Game Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team will look to get back in the win column on Saturday, when they return to Armstrong Stadium to take on Old Dominion at 1 p.m.

The Pirates (5-2) had their five-game winning streak snapped with a 10-7 loss on the road to South Carolina State this past Saturday, while the second-year Monarchs (4-3), under the direction of head coach Bobby Wilder, have won three of their last four after a 34-20 Homecoming win over Georgia State.

Saturday's game will be the first-ever meeting between Hampton and Old Dominion; the Monarchs are in just their second year of competition after going nearly 70 years without a football team. After a 9-2 debut in 2009, ODU now holds the mark for the most wins ever for an FCS program in its first season.

So far this season, the Pirates are third in the MEAC in scoring defense, giving up just 16.9 points per game, while sitting third in total defense after giving up 289.6 yards per contest. Hampton is also fifth in the conference in rushing defense, only allowing opponents 147.3 yards per game on the ground.

Senior Kenrick Ellis (West Palm Beach, Fla.), who leads Hampton in tackles with 63, leads the MEAC in tackles per game with 10.5 so far this season. Senior Brandon Peguese (Greensboro, N.C.) leads the MEAC in sacks (7.0, 1.00 per game) and is second in the conference in tackles for loss (13.0 for 69 yards). Junior Micah Pellerin (New Orleans, La.) leads the MEAC with 10 pass breakups (1.43 per game), while senior Romeo Pellum (Long Beach, Calif.) is second with nine (1.29 per game).

Saturday's contest against ODU will be Hampton's third home game of the season; so far this year, the Pirates are 2-0 at home, having defeated North Carolina A&T 35-21 on Sept. 18 and Norfolk State 7-6 on Oct. 16 at Armstrong Stadium.

During his tenure as head coach, Donovan Rose is 5-3 at home.

The Pirates are 3-9 all-time against teams currently competing in the Colonial Athletic Association, widely considered one of the best conferences in NCAA Div. I FCS competition. The Pirates are 2-0 all-time against James Madison, the 2004 NCAA FCS champion, and 1-0 all-time against 2008 national champion Richmond. Hampton is 0-2 all-time against Rhode Island, 0-3 against New Hampshire, 0-3 against William & Mary and 0-1 against defending NCAA champion Villanova.

Though the Monarchs are considered an independent and not eligible for a conference championship this season, they will join the CAA in 2011.

Fans unable to make it to Armstrong Stadium can follow along with Saturday's contest via live stats on the Internet. Simply visit the official Hampton University athletics website, www.hamptonpirates.com, and click the link on the front page for live stats. The game will also be broadcast live on WHOV 88.1 FM, with Shemar Woods and Matt White calling the action.

For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.