Led by the late great head coach Bill Dee, the 2001 team was the first team to defeat Hampton since 1990. In 2001, Phoebus defeated Hampton twice in the regular season and then again in the second round of the playoffs. The 2001 Phantoms went on to cruise to its first state title that year by a 26-7 win in the finals. The 2001 team was the first state championship team at Phoebus where they started the legacy of the state championships that followed.