HOWARD UNIVERSITY Game Notes Saturday, November 23, 2013 Howard University (Bison) vs Hampton University (Pirates) ARMSTRONG STADIUM Hampton, Virginia 1 PM Game Day THE GAME: This is a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference match-up Defensively, Howard is led by red-shirt junior S CAM ALSTON (56 so- between the Bison of Howard University and the Pirates of Hampton los, 32 assists, 3.0 tackles for losses, 7 pass defenses, 3 interceptions), University. The Bison (5-6, 3-4 in the MEAC) are coming off a 40-6 junior CB ADEMOLA OLATUNJI (39 solos, 9 assists, 3 interceptions, road win over Texas Southern last Saturday while the Pirates (4-7, 4-3 13 pass breakups), senior LB TABRIAN RESBY (35 solos, 44 assists, 7.5 in the MEAC) are coming off a 42-12 road loss to Bethune Cookman tackles for losses, 2.0 sacks), sophomore DE DAMON GRESHAM CH- last Saturday. Howard has won four of its last five. ISHOLM (17 solos, 15 assists, 9.0 tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks), sopho- more LB DEVIN ROLLINS (38 solos, 28 assists, 3.0 tackles for losses) and sophomore DL TOMMIE BOOZER (20 solos, 22 assists, 5.5 tack- les for a loss), junior DE GODSPOWER OFFOR (12 solos, 7 assists, 4.5 THE COACHES: Howard is coached by Ray Petty (Elon College, tackles for losses, 3.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recover- ’79), who is in his first year of his second tenure as head coach and ies) and senior DE TOAVON SHEATS (20 solos, 16 assists, 4.5 tackles has a 29-36 career record to date in six-plus seasons. Hampton is for losses, 1.5 sacks). SOPHOMORE P/PK JOHN FLECK averages 40 coached by Donovan Rose (Hampton, ‘79), who is in his fifth season yards per punt and is 2nd on the team in scoring with 60 points. and has a 25-28 career record to date there. Junior RICHARD AIYEGORO, averages almost 30 yards per kick re- turn, including a 75-yarder for his first TD three weeks ago against Delaware State. SERIES RECORD: The Bison have won two in a row, including last year’s 20-10 victory at Howard. The Pirates had won 14 straight before Howard’s current streak. They hold a 47-41-1 advantage in BISON HOOVES: the series. ...Howard leads the conference in third down and fourth down con- versions...it is 2nd in fewest sacks allowed, in first downs, in total offense, in rushing offense and in least penalized...they are 3rd in passing offense ...nationally, Howard is 14th in third down conver- 2013 HU STATISTICAL LEADERS sions...Aiyegoro is 9th in kick returns and Olatunji is 5th in passes Rushing: Greg McGhee, 134 carries, 749 yards, 3 TDs defended. Passing: McGhee, 202 of 337, 2,114 yards, 15 TDs, 10 INT Receiving: Brandon Flanagan, 33 receptions, 289 yards, 1 TD Tackles: Cameron Alston, 81 tackles, 2.0 for losses, 1.0 sack, an INT, a fumble recovery HAMPTON UNIVERSITY: The Pirates are led offensively by red-shirt junior RB JORRIAN WASH- INGTON (102 carries, 631 yards, 5 TDs; 29 receptions, 209 yards, 2 TDs), red-shirt freshman FB MARCUS HAMPTON (59 carries, 411 yards, 3 TDs), senior RB ANTWON CHISHOLM (74 carries, 234 yards, 1 TD), freshman QB BRYAN BAILEY (82 of 149, 946 yards, 6 TDS, 8 2013 HAMPTON STATISTICAL LEADERS interceptions), sophomore QB JAYLIAN WILLIAMSON (70 of 131, 676 Rushing: Jorrian Washington, 102 carries, 631 yards, 5 TDs yards, 5 TDs, 4 interceptions), sophomore WR RAYSHAD RIDDICK (19 Passing: Bryan Bailey, 82 of 149, 946 yards, 6 TDs, 8 INT receptions, 158 yards, 1 TD) and red-shirt freshman WR TWARN MIX- Receiving: Antwon Chisholm, 44 receptions, 472 yards, 4 TDs SON (18 receptions, 329 yards, 3 TDs). Tackles: Delbert Tyler , 118 tackles, 9.0 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, an INT Defensively, Hampton is led by senior LB DELBERT TYLER (47 solos, 67 assists, 9.0 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks), senior DB LB CORVIN JOHNSON (66 solos, 46 assists, 4.5 tackles for losses, 3 interceptions), sophomore DE MILES GROOMS (31 solos, 22 assists, 18.5 tackles for losses, 9.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles), sophomore LB KEITH MCAFEE KEY PLAYERS (19 solos, 23 assists, 5.0 tackles for losses), red-shirt junior DL AL- HOWARD UNIVERSITY: VERON WRIGHT (10 solos, 31 assists, 3.5 tackles for losses and 1.0 The Bison are paced offensively by junior QB GREG MCGHEE (134 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries), junior DE CHARLES OWENS (10 solos, 30 carries, 749 yards, 3 TDs; 202 of 337, 2,114 yards, 15 TDs, 10 inter- assists, 5.0 tackles for losses, 2.0 sacks) and sophomore LB JOSHUA ceptions), sophomore HB WILLIAM PARKER (105 carries, 438 yards, THORNE (55 solos, 46 assists, 11.5 tackles for losses, 4.0 sacks). 2 TDs; 12 receptions, 112 yards), senior WR BRANDON FLANAGAN (33 receptions, 289 yards, 1 TD), junior WR STEWART HARTMAN (27 receptions, 260 yards, 3 TDs), sophomore JONATHAN BOOKER (30 receptions, 369 yards, 4 TDs), freshman RB ANTHONY PHILYAW (145 PIRATE TREASURES: carries, 610 yards, 11 TDs; 10 receptions, 124 yards, 1 TD), sophomore The Pirates lead the MEAC in punting and in field goals...they are WR MATT COLVIN (22 receptions, 312 yards 2 TDs) and RICHARD AI- 2nd in sacks and 3rd in kick returns, pass efficiency defense and in YEGORO (24 receptions, 164 yards, 1 TD). Red Zone offense...Washington is 7th in rushing..Prevost leads the MEAC in field goal percentage and is 4th in scoring...Grooms leads in tackles for losses and is tied for 2nd in forced fumbles...nationally, Grooms is tied for 4th in tackles for losses and tied for 9th in sacks... Tyler is 3rd in total tackles. 2 Game Day MAKING A STRONG STATEMENT: After a less than spectacular 2012 season, Greg McGhee has served notice that he is a strong candidate for MEAC Player of the year honors. The 6-3 junior from Pittsburgh, Pa, is having an outstanding season directing the Bison offense. Quietly, he is putting up numbers that will surely rank him among the best to ever play in the conference, including his offensive coordinator, Ted White, who is the all-time leading passer and offensive player in MEAC history with close to 10,000 total yards. McGhee has passed for almost 5,000 yards and 33 TDs and he has rushed for almost 1600 yards and 13 TDs. PASSING AN EARLY TEST: There was some concern about the state of the offensive line coming into the season. Joshua Matthews, the senior all conference center was the only player on the front with playing experience. Under the tutelage of new offensive line coach Manny Martinez and the leadership of Matthews, the young quartet of red-shirt sophomore tackle John Smith, red-shirt freshman guard Deonta Allen-Wright, red-shirt junior guard Malcolm Rutledge and “true”freshman tackle Toree Boyd have held up well as the offense is averaging almost 400 yards per game of total offense, which ranks second in the MEAC. VERSATILITY PERSONIFIED: Richard Aiyegoro could be the most versatile player on the Howard team. The diminutive junior who serves as a kick return specialist where he ranks among the best in the MEAC at almost 30 yards per return, including his first ever TD of 75 yards versus Delaware State. The transfer also contributes on offense as a wide receiver, having caught 24 passes on the season for 164 yards and a TD. And for good measure, he occasionally returns punts and serves as the holder on PATs. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFENSE: Greg McGhee has completed passes to 15 different receivers this season...10 different receivers have double digit receptions...there are only two seniors in the receiving corp (Clayton Gidron and Brandon Flanagan). MOST IMPROVED: John Fleck had a good season as a freshman kicker and punter last season. The sophomore from Indianapolis, IN, attended a kicker’s camp over the summer and it appears to have made a difference. He is having an fine season thus far, averaging almost 40 yards per punt, knocking 11 inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. He is second on the team in scoring with 60 points and has 11 field goals. TRANSFERS WITH IMPACT POTENTIAL: Godspower Offor is a 6-3, 240-pound junior transfer from Wake Forest, who has begun to make his presence felt as a reserve on the defensive line. He has 19 tackles on the season but more importantly, he has 4.5 tackles for losses, 3.0 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles. MAKING THE MOST Of AN OPPORTUNITY: Junior Ademola Olatunji is starting at cornerback for the first time in his career and has been a pleasant surprise. He ranks fourth on the team in tackles with 48 and he is tied for the team lead in interceptions with 3. He also ranks 5th in the FCS in passes defended with 13. FRESHMAN WITH IMPACT POTENTIAL: Toree Boyd is not the only Bison freshman who has factored into the team’s fortunes this season. Marquise Blanchard and Anthony Philyaw have also shown that they are ready to play at this level. Blanchard, a 6-3, 245-pound freshman from Miami, FL, is in the rotation on defense and showed that he is ready to contribute after 28 tackles, 6.0 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Philyaw has been the biggest surprise of all. The 6-1, 210-pound freshman running back from Redondo Beach, Calif., who is second on the team in rushing with 610 yards and 11 TDs and he has caught 10 passes for 124 yards and another TD.