Hampton (1-2) vs. Charleston Southern (0-2) Game #4 – Armstrong Stadium – Hampton, Va. Sept. 29, 2018 THE GAME For the first-time on the gridiron, the Hampton Pirates take on future Big South Conference opponent Charleston Southern University VS. BIG SOUTH Hampton has only faced Gardner-Webb and Monmouth from the Big South Conference in its football history and currently holds a 2-3 all-time record against the conference. 2-1 vs. Gardner-Webb 0-2 vs. Monmouth HI MY NAME IS With a fall camp roster that began with 108 players, it took everyone time to get to know the names of players along with coaches. A total of 15 FBS transfers joined the Pirates this year to add an influx of depth and talent at several positions. BLOCK PARTY VS. BEARS Hampton made it known from the start they were going to come after the Shaw special teams unit in efforts to block some kicks. On the Bears first possession, Hampton was called for a roughing the punter but that didn’t stop the Pirates. Later in the first half, after nearly getting to a couple punts, Ohmante Jenkins blocked one into the end zone where Devin Thurmond recovered for a touchdown. In the second quarter, Jenkins swatted another one marking the first time one Pirate had two blocked kicks in a game since Khambrel McGee vs. Western Illinois in 2013. THIRD DOWN – LOCK DOWN A swarming Pirate defense forced Shaw into a 1-for-19 performance on third downs in the opener. That mark puts Hampton atop the FCS rankings for third down defense after week one. Heading into the Charleston Southern game, the Pirates are tied for 11th in third-down defense. CONFERENCE MATCHUP – ALMOST While Hampton joined the Big South Conference in July after a 22-year run in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the football team will make its leap into the Big South for the 2019 season. Hampton will also face Charleston Southern (Sept. 29) and Presbyterian (Oct. 13) from its soon-to-be home for football. The Pirates lost to Monmouth 56-28 on September 8 in New Jersey. WILLIAMS THROWS WAY TO CAREER DAY Senior quarterback Delmon Williams threw for a career-best 339 yards going 23-of-37 with three touchdowns against Monmouth. The 339 yards was the tenth most in a single-game in the last 28 years and topped his previous best of 305 against Delaware State in the 2017 home opener. 300-Yard Passing Games – since 1991 407 Jaylian Williamson vs. Old Dominion 2014 403 Herbert Bynes vs. Southern Illinois 2008 401 Herbert Bynes vs. Florida A&M 2008 394 Matt Montgomery vs. Tuskegee 1991 388 Jaylian Williamson vs. North Carolina A&T 2016 361 Timothy Frazier vs. Florida A&M 2003 348 Herbert Bynes vs. Winston-Salem State 2008 348 Matt Montgomery vs. N.C. Central 1991 347 Travis Champion vs. Florida A&M 2012 339 Delmon Williams vs. Monmouth 2018 335 David Watford vs. Kentucky State 2015 335 Jaylian Williamson vs. William & Mary 2014 326 Matt Montgomery vs. Virginia State 1993 319 Roy Johnson vs. William & Mary 2004 318 Matt Montgomery vs. Norfolk State 1992 310 T.J. Mitchell vs. Howard 2007 305 Delmon Williams vs. Delaware State 2017 BELL RANG FOR 200 YARDS Ronald Bell had a career day in the loss at Monmouth as he accounted for 202 all-purpose yards. He ran for eight, caught passes for 81 and had 113 yards in kickoff returns. That was the ninth highest total in a game since 2008. PAIR OF CAREER HIGHS AT UNI Seniors Chaka Diarrassouba and Davonte Spruill recorded career highs of 12 and 11 tackles each in the loss at Northern Iowa. Diarrassouba had 12 stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup, while Spruill added 11 tackles. HEAD COACH ROBERT PRUNTY Robert Prunty, a veteran with more than 30 years of football experience as a player and coach and a four-time conference recruiter-of-the-year honoree with two different Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs, was named the 21st head coach of the Hampton Pirates on Dec. 8, 2017. “I am excited to welcome Coach Prunty back to our Home by the Sea,” said Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey. “Coach Prunty’s record of consistent, sustained outstanding performance will take our football program to the next level. I enthusiastically welcome him to Hampton Nation.” Prunty served last season as East Carolina University’s associate head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. Prior to that, he served four years as the University of Cincinnati’s associate head coach and defensive ends coach and three years as co-defensive coordinator. Before impacting the Bearcat program, Prunty spent three seasons under Tommy Tuberville at Texas Tech, 2010-2012, directing the Red Raiders’ defensive ends. "I am honored to be named the Head Football Coach of Hampton University," said Prunty. "I would like to thank President Dr. William R. Harvey and Athletic Director Eugene Marshall Jr. for this opportunity. I will give all that I have to make this program successful for our University, Alumni, fans, and our community. There is plenty of work to be done until we reach our goal, but we will all work tirelessly to get us there." In seven combined seasons at the FBS level, Prunty has been part of five bowl appearances, a conference co-championship and was recognized by Scout.com as the Big 12 Conference Recruiter-of- the-Year in 2010-11 and 2011-12 before earning similar honors as the American Athletic Conference’s (AAC) top recruiter in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Prunty helped guide the Bearcats to the Belk, Military and Hawai’i Bowls in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, and worked with 10 All-AAC defensive selections. Linebacker Eric Wilson was a first-team pick in 2016 after leading the league and standing fifth nationally with 10.8 tackles per game, while Cortez Broughton (2016), Silverberry Mouhon (2015, 2013), Terrell Hartsfield (2014) and Jordan Stepp (2013) were all honored as the conference’s top linemen. While at Texas Tech, he was part of a strong defensive turnaround in 2012 as the Red Raiders finished the regular season ranked 39th at the FBS level in total defense after standing 114th in 2011. Lineman Kerry Hyder was an All-Big 12 selection after ranking third on the squad with 56 tackles and a team- leading 14.0 tackles for lost yardage and six sacks. He tallied 10.5 TFLs during Big 12 play alone to lead the conference. Prunty, who joined the Red Raiders in 2010 from Hargrave Military Academy, put his mark on the TTU football program almost immediately after playing an integral part in signing the highest-rated recruiting class in school history in 2011. In addition to Scout.com, he was honored by Rivals.com as the Big 12 Conference’s top-rated recruiter. His player evaluation and relationship cultivation skills produced Texas Tech’s second-highest rated class in school history in 2012 and his efforts were saluted by both Scout.com and Fox Sports. From 2002 to 2009, Prunty served as head football coach at Hargrave Military Academy where 27 of his players went on to the National Football League - two as first-round draft choices. Prior to his tenure at Hargrave, Prunty led a resurgence at Gretna (Va.) High School, redirecting a program that lost 44 consecutive games between 1991 and 1995 into an 11-1 product during his final season in 2001. Gretna went on to become a powerhouse, winning multiple state championships. Prunty is a Chatham, Va., native and a 1983 Hargrave Military Academy graduate. He split his collegiate career between Hampton University and Alabama A&M, where he graduated in 1988. He is married to Kimberly and has one son Robert Prunty, Jr. and a daughter Gabrielle. 2018 PIRATES PREVIEW Heading into new territory as the football team sets themselves up for Big South Conference action in 2019, the 2018 version of the Hampton Pirates will be a mix of a solid returning class along with some new names that will highlight the first year under new head coach Robert Prunty. “We want to get the fans excited with the style of play we will show and a product that they’ll be proud of,” said Prunty. “Our goal is to get the fans to notice our improvement weekly and excited to see us again.” OFFENSE Hampton does have the pleasure in 2018 of returning both quarterbacks who saw action during the 2017 season. Senior Delmon Williams threw for 1,757 yards completing 52.7% of his passes. He threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns against Delaware State and had three touchdown passes against Florida A&M. Sophomore Brendan Greene got plenty of action in his first season throwing for three touchdowns and completing just under 52% of his passes in four games. He made his mark against Livingstone throwing for 129 yards and his three scores. Greene also scored one touchdown on the ground against the Blue Bears. “They both have shown the talent and improved tremendously during spring ball,” said Prunty. “Williams is one who got most of the reps last year, but Greene is a student of the game and has made strides. They both are neck-and neck heading into fall camp.” The running game this year for Hampton returns the “Thunder” from last year’s “Thunder and Lightning” as Shai McKenzie will be counted on to lead the backs. A native of Washington, Pa., McKenzie amassed 489 yards and scored three touchdowns in his first season.