For the second straight year, Howard comes out victorious in the Battle of the Real HU, taking down Hampton 27-13.
This marks the first time the Bison have defeated the Pirates in consecutive years since they won four straight from 2011-2014.
Howard snaps a three-game losing streak with the win, improving its record to 2-3, including a 2-1 record against FCS opponents.
With this loss, Hampton has now dropped its last five contests, bringing its record to 1-5. In the past two seasons, the Pirates have a combined 1-14 record against FCS opponents.
After surrendering a sack on the first play of the game, Hampton quickly rebounded, converting a long third down with a 26-yard reception from Taylor to Noah Colon.
The Pirates made it to just outside the 10-yard line on the opposite side before being forced to settle for a field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
Meanwhile, after a pedestrian first offensive drive, the Bison began going to work, being forced to rely on short-yardage passes early with the run game stifled.
This worked to the tune of a pair of touchdown drives to build a 14-3 advantage with 9:55 remaining in the first quarter.
Hampton got a significant spark before the end of the first half as Nare Means sprung open up the middle for a 32-yard touchdown reception. However, Howard responded with a field goal to enter the second half with a 17-10 lead.
In the second half, the Bison defense began to take control, dominating the line of scrimmage with their aggressive pass rush.
Before Hampton’s final drive in the fourth quarter, they had been limited to 59 offensive yards in the second half, surrendering three sacks (six total in the game), including a strip sack by Rodney Roane.
During this time, Ja’Shawn Scroggins and the Bison offense controlled the clock with a 52-yard insurance touchdown to Billy Roberson II being the game-sealing play.
