FINAL SCORE: Monmouth 56, Hampton 28
LOCATION: West Long Branch, NJ
RECORDS: Monmouth 1-1, Hampton 1-1
IN BRIEF: A quick start by Hampton was erased by six straight touchdowns from Monmouth as the Hawks took a 56-28 win over the Pirates in the road opener for the 2018 season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Hampton scored on its first possession as Ronald Bell took the opening kickoff 40 yards to give Hampton great field position.  Bell and Delmon Williams connected on a 32=yard scoring pass to put Hampton up 7-0 with 13:05 left in the first.
• The Pirates found the end zone again with a quick strike as Williams found Antonio Graham on a 70-yard strike as Hampton jumped to a 14-0 with 7:19 left in the opening quarter.
• Monmouth then scored four straight touchdowns as Devell Jones took the short runs (3-yards and 2-yards), while Pete Guerriero handled the big runs (28-yards and 67-yards) as the Hawks took a 28-14 lead into halftime.
• Monmouth continued on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Kenji Bahar to Jake Powell on its first possession of the third quarter as the Hawks pushed the lead to 35-14 with 13:41 left.
• The same tandem put the Hawks up 42-14 on a seven-yard strike to cap off a six-play scoring drive with 8:59 left.
• Hampton got back on the board on a 25-yard scoring run by William Robinson to trail 42-21 with 3:21 left in third.  The preceding play set them up as Williams found Lonzo Thompson on a 48-yard connection down to the Monmouth 25. 
• Hampton scored on its first play of the fourth quarter as Jadakis Bonds caught a 28-yard scoring pass from Williams to make the score 49-28.
• Bahar connected with Vinny Grasso on a 25-yard scoring pass after the Hawks blocked a Hampton punt to push the lead to 56-28 with 8:53 left.

 
BEHIND THE NUMBERS

• Career high in passing yards for Williams as he connected with Wesley Wolfolk who made a one-handed snag on the Monmouth two which gave Williams 318 yards.  His previous best was 305 against Delaware State on Sept, 18, 2017.  He ended the game with 339 yards going 23-of-37 with three touchdowns and one interception.
• Williams spreaded the wealth hitting nine different receivers as Bell caught six for 81 yards to lead Hampton.  Antonio Graham and Byron Barney each caught five passes as well.
• Chaka Diarassouba topped the defense in tackles with nine.

NEXT UP
Hampton returns to Armstrong Stadium to face Tennessee State on September 15 for a 6pm kick.
For more information on Hampton University football, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.