Hampton University staves off late rally, beats Howard to win ‘Battle for the Real HU’ in its first football game as CAA member

Isn’t this what Colonial Athletic Association teams are supposed to do to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams?

In its first game as a member of the CAA, considered one of the top leagues in the Football Championship Subdivision, Hampton University held on for a 31-28 win over Howard of the MEAC, reckoned one of the weakest in the FCS.

The rare exception aside, the Pirates were usually on the losing end against CAA schools during their 22 years in the MEAC (1996-2018) and, like the Bison on Saturday, often lost by close margins. Despite having to withstand a late rally by the Bison, after building a large second half lead, the Pirates were happy to prevail in their first game under a new flag.

That’s especially true because they did so in front of 12,245 at Armstrong Stadium — one of the largest Hampton home crowds in years — on hand to watch the ancient rivals (who played first in 1908) settle the “Battle for the Real HU.”

“It’s great to be a CAA member and then to get a win,” Hampton coach Robert Prunty said. “And it’s a rivalry game — we get to say we’re `The Real HU’ for one more year as far as football goes.

“We’re excited about that and I’m excited to get the win for these kids, the coaching staff and alumni and our fan base and the university.”

Another battle on campus throughout the preseason, involving three Pirates, concerned who would emerge as the starting quarterback. Prunty insisted as early as the start of the week that juco transfer Malcolm Mays, 2021 backup Chris Zellous and Houston transfer Sofian Massoud were even and that he wouldn’t announce the starter until game time.

The winner was Mays, a 6-foot-5, 191-pound junior form Kilgore Community College in Texas. He rebounded from a slow start to justify Prunty’s decision, completing 18 of 33 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns.

Mays started slowly, throwing interceptions on two of the Pirates’ first three possessions, although it must be noted that the Bison’s Christian Brown made a spectacular leaping catch to snag his. The second was simply an underthrow and the Bison rode the momentum from it with a 67-yard drive capped by Kasey Hawthorne’s 3-yard run that gave them a 6-0 lead with 14:10 left in the first half.

After his tepid first 20 minutes, Mays got hot, completing 4 of 6 passes for 49 yards to start the Pirates’ first touchdown drive of the season. Zellous, more of a running threat, scored the TD from 11 yards after a deft faked handoff to Tymere Robinson and the Pirates led 7-6 with 6:10 to play in the first half.

Mays discovered Oscar Smith grad Romon Copleand on the Pirates’ next possession, completing three passes to the 5-9, 165-pound sophomore, who had a team-high seven receptions for 82 yards. That set up Mays’ 30-yard touchdown throw to star wideout Jadakis Bonds who made the catch with Bison defensive back Jabari Knighten draped on him as the Pirates led 14-6.

Mays would find Copeland on consecutive completions of 12 and 15 yards, the latter over the middle for a touchdown that gave the Pirates a 21-6 lead with 9:18 to play in the third quarter. Just one play after Howard QB Quinton Williams (339 yards passing) connected with Christian Carter for a 25-yard touchdown, another local got into the act for the Pirates.

Darran Butts, a graduate of King’s Fork High in Suffolk, made a nifty spin move to break free on a 75-yard touchdown run. On the Pirates’ next drive, Mays completed a 36-yard pass to Bonds, who will occupy a rent-free space in the mind of Knighten after four athletic catches for 91 yards and drawing two pass interference calls.

That led to Axel Perez’s 20-yard field goal that made it 31-13 with 4:12 to play, enough to withstand the two quick touchdowns the Bison scored in the final minutes.

“Malcolm Mays had not played a college football game on this level, so you’ve got to give him time, but he’s developed a good relationship with Jadakis and Copeland and the other receivers,” Prunty said. “I’m ecstatic to get the win.”