Complete Game Notes

The Game
This is a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference match-up between the Bison of Howard University and the Pirates of Hampton University.  Howard (0-1, 0-0 MEAC) dropped its opening game, 12-7 to Georgetown University in a non-conference match-up at home this past Sunday while the Pirates (1-1 overall, 0-0 MEAC) dropped a 37-31 decision to Southern Illinois on the road last Saturday.

Following the Game 
Stadium 
Armstrong Stadium (17,0000)

Webcast (audio only), notes and more
www.howard-bison.com
Play-by-Play: Ron Harris

Series Information
This is the 85th meeting between the two schools.  The Pirates prevailed 31-24 at Howard last season.  They have won 11 straight and hold a 44-39-1 advantage in the series that dates back to 1908.

Howard last won, 26-7 in the Greater Washington Urban league Classic at RFK Stadium in 1996.

The Coaches
Howard is coached by Carey Bailey (Tennessee '92), who is in his second season.   Bailey came to the Hilltop after serving as defensive line coach at the University of Minnesota.  He has paid dues with stints at Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana Lafayette and VMI.  Hampton is coached by Jerry Holmes (West Virginia '79), who is in his first season after serving as defensive coordinator under former head coach Joe Taylor for seven years.

Making the Most Of An Opportunity
Sophomore RB Rayvon Williams was a surprise starter for the Bison on Sunday and he made the most of the chance by rushing for 43 yards...Williams is a 5-10, 175-pound sophomore from Accokeek, MD, who transferred from LaSalle University after it dropped its football program...Williams prepped at Bishop McNamara. 

Time Has Arrived
Arlandus Hood had a good season in 2007, catching 23 passes for almost 300 yards and 2 TDs...the problem was that he played in the shadows of Jarahn "J-Boy" Williams, a first team All-MEAC selection, and Larry Duncan, who combined for 100 catches and 17 TDs between them...With the productive duo now gone, Hood has emerged as the "go-to" guy on offense...the 6-2, 195-pound senior from Long beach, CA grabbed a career-best 9 catches for 114 yards in the loss to Georgetown.

Familiarity
Coach Bailey, a native of Morgantown, WV, used to watch the West Virginia University play when Hampton Coach Jerry Holmes was a member of the Mountaineers.

Setting the Scene
Howard
Offensively, Howard is led by red-shirt junior QB FLOYD HAIGLER (17 of 30, 183 yards, 1 TD, an interception), senior TB KARLOS WHITTAKER (17 carries, 74 yards), sophomore RB RAYVON WILLIAMS (15 carries, 43 yards), senior WR ARLANDUS HOOD (9 receptions, 114 yards), freshman WR WILLIE CARTER (4 receptions, 23 yards) and junior WR BRANDON SHERMAN (3 receptions, 46 yards).

Defensively, the Bison are led by senior All-American candidate, MLB ENDOR COOPER (13 solos, 5 assists, 2.5 tackles for losses), junior S MARTIN CORNIFFE (4 solos, 1 assist), sophomore LB PATRICK JEAN MARY (4 solos, 1 assist, a tackle for a loss), red-shirt junior S ARANDO JAMISON (3 solos, 2 assists, 2 tackles for losses) and sophomore DL COREY BERRY (2 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery).

Bison Hooves: The Bison defense was stout in the loss to Georgetown, holding the Hoyas to under 100 yards rushing and 2.4 yards per rush...Cooper collected a career-high 18 tackles, 13 of them solo and was named the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week...Cooper is the pre-season conference defensive player of the year...freshman Willie Carter made a nice debut, grabbing four passes for 23 yards and the team's lone TD...he was named Co-Rookie of the Week by the conference.

Hampton
Offensively, the Pirates are led by red-shirt  sophomore QB HERBERT BYNES (44 of 70, 554 yards, 4 TDs and 3 interceptions), sophomore HB DENNIS MATHIS (24 carries, 83 yards) and junior HB LAMARCUS COKER (25 carries, 43 yards), senior WRs KEVIN TEEL (12 receptions, 125 yards, 1 TD) and JUSTIN BROWN (9 receptions, 212 yards, 2 TDs and  red-shirt senior WR JEREMY GILCHRIST (11 receptions, 123 yards, 1 TD). 

Defensively, Hampton is led by junior DE CHRIS BAKER (3 solos, 4 assists, 2.5  tackles for losses, 2 sacks), sophomore FS JONATHAN WADE (12 solos, 7 assists), senior CB JACKIE BATES (6 solos, 1 assist, an interception, 2 pass breakups), senior MLB WAKEEM GOODE (6 solos, 8 assists, 2.0 tackles for losses) and sophomore CB JAMES BUTTS (4 solos, 6 assists, 2 fumble recoveries).

Teel is one of the most dangerous kick returners in the country, averaging over 31 yards per turn while Gilchrist is an all-conference selection as a return specialist.

Pirate Treasures: Hampton is ranked Number 9 in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network (SBN) Black College Football poll this week...Pirates' QB Bynes rallied his team from large deficit at 12^th ranked Southern Illinois by passing for a school record 401 yards...through two games, Hampton is averaging almost 340 yards of total offense but it is allowing almost 380 per game...the Pirates are averaging only 1.8 yards per rush.

Next Up
Howard hosts MEAC rival Florida A&M University next Saturday at 1 pm at Greene Stadium while Hampton entertains North Carolina A&T State University next Saturday at 6 pm.