Box Score
Aggies have not won in Hampton since 2000

HAMPTON, Va., September 20, 2008 – No matter how well constructed a game plan is, it will often go sour when not executed. The North Carolina A&T football team’s plan to keep the ball out of the hands of outstanding Hampton punt returner Jeremy Gilchrist was just such an instance.

Gilchrist returned two punts for touchdowns Saturday night at Armstrong Stadium to lead Hampton to a 44-7 win over the Aggies. It was the Pirates fifth straight win over N.C. A&T. Senior Michael Ferguson led the Aggies with 98 yards on 17 carries.

“We had too many problems in the kicking game,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Lee Fobbs. “We were willing to give up field position to keep the ball out of their returners’ hands. Unfortunately, they got a hold of the ball and we just couldn’t overcome those two kick returns.”

The first two punts that came off the foot of Aggies punter Lee Woodson went just as planned. They landed harmlessly out-of-bounds where Gilchrist could do no damage. The Aggies took advantage of keeping Gilchrist away from the football. Down 7-0, the Aggies put together a 14-play 80-yard drive that included converting a 4^th-and-6 from the Hampton 23-yard line.

Chaz Dawson capped the drive when he caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Carlton Fears to tie the game at 7 in the second quarter.

The Aggies forced the Pirates to punt on their ensuing possession, but the plan quickly dissipated from there. After an Aggies three-and-out, Woodson’s punt bounced at the Hampton 45 into the hands of Gilchrist. Gilchrist quickly darted down the sideline for a 56-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Following another three-and-out by the Aggies, Woodson tried to stick his punt into a corner to trap Gilchrist and not give him room to operate. But Gilchrist took advantage of some missed tackles and bad angles taken by N.C. A&T. Gilchrist set up a few more blocks once he got downfield and appeared to coast into the end zone to give Hampton a 21-7 lead.

“It’s the same old, same old,’’ said Fobbs. “It’s us. We’re hurting ourselves. We knew he was dangerous, so we didn’t want him touch it. He showed tonight why he is one of the best in the country.”

With the concern of Gilchrist looming, Woodson next punt did go out-of-bounds. But it only went 22 yards, giving the Pirates the ball at the Aggies 47. The Pirates took advantage by going nine plays and scoring on a Herbert Bynes 18-yard touchdown pass to Justin Brown as the Pirates went into the locker room with a 27-7 lead.

“Those two big punts started it all, but we’ve got to do a better job of tackling,’’ said Fobbs. “We had them stopped on several plays and just didn’t wrap up. If we want to be a good football team, we have to do the little things.”