The 2024 HBCU National Champions, Jackson State Tigers, started their 2025 football season against the Hampton University Pirates football team, and had hopes of being the first to beat the Champions this season.
The Pirates won the toss and decided to receive the ball. On their opening drive, Hampton University quarterback Isaiah Freeman rushed down the sideline for 63 yards, setting up Ja’Quan Snipes to score a rushing touchdown, giving them an early lead.
The Pirates’ defense, playing off the offense’s momentum, forced Jackson State to punt on its opening drive. On fourth down, one of the Pirates players ran into the Tigers’ punter, giving them an automatic first down. The Tigers weren’t able to take full advantage of another Pirates mistake, were forced to punt again, and this time the Pirates’ punt returner fumbled the catch, allowing Jackson State to recover the ball on the five-yard line, and on the ensuing play scored on an Emari Matthews rushing touchdown.
The Tigers’ defense played with a bend but don’t break mentality, holding the Pirates scoreless in the second quarter took the lead on a Donerio Davenport 7-yard rushing touchdown. Hampton University Head Coach Boykins decided to change up the pace of his offense, bringing in Braden Davis, who is a more fluid passer, and threw the ball 12 times, completing 11 for 84 yards to confuse the Tigers’ defense, hoping that would build some offensive continuity that would lead to scoring points.
The Pirates quarterback, Isaiah Freeman, was inserted back in the game in the second half, threw the ball 17 times, completing 10 for 117 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and rushed the ball 13 times for 94 yards.
The Tigers had some mental mistakes of their own, being penalized 10 times for 89 yards. A few of those penalties happened during critical times when the Tigers were advancing the football down the field, which stalled those drives, forcing them to punt the ball back to Hampton University. Coach TC Taylor leaned on his rushing attack, which, as a team, rushed for over 300 yards on the day. Ahmad Miller led the Tigers’ rushing attack, with 180 yards on 12 attempts and 2 touchdowns. Miller had multiple big gains throughout the game, rushed for 50 yards right before the half, and was stopped on the 2-yard line, preventing the Tigers from adding to their 14-7 lead. Quarterback Jacobian Morgan added 53 yards on 7 attempts, along with 147 yards passing, completing 15 of 30.
The Pirates were able to tie the game in the 4th quarter on a pass from quarterback Isaiah Freeman to MarShawn Ferguson. Jackson State was able to take the lead 21-14 and put the game out of reach behind Miller’s 2 rushing touchdowns in the 4th quarter, making the final score 28-14. The Pirates didn’t go down without a fight, trying to advance the ball down the field when Isaiah Freeman overthrew his Pirates receiver, leading to an interception that was caught by Jackson State’s Khamauri Rogers, spoiling any attempt to be the first team to beat Jackson State this season. The Tigers play Southern Mississippi this week to see who will have the state of Mississippi bragging rights. Hampton University will play Elizabeth City State University.
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