Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. – The Hampton University football team never recovered from a disastrous first quarter Saturday evening at Dick Price Stadium, as Norfolk State won the annual State Farm Battle of the Bay 34-24.

The Pirates fell to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in MEAC play, while the Spartans improved to 6-1 overall and remained unbeaten in the conference at 4-0.

Norfolk State scored on each of its first three drives – all of which started in Hampton territory after punts that stalled in heavy crosswinds – going up 17-0 with 4:16 left in the first quarter after a 38-yard field goal from Ryan Estep.

The Pirates cracked the scoreboard for the first time as the first quarter ended, when senior quarterback David Legree (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hooked up with senior wideout Dyrri McCain (Norfolk, Va.) from 10 yards out to pull Hampton to within 17-7.

Chris Walley gave Norfolk State another touchdown with 8:13 left in the first half, hitting Joe Hawkins on a 35-yard score to put the Spartans up 24-7, before Estep added a 22-yard field goal with 1:40 left in the half.

Norfolk State led 27-7 at the half.

The Pirates came out like a completely different team in the second half; on top of holding the Spartans scoreless in the third quarter, Hampton found the endzone again with 6:55 left in the quarter, when Legree hooked up with senior wide receiver Reginald Hicks (Hampton, Va.) for a four-yard touchdown to cut Norfolk State's lead to 27-14.

Hampton then embarked on a nine-play, 88-tard drive that spilled over into the opening moments of the fourth quarter, when junior running back Jeremiah Schwartz (Orlando, Fla.) found the endzone from one yard out with 14:55 left in the game up cut the Spartans' lead to 27-21.

Hampton's defense then took over, recovering Norfolk State fumbles in back-to-back possessions; after the second recovered fumble, the Pirates ran seven plays before junior kicker Taurean Durham (Uniondale, N.Y.) pulled Hampton within three with a 34-yard field goal with 10:09 to play.

But the Spartans responded on the ensuing possession, marching 60 yards in five plays before Randy Maynes rushed 14 yards for the score to put Norfolk State up 34-24.

The Pirates had 303 yards of total offense, including 110 on the ground. Legree was the team's leading rusher, going for 45 yards in 15 carries – on top of his 183 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Junior linebacker Lyndell Gibson (Virginia Beach, Va.) led Hampton with 14 tackles, including eight solo stops, while sophomore linebacker Delbert Tyler (Monroeville, Pa.) had 13 tackles on the night.

The Pirates will return to action on Saturday, as they celebrate Homecoming against MEAC newcomer North Carolina Central at 2 p.m. For more information on Hampton University football, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.