Chicago – The Howard Bison Football team was snake-bitten by the big play for the second consecutive week, this time through the air, falling to the Hampton University Pirates 41-20, Saturday afternoon at the 22nd Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field.
 
The Bison fell to 0-3, the Pirates improves to 2-1.
 
Both squads sputtered out the gate when Howard scored a 39-yard field goal on their third possession to take the first lead of the game on a nine-play 32-yard drive.
 
The Bison's defense controlled the first half holding the Pirates to -6 rushing yards, and no first downs.
 
The success was short-lived as Hampton's offense took advantage of Caylin Newton's interception in the redzone and scored on a 70-yard pitch and catch to take the lead, 7-3 in the second quarter.
 
Howard took their next drive and drove down the field in ten plays, but two negative plays stalled the promising drive at the Hampton 21-yard line. The Bison came up empty missing a 36-yard field goal wide right.
 
Hampton and Howard went three-and-out over the next two drives, when the Pirates came to life, backed up to their 12-yard line, a penalty erased a 1-20 hole, help set up Hampton's 68-yard bomb to take a 13-3 lead after missing the extra point.
 
The Bison closed the gap with a 25-yard field goal to trim the lead 13-6.
 
Hampton took the ensuing kickoff 90-yards to set up their next score, a 1-play, five-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead 20-6 going into intermission.  
 
Despite the big plays in the air and on the special team, the Bison's run defense held the Pirates to negative seven rushing yards.
 
After, the half Hampton second-half adjustments proved too much, as they drove 58-yards on eight plays knocking off four-minutes off the clock to extend the lead 27-13.

Hampton added another touchdown before Newton connected with A'Jae Boyd on a 4-yard toss to trim the lead 34-20.

The Pirates iced the game on a five-yard touchdown pass to cement the score, 41-20.

Howard will continue their road warrior mentality traveling to Delaware to face Delaware State to open up conference play Saturday, September 21.
 
Turning Point

The second and third quarter was the difference in the game as the Pirates scored 34 points.

Inside the Numbers

-         Howard recorded 28 first downs
-         After holding the Pirates to -7 rushing yards, the defense gave up 117 rushing yards in the third quarter
-         For the second consecutive game, Kyle Anthony recorded double-digit reception (12- 86 yds)
-         A'Jae Boyd and Michael Cornwell each caught four passes and a touchdown
-         Caylin Newton completed 25 of 54 passes for 284 yards two touchdowns and a season-high two interceptions
-         Newton threw for a season-high 284 yards
-         Newton was sacked four times
-         Dedrick Parson led the Bison's rushing attack recording 88 yards on 15 carries
-         Darrian Brokenburr led Howard's defense with five tackles and recorded a sack
-         Javon Jackson and Elton Jean-Baptiste recorded a sack
-         Nick Fariss converted 2-of-3 field goals of 39 yards and 25 yards respectively
 
News and notes

-         This was the 94^th meeting, Hampton leads the series 50-43-1
-         The Bison are 3-7 on a neutral field versus the Pirates

Upcoming

-         Howard will end their four-game road swing to start the season in Dover, Delaware
-         The Bison owns a three-game winning streak versus Delaware State
-         Newton threw five touchdowns in a 55-13 victory last season
-         Newton recorded seven career touchdowns versus DSU in two career starts