THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 11, 1994 TAG: 9409110217
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Hampton had its way in the first half, couldn't get out of its own way for most of the second half, then found a way in the final seconds to pull out a thrilling 21-20 victory over Howard on Saturday in the inaugural Coca-Cola Classic before 21,555 fans at RFK Stadium.
The Pirates (2-0), led by offensive player of the game Lamont Still, staggered the Division I-AA Bison with 21 first-quarter points. But Howard rebounded in the second half, pulling to within a point and driving for a game-winning field goal in the final minute.
Still finished with 102 yards rushing, 103 yards receiving and scored Hampton's first touchdown. But he also had a key fumble which helped fuel the Bison rally.
``I thought I played OK, but it could have been a lot better,'' the former Cox star said.
Still was a fast study, though. The next time he touched the ball after the fumble, he got hit so hard his helmet flew off. The ball, however, never left his hands.
Still's efforts notwithstanding, Hampton's victory wasn't assured until another South Hampton Roads native, former Booker T. Washington star Cordell Taylor, drilled Howard receiver Marco Ward at the Hampton 48 - a split second after the Bison sophomore had hauled in a 19-yard pass - to force a fumble with 21 seconds remaining.
``I was just sitting there waiting for him,'' Taylor said. ``As soon as he caught it, I did what I was supposed to do - pursue to the ball.''
Xavier Bell scooped up the loose ball to clinch Hampton's 16th straight regular-season victory.
The defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Bison (1-1) lost for the first time in 15 regular-season games.
``The fans today got their money's worth, and more,'' Hampton coach Joe Taylor said.
Howard fans probably wanted their money back after the first quarter, a period the Pirates dominated so thoroughly, it appeared as though the only competitive contest at RFK would be the halftime battle of the bands.
Still got things rolling on the game's third play, when he burst through the middle and streaked 70 yards untouched for a score. Matt Montgomery followed with touchdown passes to Ivan Holland and Darrell Flythe. by CNB