Box Score HAMPTON, Va. – It's a motto as old as time. Elizabeth City State's matchup against Hampton reminded us... that football is a game of inches.  Christopher Perkins last second Hail Mary to EJ Gatling ended just one yard short of the goal line, which was the difference in a hard-fought road matchup, as the Vikings(0-2) fell 27-20 to the Pirates(1-1) on Saturday evening.

The Final Drive
Elizabeth City State put together a dramatic final push that began at its own 26-yard line with just 39 seconds left in play. Christopher Perkins opened the drive with a 21-yard strike to EJ Gatling to move the ball near midfield. A roughing-the-passer penalty against Hampton pushed the Vikings deeper into Pirate territory, and a pass interference flag on third down kept the series alive.

With no time left on the clock, Perkins connected again with Gatling on a deep ball to the right side for 22 yards. Gatling did an excellent job coming back to the ball, making a contested catch, while making the first defender miss. As the entire stadium held their breath, two Hampton tacklers converged on Gatling as he stretched for the goal line... with Gatling coming up just one yard short. The play was reviewed but stood as called, ending the game with ECSU just inches from a potential game-tying score. 

Hampton Catches Up after Dominant Viking First Half
After trailing 20-17 midway through the fourth quarter, Hampton used a balanced drive to pull even. Starting at its own 41 with 8:40 to play, the Pirates moved quickly behind a short pass from Isaiah Freeman and a 20-yard burst up the middle by Ja'Quan Snipes that put them at the ECSU 30. Jah'Kei Chavis added consecutive runs to bring Hampton inside the red zone, but the Viking defense stiffened to force a 30-yard field goal from Brett Starling. The kick tied the game at 20-20 with 5:21 remaining.

ECSU tried to answer with a drive that crossed midfield, but Hampton's defense held on a fourth-and-2, sacking quarterback Christopher Perkins to force a turnover on downs at the Pirate 48 with 1:42 remaining.

Just three plays later, Hampton delivered the knockout blow. Snipes broke free on a 47-yard touchdown run up the middle with 39 seconds left, giving the Pirates a 27-20 lead and completing their comeback.

Vikings Control First Half
With the score tied late in the second quarter, ECSU put together a long, methodical drive. Christopher Perkins used his arm and legs to move the chains, hitting Joe Griffin twice on key passes — including a 25-yard strike that Griffin carried into the end zone with 1:59 left. Though the PAT was blocked, the Vikings grabbed a 13-10 advantage.

The defense immediately swung momentum, as Sir'Sean Ingram recovered a Hampton fumble on the Pirates' first play of the ensuing possession. Perkins capitalized quickly, hitting Traquan Johnson for 15 yards and benefiting from a roughing-the-passer penalty to move the ball to the 13-yard line.

Despite back-to-back ECSU penalties that pushed the offense backward, Perkins delivered the highlight of the half. On 4th-and-19 from the Hampton 22, he escaped pressure and scrambled all the way into the end zone for a stunning touchdown with just two seconds on the clock. That score, paired with Griffin's earlier TD, sent the Vikings into halftime up 20-10 on the road.

Slight Weather Delay
With thunderstorms and lightning in the area, halftime was extended 15 minutes for the weather to clear. The delay may have had a slight effect on the Vikings' momentum after a strong first half performance. There was temporarily a second delay with ten seconds in regulation, at a crucial time in the game when ECSU was driving for the game-tying score. Officials continued play, which led to the dramatic conclusion. 
 
Looking at the Numbers
The Vikings (0-1) outgained Hampton through the air, posting 188 passing yards behind quarterback Christopher Perkins, who went 19-of-30 with one touchdown. Perkins also added 67 yards and two rushing scores, accounting for all three of ECSU's touchdowns on the day. Running back Traquan Johnson carried 17 times for 80 yards, helping the Vikings tally 162 yards on the ground.

Joe Griffin led the receiving corps with 51 yards on four catches, while EJ Gatling contributed three receptions for 43 yards. In total, eight Vikings recorded a reception.

Defensively, ECSU limited Hampton's passing game to just 59 yards, but the Pirates controlled the contest on the ground. Hampton rushed for 332 yards, paced by Ja'Quan Snipes, who broke loose for 174 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, including a 47-yard burst. Chavis Johnson added 91 rushing yards and another score.

The Vikings trailed 10-7 after the first quarter but responded with 13 points in the second to take a 20-10 lead into halftime. However, ECSU was shut out in the second half, while Hampton scored 17 unanswered points to secure the victory.

In total, Elizabeth City State finished with 350 yards of offense to Hampton's 391. The Vikings held a slight edge in first downs (25–20) and time of possession (31:16–28:44), but Hampton's ground dominance proved to be the difference.

Up Next for ECSU
Elizabeth City State returns to action next week, looking to bounce back as they begin CIAA play in the home opener at Roebuck Stadium against Johnson C. Smith.