DURHAM, N.C. – The Hampton University football team fell into an early hole and could never completely recover Thursday night at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, as North Carolina Central beat the Pirates 37-20 in front of a national ESPNU television audience.

The Pirates fell to 1-5 overall on the season and 1-3 in MEAC play, while the Eagles remained unbeaten in conference play at 4-0, with an overall mark of 5-2.

The Pirates struck first, capping off a nine-play, 46-yard drive with 7:27 left in the first quarter after senior Taurean Durham (Uniondale, N.Y.) nailed a 41-yard field goal to put Hampton up 3-0.

Though the Eagles were held scoreless in the first quarter, they made up for that in the second quarter, starting on the defensive side of the ball when Tazmon Foster intercepted sophomore Travis Champion (Moreno Valley, Calif.) and returned it 80 yards for the touchdown with 13:01 left in the half to take a 6-3 lead after the extra point failed.

The Pirates turned the ball over again on the next possession, and the Eagles answered with 7:11 left in the first half after Andre Clarke found the endzone from one yard out to put NCCU up 13-3.

Turnovers again proved to be a problem for the Pirates, as Hampton lost another fumble on the ensuing possession, giving NCCU a short field before the Eagles took a 20-3 lead with 6:50 left in the first half on a 30-yard strike from Jordan Reid to Geovonie Irvine.

NCCU took that 20-3 lead into the half.

The Eagles scored on their first possession of the second half, when Oleg Parent hit a 20-yard field goal with 7:26 left in the third quarter to put NCCU up 23-3.

Hampton answered on the ensuing possession, though, marching 42 yards in 10 plays before senior Jeremiah Schwartz (Orlando, Fla.) punched it in from one yard out with 2:06 left in the third quarter. Durham hit the point after to cut NCCU's lead to 23-10.

The Pirates defense came up big in the fourth quarter, forcing a safety to cut the Eagles' lead to 23-12 with 10:02 left to play.

Hampton then found its punch on offense, needing just two plays on the ensuing drive before Schwartz ran 38 yards into the endzone with 9:21 left in the game. Jaylian Williamson (Chesapeake, Va.) ran in the two-point conversion to make it a one-possession game, with NCCU leading 23-20.

However, Arthur Goforth took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards and put NCCU up 30-20 with 9:09 to play.

The Eagles added another score to put the game away with 4:37 left to play, when Reid connected with Gary Douglas from 20 yards out to put NCCU up 37-20.

Schwartz had his third straight 100-yard rushing game, and his fourth of the season, carrying the ball 20 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 29 yards on the night.

Senior Javaris Brown (Macon, Ga.) was Hampton top receiver, catching five passes for 60 yards.

Champion and Williamson each went 11-for-16 through the air; Champion threw for 112 yards, while Williamson had 103 passing yards. Both were stymied by the Eagles defense all night, though, as NCCU recorded eight sacks.

Senior Jeremy Jermin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the Pirates on defense with eight total tackles (four solo), as well as the team's lone sack of the night.

The Pirates will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 27, when they return to Armstrong Stadium for Homecoming against Savannah State 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.