ELIZABETH CITY, NC -- Elizabeth City State hits the road Saturday evening for a nonconference matchup at Hampton University. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium, where the Vikings will face the Pirates for the 27th time in program history.
 
Series History vs. Hampton

• Hampton leads the all-time series against Elizabeth City State, which began in 1971, by a 16-7-3 (.694) margin. At Hampton, the Pirates hold an 11-3-1 advantage, while ECSU has been more competitive at home, trailing 5-4-2. Neither team has won on a neutral site.
• The first meeting in 1971 saw the Vikings roll to a 74-12 victory in Hampton, marking ECSU's largest margin in the series. Hampton's largest margin came in their 65-7 win on Aug. 31, 2019, when the Pirates scored the first 58 points and amassed 525 total yards to just 65 for the Vikings in front of 8,234 fans at Armstrong Stadium.
• The last ECSU win in the series came in 1991 with a 23-21 road victory. Hampton's longest win streaks in the series are five games, achieved twice (1979-81 and 1992-present), while ECSU's longest streak was three games (1979-81). The two teams last met on Aug. 31, 2008, when Hampton defeated the Vikings 65-7 at Armstrong Stadium under Coach Robert Prunty.

 
Scouting the Pirates 
Hampton opened its 2025 season on the road at Jackson State, falling 28-14 in a physical matchup at Veterans Memorial Stadium down in Jackson, Mississippi. The Pirates struck first with a short touchdown run from Ja'Quan Snipes and later pulled within a score in the fourth quarter on a 30-yard connection from quarterback Isaiah Freeman to MarShawn Ferguson Jr. Freeman paced the offense with 211 total yards, while Ferguson added a team-high 59 receiving yards. The Pirates, however, struggled to sustain drives after halftime and were outgained on the ground as Jackson State sealed the win with two late touchdowns.
 
Last Time Out for ECSU 
Elizabeth City State opened the 2025 season on the road at rival Chowan, falling 28-14 in Murfreesboro. After a slow first quarter, the Vikings surged ahead with two touchdowns in the second frame — a 3-yard run from Traquan Johnson and a 1-yard plunge by Ameil Braswell — to take a 14-8 lead into halftime. But the Hawks controlled the second half, outscoring ECSU 20-0 behind quarterback Maurice Smith's 287 passing yards and a balanced ground attack.
 
Quarterback Christopher Perkins led the Viking offense with 118 passing yards, while Johnson rushed for 98 yards and a score. Terrance Holland added 40 receiving yards in the loss.
 
Matchups to Watch

• Vikings' Offensive Line vs. Pirates' Defensive Front – ECSU will need to establish the run early against Hampton's front seven, which showed flashes of disruption against Jackson State. Controlling the line of scrimmage will be key to sustaining drives and opening up passing lanes for quarterback Christopher Perkins.
• Quarterback Play: Christopher Perkins vs. Isaiah Freeman – Both teams feature dual-threat quarterbacks. Perkins led the Vikings with 118 passing yards and showed mobility against Chowan, while Freeman accounted for 211 total yards last week for Hampton. The quarterback battle could dictate the pace and flow of the game.
• Secondary vs. Deep Threats – ECSU's defensive backs will be tested by MarShawn Ferguson Jr., who led the Pirates in receiving yards last week, including a 30-yard touchdown grab. Limiting explosive plays will be critical for the Vikings' chances.
• Running Game Matchup – Traquan Johnson and Ameil Braswell powered ECSU's rushing attack against Chowan. Containing the run will be a priority for Hampton, and whichever team can control the ground game will likely control the clock and the tempo.

 
Up ahead for the Vikings
Saturday's trip to Hampton marks the Vikings' final nonconference matchup before opening CIAA play. ECSU will return home for its 2025 home opener on Sept. 13, hosting Johnson C. Smith at Roebuck Stadium. The Vikings then travel to Rocky Mount on Sept. 20 for the annual Down East Viking Classic against Fayetteville State before resuming  play at home against Livingstone on Oct. 4.