WASHINGTON (September 1, 2022) – Howard University football team will be looking to rebound from a 23-13 loss to Alabama State when it takes on longtime rival Hampton University Saturday (Sept. 3) at 6 p.m. in Armstrong Stadium.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
The game will be streamed live on Flofootball.com (PPV) and Bison Nation can listen to the action with Trevin A. Jones calling play-by-play and Nathaniel Henry providing commentary online.
 
Fans can also follow via live stats.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
The MEAC/SWAC Challenge game was perhaps one of the most bizarre games in recent history, which was dictated more by the natural elements (lightning) than it was the play on the field.
 
The tone for the game, which was the season opener for the Bison (0-1), was set before kickoff when some dangerous lightning bolts streaked across the evening sky, prompting a delay of the scheduled 7:05 pm kickoff. Following a 30-minute delay, the game finally started.
 
Howard settled in and started the game with a promising drive, only to have it stalled and to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Dylan West (Akron, Ohio). But the flow of the game was interrupted, this time late in the first quarter with a 40-minute delay.
 
Once the game resumed, Howard would add another West field goal, this time from 30 yards out as it went to the locker room, trailing 13-6.
 
After trailing, 23-13, in the fourth quarter, Howard had a drive going and entered Alabama State's territory with adequate time left on the clock. Then to disprove the age-old theory that "lightning does not strike twice in the same place," a precedent of sorts was set. Officials sent the teams to the locker room for a third time and a little over 30 minutes before ultimately calling the game.
 
"There were so many variables involved in that decision," said Howard football head coach Larry Scott during the league's weekly teleconference. "Although it was 1:30 in the morning, there was the competitive part of the coaches and the team wanted finish the game. We were down by 10 and were driving and the feeling was that if we score, we could get it back and perhaps tie the game. But at the end of the day, we are the adults in charge of care taking for these young people as their caretakers, so we did was best for them. We are a program of integrity."
 
Scott added that he as a coach has been involved into two of the most improbable comebacks in the history of college football.
 
Adding to the frustration for the Bison was their inability to take advantage of good field position. With some solid defense and strategic punting (three of their punts landed inside the 15-yard line), the Bison kept the Hornets in poor field position that resulted in a short field for the offense.
 
But key mistakes and the inability to finish drives proved to be too much to overcome.
 
"It is time to put the loss and the experience behind us," said Scott in preparation for this week's contest. "They should have no trouble with that and we are excited about the game. We know there will be somewhat of a hostile environment, being their first game."
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
Hampton (0-0), a new member of the Colonial Athletic Association and a former member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), won last year's shootout, 48-32, in the inaugural Truth and Service Classic at Audi Field in D.C. In that game, Howard surrendered over 500 yards of total offense and gave Hampton 28 points on four turnovers. The Bison, who rallied from 25 down in the fourth quarter, were able to stage a furious comeback before coming up short.
 
Despite the four turnovers, the Howard offense compiled a season-high 430 yards, especially senior quarterback Quinton Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.), who passed for a career-high 357 yards and three touchdowns.
 
"This is their first game of the season," Scott stated. "Although we have a game under our belt, there are some unknowns, especially when you prepare for a team that has taken advantage of flipping the charts through the transfer portal and have a starting quarterback and others who are transfers. You don't know what you are going to get. We just need to focus on what we do, make the necessary adjustments and improve on what we did last week."
 
On an individual note, Scott cited Hampton wide receiver Jadakis Bond and sophomore running back Elijah Burris are two players who have their attention.
 
"Their wide receiver is really good and they have some outstanding running backs," he mentioned.
 
It will be up to senior defensive end Darrian Brokenburr (Manassas, Va.), graduate defensive tackle Jevin Jackson (Lawrenceville, Va.), sophomore strong safety Kenny Gallop, Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.) and junior defensive back Ray Williams (Detroit) to slow down the explosive Pirates.
 
Jackson had the best game of his career against Alabama State and was named the Game MVP for Howard in the Classic as he collected six tackles, a blocked punt and a fumble recovery.
 
NEXT UP
 
On Sept. 10, Howard travels to Tampa, Fla., to face Coach Scott's alma mater, USF. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.