 yards passing.
Hampton
continued to execute poorly in the second quarter, and a lost fumble by running
back Antwon Chisholm resulted in a 41-yard Bulldog field goal to put A&M
ahead 10-0.
Behind
the strong running of junior running back Kaderius Lacey (22 rushes for 99
yards, 1TD) the Bulldogs kept the chains moving, and after a patient 10-play
72-yard drive, Lacey eventually scored on a five-yard burst to pull ahead 17-0.
The
second half saw a more energetic and inspired Pirate team take the field and
behind the determined running of senior quarterback David Legree they sustained
a 16-play, 82-yard drive on their first possession, with the scoring play
coming on a 22-yard TD strike to
junior wide receiver Javaris Brown. The extra point was good and the Bulldogs
pulled a little closer, 17-7.
“We
weren’t playing our brand of football in the first half,” Legree said. “We had
to settle down as a whole team, myself included. After we did that you saw the
result.”
Hampton’s
next score didn’t require as much of a sustained effort after they recovered a
Bulldog fumble at the A&M 28-yard line. A few plays later Legree scored on
an 8-yard run, to pull to 17-14.
A&M
wasn’t about to lose control of the lead in easy fashion, however, and came back
with a 34-yard field goal by Chance Wilson to bump their lead up to 20-14 early
in the fourth quarter.
Legree
was confident that the initial run was good for a TD.
“I scored
without a doubt,” Legree said. “I’m a tall guy (6-foot-4) and my hand was well
over the line. I definitely scored.”
But the
Bulldogs still had some fight left in them, and a pass interference penalty
against the Pirates put them within field goal range.
The
Pirates would have no late-game heroics going against them game day and the
field goal attempt was blocked and recovered by Hampton to secure the win
21-20.
“I was
just over there praying. Just asking God for a favor because so many times you
come out on the bottom of these plays,” Legree said.
The
blocked field goal was credited to junior defensive back Destin Route but he
said his teammates were in on that decisive play with him.
“It
wasn’t just me...I tipped it and Ian Davidson (junior defensive lineman) hit it
too,” Route said. “It’s a team so whatever we have to do to win we did it. It’s
as simple as that.”
Hampton
running back Antwon Chisholm was named the game’s offensive MVP and offered
this assessment:
“It felt
great getting the MVP. It’s my first time playing in this Classic and I really
enjoyed it, and I thank God and give God all the glory.”
Copyright
2011 Chicago Defender
