THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510150184
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
In their last three meetings with Hampton University, the Norfolk State Spartans didn't stand a chance.
This time, they couldn't believe the chance that got away.
The Spartans, by way of a pass interference call, had first-and-goal from the Hampton 2 trailing by five with 19 seconds remaining Saturday at Foreman Field.
Following a first-down incompletion, Hampton defensive end Hugh Hunter sacked Norfolk State's Aaron Sparrow with nine seconds remaining. The Spartans, out of timeouts, failed to get off another play as Hampton won 23-18.
On first down, Norfolk State receiver Darius Blount was open in the right corner of the end zone, but Sparrow didn't see him until he'd intentionally dumped an incomplete pass at Christopher Williams' feet in the middle of the end zone.
``We wanted to go right back to Blount,'' Sparrow said. ``We had (James) Roe outside and trailed him inside and Blount got to the outside and nobody followed.
``Unfortunately, somebody got me from behind.''
Sparrow paused.
``Was it Hugh? That lucky sucker.''
After the Pirates, who officially moved up to Division I-AA this season, had blasted the Spartans for three years by an average margin of 37 points, few would have expected this ``Battle of the Bay'' to go down to the final play.
But Norfolk State's defensive unit played as well as it has all season, limiting Hampton (5-2) to 303 total yards. The Spartans (4-3) finished with more total yards (315) than the Pirates, who were forced to count on the foot of Todd Covington.
The junior kicker, who sets football back a couple decades with his straight-on style, connected on field goals of 26, 28 and 23 yards in the second half. His three field goals in one game set a Hampton record.
Covington's last field goal gave Hampton a 23-12 lead with 5:33 remaining.
Norfolk State's Theo Roach then returned Covington's kickoff 69 yards to the Hampton 26, forcing many in the crowd of 23,019 who had started for the exit gates to turn around.
Five plays later, Sparrow hit Ronald Boone for a 5-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Pirates' lead to five with 3:54 remaining.
Norfolk State's defense then held on three plays and forced the Pirates to punt. Covington's short wobbler bounced and rolled to the Spartans' 40 with 2:31 remaining. But in stopping Hampton, the Spartans had used their last two timeouts.
``I still figured we'd won,'' said Norfolk State linebacker Donald Broussard. ``I figured it would be a repeat of last week.''
Trailing by five against Bethune-Cookman a week prior, the Spartans marched 71 yards in less than two minutes to win, 35-33.
This time, Norfolk State's final drive almost stalled when the Spartans faced fourth-and-1 at the Hampton 40. But Sparrow hit Blount on a hook pattern for a 10-yard gain. After an 8-yard pass to Boone and a 6-yarder to Marty Conner, the Spartans had first down at the Hampton 16 with 25 seconds remaining.
Sparrow then went to his All-American, Roe, who had caught seven passes for 51 yards, including a 7-yard scoring pass late in the third quarter, while playing on a sprained ankle.
With Roe running a fade pattern to the left corner, Hampton defensive back Cordell Taylor bumped Roe repeatedly. The foul gave the Spartans the ball at the 2 with 19 seconds left.
``At five seconds a play, we should have been able to get off four plays,'' Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore said.
Hunter, who finished with three sacks, gave his defensive secondary credit for his final heroics.
``That was a coverage sack,'' Hunter said.
``Give Hugh enough time and he'll get back there,'' said Hampton linebacker Kevin ``Sweetpea'' Williams. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot
Hampton quarterback Sekou Wilson is upended by Norfolk State's Rahim
Nellons during the Pirates' victory at Foreman Field. The Spartans
lost when time ran out after they had reached the Hampton 2.
Photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot Hampton linebacker Kevin
Williams makes a lunging try to deflect a pass headed towards
Norfolk State receiver Marty Conner.
by CNB