THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510150185
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Believe it or not, winning the last three ``Battles of the Bays'' by a combined score of 161-49 just wasn't much fun for the Hampton Pirates.
``I don't like those games when we blow people out,'' Hampton defensive end Hugh Hunter said. ``It's more exciting when both teams come to play.''
That explains why the Pirates were positively thrilled after their 23-18 win over Norfolk State Saturday. Never mind that Hampton was one play from losing. Or that their offense stalled at critical times. This, the Pirates said, was more like it. This was a game worthy of a true rivalry.
``That was the greatest football game the fans could have paid for,'' Hampton coach Joe Taylor said. ``It went down to the last play.''
Taylor said he thinks the days of Hampton's domination over Norfolk State are over, which is good for college football in Hampton Roads.
``That's the way this series is going to be in the future,'' he said. ``Today we just sold a lot of tickets for next year.''
HUGH WAS HUGE: Hampton's Hunter was triple-teamed at times - with a tight end, fullback and tackle - but still managed three sacks, including the game-clinching sack of Aaron Sparrow with nine seconds left and Norfolk State on the Hampton 2.
Hunter's first two sacks were also pivotal. The first came late in the first half, with Norfolk State at the Hampton 17. Hunter dropped Sparrow for 8 yards to set up a third-and-17. The Spartans eventually got to the 2 with three seconds left, but couldn't get in.
Hunter's next sack helped stall a Norfolk State drive late in the third quarter, but it was his final sack - of his former high school teammate - that sent him dancing across the field as time ran out.
``That was a big play and it was just emotion,'' he said. ``It came down to who wanted it more, and we did.''
MORE RECORDS FOR ROE: It wouldn't be an official Norfolk State game without at least one record broken by James Roe, Norfolk State's All-American wide receiver.
Roe, playing on a badly sprained right ankle, caught seven passes for 51 yards and a touchdown. His fifth reception, early in the third quarter, was the 211th of his career, setting a CIAA record. Roe finished the day with career 213 receptions, putting him 11th on the all-time Division II list.
Roe also moved closer to several other records. His touchdown catch was the 41st of his career. The Division II record is 49. He's caught a touchdown pass in 13 straight games, one short of the record. He's also caught a touchdown pass in 24 different games, one game short of the record. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot
Aaron Sparrow came up just short of engineering a game-winning drive
in the final period for the second week in a row.
by CNB