GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Hampton University football team will hit the road for a nationally-televised game on Thursday night, squaring off against North Carolina A&T at Aggie Stadium on ESPNU and 7:30 p.m.
 
Game Notes: Click here.
TV: ESPNU
Radio: WHOV 88.1 FM.
Video: Click here.
Live Stats: Click here.
 
Last Time Out: The Pirates (1-2, 1-0 MEAC) are coming off a 34-7 win over Howard in the Nation's Football Classic on Sept. 17, while the preseason favorite Aggies (2-1, 0-0 MEAC) are coming off a 58-21 loss at Tulsa on the same date. Both teams had byes last week.
 
The Series: The Pirates are 26-17-2 all-time against North Carolina A&T, having won eight of the last 10 meetings between the two teams despite the Aggies' 45-31 win last season. Since 1996, after Hampton's transition to Div. I, the Pirates are 12-6 against the Aggies, but North Carolina A&T has won each of the last two meetings. Hampton is 6-3 against the Aggies in Greensboro, N.C.
 
Pirates on the Road: Hampton opened the 2016 season with a road game at Old Dominion, falling 54-21. The Pirates went 2-3 on the road last season, closing out the campaign with a 42-3 defeat of Savannah State. Hampton's only other road win last season came at Morgan State – and the Pirates are a combined 3-9 in true road games under head coach Connell Maynor. Hampton has five true road games this season, including two non-conference games (ODU, Coastal Carolina).
 
Pirates Against the MEAC: The Pirates are 206-178-6 all-time against schools currently competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) after a 34-7 win over Howard in the Nation's Football Classic. Since joining the MEAC in 1995, the Pirates have won the conference championship five times, including three straight in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
 
Picked to Finish Fifth: The MEAC preseason poll, voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors, picked the Pirates to finish fifth this season. The Pirates picked up one first-place vote and 265 points, while defending co-champion North Carolina A&T was picked to repeat. Twarn Mixson and Christian Faber-Kinney were both Preseason First Team selections, while Dwayne Garrett, Donovan Johnson, Ryan Gould, and Myles Morris all earned Preseason Third Team honors.
 
Mixson Among the Leaders: Mixson led the MEAC in both receiving yards (93.4 per game) and receptions (5.4 per game) last season, becoming just the second Pirate ever to have a 1,000-yard receiving season (1,027). Mixson had five 100-yard receiving games last season, including a season-high 172 yards at Savannah State, and he caught a season-high four touchdowns in the season opener against Kentucky State. He also displayed his arm in 2015, completing three of his five pass attempts – and all three completions were for touchdowns.
 
Proctor Coming On: After a three-catch, 47-yard performance against Howard, wideout Rashawn Proctor leads the MEAC in both receiving yards (89.7) and receptions per game (6.7). He caught nine passes for a career-high 161 yards in the season opener at Old Dominion (the first 100-yard receiving game of his career), and he added eight catches for 61 yards and a touchdown against William & Mary.
 
At or Near the Top: Through three weeks, the Pirates lead the MEAC in scoring defense (28.3 ppg), punt return average (22.5 ypr), opponents' first downs (17 per game), red zone defense (63.6 percent), and they are tied in PATs at a perfect 9-for-9. In addition, Hampton is second in the MEAC in rushing offense (172.p ypg), fourth down conversions (5-for-7), and opponents' fourth down conversions (1-for-4). The Pirates are third in the MEAC in scoring offense (23.0 ppg), total offense (331.0 ypg), total defense (389.3 ypg), passing offense (203.3 ypg), and time of possession (33:40 per game).
 
Carter Returning: Eric Carter Jr. will be in the backfield again this season, making his return after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the Pirates' 2015 opener. Carter was second on the team in rushing as a freshman in 2014, averaging 5.8 yards per carry while racking up 541 yards on 94 carries. He had three 100-yard rushing games that season, including a season-high 120 in an upset of then-nationally ranked Bethune-Cookman. He also had 113 yards at Delaware State and 103 at Howard. Carter had 41 yards on nine carries in his return at Old Dominion, averaging 4.6 yards per carry, before averaging 4.6 yards per attempt against William & Mary. Carter is 10th in the MEAC in rushing so far this season, averaging 41.0 yards a game, and he has two rushing touchdowns on the season.
 
Johnson Breaks Out: Yahkee Johnson had his breakout with the Pirates this past Saturday, rushing for a game-high 115 yards on 12 carries against William & Mary. He averaged almost 10 yards per carry (9.6). He also had three catches for 11 yards, and in three games so far this season, Johnson is second in the MEAC in rushing, averaging 76.7 yards per game after an 8-carry, 56-yard effort against Howard.
 
Garrett Providing Depth: Dwayne Garrett had his best game as a Pirates against Florida A&M last season, celebrating Senior Day with a career-high 147 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown for Hampton's lone 100-yard rushing effort of the season. Garrett, a transfer from San Diego State, averaged 7.4 yards per carry, and for the season, he was ninth in the MEAC in rushing with 52.1 yards per game. For the season, Garrett had 478 yards on 87 carries and two touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He led the Pirates with 57 rushing yards against Howard, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
 
Faber-Kinney Reliable: After being named Second Team All-MEAC in 2013, Faber-Kinney was a First Team All-MEAC selection each of the last two seasons. He led the conference in punting in 2015, averaging 40.9 yards per kick and recording 11 punts of at least 50 yards. He pinned nine punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line, and he had a season-long boot of 59 yards at William & Mary. Faber-Kinney also starred in track & field last season, winning MEAC titles in both the indoor heptathlon and outdoor decathlon. Faber-Kinney is third in the MEAC in punting after three weeks (40.2 yards per punt).
 
For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5757, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.