Alabama A&M: Special teams doom Bulldogs in loss to Hampton

CHICAGO, Illinois -Alabama A&M kicker Chance Wilson had a chance to be a hero Saturday in the Chicago Classic. Instead, he ended up being the goat.

Wilson's potential game-winning 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked as time expired as Hampton stormed back from a 17-0 halftime deficit to hand A&M a heartbreaking 21-20 loss before an announced crowd of 35,653 at Soldier Field.

"I'm the goat right now," said Wilson, who kicked a pair of field goals earlier in the game. "It was a good snap, good hold and good kick. I heard it hit the pad and I knew they had blocked it."

It was the second big play that Wilson was involved in during game.

With A&M leading 17-7 midway through the third quarter, Wilson dropped back to punt, but felt the pressure. He avoided the first wave of defenders and was on the verge of getting the kick off when he was tackled from behind and fumbled. Hampton recovered and scored five plays later to pull within 17-14.

"The pressure came off the right side," Wilson said. "I looked up and saw it and I knew I wouldn't get it off. I dashed around him and tried to get it off, but somebody caught me from behind."

Special teams had been one of A&M coach Anthony Jones' least concerns. After the game, it was a big concern.

"We made a lot of mistakes on special teams," he said. "We lost the battle of special teams and that was the difference in the game. You've got to be sound in all areas and we weren't as sound as we needed to be in our kicking game and it costs us a chance to win."

The Bulldogs stormed to an 17-0 halftime lead behind the play of quarterback Deaunte Mason and running back Kaderius Lacey.

Mason scored on a 15-yard run barely six minutes into the game to cap a three-play, 80-yard drive. Wilson's extra point made it 7-0.

Wilson's 41-yard field goal made it 10-0 and Lacey scored on a 5-yard run to cap a 10-play, 72-yard drive to give A&M a 17-0 lead at intermission.

"We dominated the first half," Lacey said.



"We gave the game away. It hurts, but all we can do is move forward."

Hampton made a game of it in the third quarter.

After forcing the Bulldogs to punt, the Pirates scored 14 unanswered points.

Legree found Javris Brown with a 22-yard touchdown pass with 6:19 left in the third quarter to cap a 16-play, 86-yard drive. Taurean Durham's extra point made it 17-7.

The Pirates took advantage of a poor special teams play to score their second touchdown.

Wilson avoided heavy pressure and tried to kick the ball away, but was tackled and fumbled before he could get it away and Hampton recovered at the Bulldogs' 29-yard line.

Five plays later, Legree walked in from 9 yards out and Durham's extra point pulled the Pirates within 17-14 with 2:36 left in the third quarter.

"That was probably the biggest play of the game," Jones said when asked about Wilson's punt. "We gave them a short field and they were able to score quickly."

Wilson kicked a 34-yard field goal to give the Bulldogs a 20-14 lead with barely three minutes into the fourth quarter, but the Pirates responded with a five-play, 60-yard drive to regain the lead on Aantwon Chisholm's 4-yard run that made it 21-20. Chisholm finished with 141 yards on 25 carries.

A&M then moved from its own 24 to a first down at the Hampton 12 before the drive stalled and then Wilson had his field goal blocked as time expired.

"Give them credit," Jones said. "They came back in the second half and snatched momentum from us and then we snatched it back and had a chance to finish and we made another mistake. We played hard, but we didn't play well enough to win."