No. 3 Hampton University (8-0) takes this weekend off before playing at Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Nov. 5. HU coach Joe Taylor took advantage of the breather to reflect on his team's MVPs to this point in the season.
Defense: Linebacker Justin Durant, end Kendall Langford and strong safety Kyle Whitehurst. Durant and Langford have been well-chronicled this season. The surprise is Whitehurst, a Bethel High graduate whose 99-yard interception return for a touchdown clinched the 22-12 win over Howard.
"It's not just the big interceptions," said Taylor. "He's made tackles at crucial times and covered his position very well."
Offense: Running back Alonzo Coleman, wide receiver Marquay McDaniel and guard Gerell Golightly. Golightly has spearheaded a running attack averaging 225 yards per game.
"He's been our most consistent lineman," said Taylor. "We either run behind him or use his pulling ability to open things up."
Special teams: Punter Cameron Muro, kicker Andrew Paterini, Henti Beard and Jermaine Mallory. Muro and Paterini are Black College All-Americans. But who are Beard and Mallory, you ask?
"Henti has made some big hits on the kickoff and punt coverage teams and some big blocks for the kickoff and punt return teams," Taylor said. "Mallory is a guy we game-plan around on special teams. He's made some big hits, but he has become so smart at understanding what the other team is going to do that he's become a big plus on the field."
CONSIDER THIS
Some Hampton University fans, including the Pirates' radio broadcast team, are screaming that the Pirates should be ranked No. 1 because they are the only unbeaten team in Division I-AA. But there are four other teams in I-AA whose only losses have come against I-A programs: No. 1 Western Kentucky (lost to Auburn), No. 6 Texas State (Texas A&M), No. 11 Youngstown State (Pittsburgh) and No. 22 Grambling State (Washington State).
All of Hampton's games have been against I-AA competition.
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Wednesday, October 26th 2005 at 9:27AM
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