THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 16, 1994 TAG: 9410160206
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
They call it the ``Battle of the Bay,'' and for the first time in three years, Hampton had to battle to keep Norfolk State at bay.
Norfolk State was within a touchdown of its CIAA archrival late in the third quarter but then self-destructed as Hampton came away with a 53-28 victory Saturday afternoon in front of a standing-room crowd of 11,059 at Armstrong Field.
For the Spartans (3-3), the game followed a familiar pattern: Quarterback Aaron Sparrow was phenomenal, the defense abominable.
Sparrow, who threw for 516 yards a week earlier, torched Hampton (6-1) for 424 yards Saturday and set school records for attempts (54) and completions (31).
But the Spartans' defense gave up 646 yards, 376 on the ground. Hampton averaged more than eight yards a carry.
``We just didn't slow them down enough to win,'' Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore said.
They didn't slow Hampton at all. Tailback Lamonte Still ran for 176 yards on just 18 carries, and quarterback Matt Montgomery threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Vincent Davis touched the ball four times - three times on end-around plays and once on a pass - and piled up 159 yards.
Even so, Sparrow and his trio of receivers - James Roe, Darius Blount and Marty Conner - kept Norfolk State close for three quarters.
With Sparrow behind center, Norfolk State figured to have a puncher's chance Saturday, and the Spartans came out swinging. They ran the ball just eight times as Sparrow threw time and time again.
When he wasn't throwing, Sparrow was scrambling. He was sacked six times and flushed out of the pocket many more.
``Oh, yeah, I'm tired,'' he said. ``I'm only human.''
Hampton coach Joe Taylor seemed to disagree: ``God Almighty, he's super. He's a super, super talent.''
Sparrow and the Spartans got off to a slow start as Norfolk State had the ball inside the Hampton 40 on its first three possessions but failed to score.
Hampton, also misfiring early, finally got rolling and led, 21-0, midway through the second quarter.
After that, though, Norfolk State scored on four consecutive possessions. Down, 34-14, early in the third quarter, the Spartans scored two quick touchdowns to make it 34-28 with 1:14 left in the quarter.
Then it all fell apart, starting with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Montgomery to a wide-open Davis with eight seconds left in the quarter. ``One play,'' Moore said. ``That was the key.''
The Spartans turned the ball over on the first play of their next two possessions - first on an interception, then on a fumble - and Hampton took advantage both times. In less than five minutes, a 34-28 game became 53-28.
``The offense had just given us a spark, and we knew it was time for us to finally make something happen,'' Hampton cornerback Eugene Hairston said.
A Hairston interception led to the first score.
Defensive back Kevin Williams, like Hairston a graduate of Norcom High, caused the fumble with a big hit on Chris Williams.
Generally, though, the Hampton secondary had a rough day. Roe pulled a hamstring in the second quarter but still caught 10 passes for 203 yards. Blount caught 10 for 132 and Conner nine for 74.
They did it without benefit of a running game to keep Hampton honest.
``You know they're going to throw it and they still throw it,'' Taylor said, shaking his head.
Norfolk State knew that Hampton was going to run - the Pirates ran 46 times - but couldn't do much about it, either.
``I think we did an adequate job,'' Norfolk State offensive tackle Chris Patterson said. ``There's not much you can do when the defense gives up 53 points.''
The Pirates have scored 174 points in their last three games.
They now have won three in a row over Norfolk State, by a combined score of 161-49. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/Staff
Lamonte Still led the charge as Hampton totaled 646 yards. Still had
176 yards on 18 carries. ``We just didn't slow them down enough to
win,'' Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore said.
by CNB