HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team picked up its first win of the 2012 season on Saturday, defeating rival Norfolk State 28-14 at Armstrong Stadium in the annual Battle of the Bay.

The Pirates (1-4, 1-2 MEAC) have now won eight straight against the defending MEAC champion Spartans at Armstrong Stadium. Norfolk State (2-5, 0-4 MEAC) has lost five straight games.

Hampton wasted no time, taking the game's opening possession and marching 64 yards in 12 plays before redshirt-senior Jeremiah Schwartz (Orlando, Fla.) ran 10 yards into the endzone with 11:25 left in the first quarter to put the Pirates up 7-0.

After the Spartans lost a fumble with 2:22 left in the opening quarter, the Pirates took immediate advantage. Following a Norfolk State personal foul, sophomore Travis Champion (Moreno Valley, Calif.) connected with senior Javaris Brown (Macon, Ga.) from 20 yards out with 1:58 left in the quarter to take a 14-0 lead.

The Spartans struggled to get any momentum on offense, and Norfolk State's Jake Basmagian threw an interception to junior Delbert Tyler (Monroeville, Pa.) with 5:00 left in the first half, which the linebacker took 10 yards to the endzone to give Hampton a 21-0 lead.

Norfolk State turned the ball over three times in 10 first-half possessions.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Spartans got on the board with 14:13 left in the fourth quarter after Takeem Hedgeman capped off an eight-play, 21-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to cut Hampton's lead to 21-7.

Another Spartans turnover with 10:19 left in the game set up the Pirates' final score, as Hampton needed just three plays and 17 yards before Schwartz ran two yards for his second touchdown of the day with 9:09 left to put Hampton up 28-7.

Basmagian found Xavier Boyce from 10 yards out with 7:06 to play to cut Hampton's lead to 28-14, but Hampton held on for the win, as the Spartans turned the ball over on their final possession with 1:41 left to play.

In all, Norfolk State committed five turnovers. Basmagian threw four interceptions – including two to senior Lyndell Gibson (Virginia Beach, Va.).

Schwartz followed up his historic performance against Bethune-Cookman two weeks ago with another 100-yard rushing effort, tallying 116 yards on the ground on 29 touches and two touchdowns. He averaged 4.0 yards a carry.

The Pirates defense held Norfolk State to just 54 rushing yards.

The Pirates will return to action on Thursday, when they head to Durham, N.C. to take on North Carolina Central at 7:30 p.m. live on ESPNU. 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.