BOX SCORE / Alabama A&M All-America wide receiver Thomas Harris had an impressive resume way before Saturday's game against Hampton.  But the senior wideout took his credentials to a new level in helping lead the Bulldogs to a 31-24 win over Hampton.  Harris finished with 10 catches for a career-high 224 yards and two touchdowns.  The win is the first over a team from the MEAC for Alabama A&M since 1979, when the Bulldogs defeated Morgan State 27-7 in the first-round of the NCAA Div. II Playoffs.

Harris and the A&M offense responded after the special teams gave up a touchdown on the opening kickoff. LaMarcus Coker took the opening kick 87 yards to put the Pirates in the lead with just 12 second gone in the game.  Coker finished the night with 334 all-purpose yards with 122 rushing, 64 receiving, and 148 in kickoff returns.  Harris' 44-yard touchdown reception tied the game with 11:44 to play in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs took the lead for good on their third possession, which was set up by a great special teams punt play when Korey Morrison pinned Hampton at the two-yard-line downing Chance Wilson's punt.  The defense held from there, and handed the ball over to the offense at the Hampton 32-yard-line after a Pirate punt.  Four plays later, Ulysses Banks tied the A&M career record for touchdowns with his 23rd career score on a three-yard rush.  Banks finished with 92 yards on 20 carries.

Another individual benchmark fell on the next offensive possession for A&M.  Jeremy Licea's career-long 46-yard field goal gave the Bulldogs a 17-7 lead with 8:18 to play in the first half.  Kevin Atkins then rushed for a 12-yard touchdown with 1:48 to play, and it was 24-7.  The Pirates rallied, however, to cut the lead to just 24-14 at the half, scoring with :05 remaining on an 11-yard David LeGree pass to Dion Norman.

Harris gave A&M a 31-17 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 32-yard connection from Atkins.  Atkins finished with 303 yards passing, completing 18 of 30.

Coker would keep Hampton within striking distance at 12:14 on a one-yard plunge, and setting the stage for the A&M defense to hold the lead.

The defense, led by Willie Fuller and Jeremy Maddox, took the cue and secured the victory.  After holding Hampton on downs with 1:52 to play, it looked like the night was over for the defense, but Banks fumbled on the ensuing first play of the offensive possession.  The defense had to step up again.  Maddox iced the victory with a sack and fumble forced, which was recovered by Afu Okosun.

Maddox led the team with six tackles and had 2.0 sacks.  Fuller finished with five tackles and 3.5 sacks.  All-in-all, the Bulldogs sacked the Pirates eight times.

The Bulldogs are now 2-0 and host Jacksonville State on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.