Tigers Blocked at MEAC-SWAC Challenge
by AP

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Derius Swinton blocked Grambling State's point-after attempt in overtime to preserve Hampton's 27-26 victory in Saturday's season-opening SWAC/MEAC Challenge.

Kevin Beverly scored on a 10-yard pass from TJ Mitchell to open the overtime scoring for Hampton. Grambling State answered with Tim Abney's 12-yard scoring pass from Brandon Landers, but Swinton averted a second OT period with his block.

Hampton had tied the game with Mitchell's 9-yard TD pass to Onrea Jones with 1:10 left in regulation, a drive that began with Landers' fumble at Grambling State's 13-yard line.

Grambling moved downfield, but Tim Manuel's 44-yard field goal attempt as time expired went wide left.

The game featured last year's champions from the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Hampton dominated on the ground, running for 203 yards while limiting Grambling to 30. Van Morgan ran for 82 yards and Alonzo Coleman gained 72 for Hampton.

Mitchell completed 6-of-16 passes for 85 yards with an interception. Princeton Shepherd was 8-of-11 for 120 yards, and Marquay McDaniel had six receptions for 113 yards.

Landers finished 21-of-41 for 273 yards, throwing touchdown passes to four different players. He was intercepted once.