ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 23, 2024) … Albany (4-8, 2-6) spotted Hampton (5-7, 2-6) the game's first 28 points but then roared back in the second half to post a 41-34 victory over the Pirates in the season finale for both teams.

Hampton dominated the first half, turned turnovers into touchdowns and relied on a strong defense but it was senior running back Tymere Robinson who stole the show by rushing for four first-half touchdowns.

Hampton got on the scoreboard less than two minutes into the contest. Albany fumbled the opening kickoff which was recovered by Hampton's Will Hicks. Tymere Robinson scored his first of four touchdowns on the day on a three-yard run capping a four-play, 20-yard drive. Brian Csehoski added the extra point to put the Pirate ahead 7-0 with 13:12 left in the opening quarter.

Hicks struck again. This time he picked off an Albany pass and returned it 34 yards. Robinson again got the call and scored from two-yards out putting Hampton ahead 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Quarterback Chris Zellous started and engineered the first two scores. Malcolm Mays took over the play-calling duties and led the Pirates on a 68-yard drive culminating in Robinson's third TD of the game on a three-yard run to boost the Hampton lead to 21-0 with 9:12 left in the second quarter.

On Hampton's next possession, Zellous returned under center to lead the Pirates on a 51-yard drive with Robinson running 16 yards for a touchdown to give the Pirates a 28-0 lead with 4:47 left before halftime.

Albany got on the board with 2:13 to go in the first half on a 12-yard pass from Van Weber to Carter Moses. A 32-yard field goal attempt by Hampton in the closing seconds of the half was no good as the Pirates led 28-7 at intermission.

Albany's offense got untracked and their defense kept the Pirates in check for most of the second half. The Great Danes drove to the nine-yard line before being pushed back to the 33. Albany scored the first points in the second half on a 31-field goal by James Bozek with 5:42 to go in the period, making the score 28-10. Albany struck again on a 38-yard pass from Weber to a wide-open Jackson Parker who backed into the end zone. The extra point made it 28-17 with :37 left in the period.

Early in the fourth quarter, Albany's Nick Totten intercepted a Zellous pass and returned 42 yards for a touchdown. Albany converted the two-point conversion to make it 28-25 with 14:10 left in the game.

Hampton's offense came to life and the Pirates drove 70 yards in nine plays. On a fourth-and-one at the 25, Mays faked a handoff up the middle and ran around end untouched for the score with 9:55 to go. But Albany blocked the extra-point attempt and Kevin Angry returned it for a two-point conversion making the score 34-27.

Hampton held the Great Danes in their next possession before a roughing the passer on a third-and-19 play gave Albany an automatic first down. On the next play from scrimmage, Alex Jreige broke loose for a 53-yard TD run. The extra-point tied the score, 34-34, midway through the fourth quarter.

On Hampton's next play from scrimmage, a fumbled handoff gave Albany the ball at the 24-yard line. A barrage of Hampton penalties doomed the Pirates. A pass interference call gave the Great Danes a first-and-goal at the six and an unnecessary roughness penalty moved it to the four. Then a defensive holding moved the ball to the two and an automatic first down. With 4:36, Albany took its first lead of the game, 41-34, when JoJo Uga scored from two-yards out.

Hampton finishes the season with a 5-7 record, 2-6 in CAA play.