COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Pirates of Hampton University dropped their 2012 football season opener on the road on Thursday 41-31 against the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech in front of a crowd of 10,130 at Tucker Stadium.

Despite the continued efforts of the Pirates' special teams unit, the Golden Eagles were able to hold on for their first win of the season.

“Generally, they (Tennessee Tech) came out more spirited then we did overall,” Pirates head coach Donovan Rose said. “With the score 31-7 at the half, I don't think anyone thought that we had a chance to win the game, better yet mount a comeback, and for that I am pleased with the overall effort.”

The Pirates got off to a very slow start on both sides of the ball in the first half, while the Golden Eagles seemed to be operating on all cylinders. Tennessee Tech scored 31 points while going a perfect 4-for-4 in the red zone behind the efforts of quarterback Tre Lamb. Lamb threw for 279 yards, connecting on 19 of 26 passes with three touchdowns.

The Golden Eagles closed out the first half with 384 yards of total offense.

Hampton (0-1) showed signs of life in the first half behind quarterback Travis Champion (Moreno Valley, Calif.), who drove the Pirates 75 yards in 14 plays for their first score of the game, when freshman Blake Hayes ran in from six yards out for his first collegiate touchdown.

The Pirates benefited greatly from the play of Jordan Stovall, who averaged 48.5 yards per punt in the first half, with his longest boot coming in at 50 yards.

Hampton trailed 31-7 at the half.

Hampton came out in the second half looking like a different team. Jorrian Washington (Los Angeles, Calif.) took the opening kickoff 100 yards for the touchdown to give the Pirates their second score of the game and the spark they need to get back into the game.

That touchdown was the first of Washington's collegiate career on special teams.

Hampton's special teams unit was not done, as the Pirates scored again when kicker Taurean Durham (Uniondale, N.Y.) nailed a 40-yard field goal to make the score 31-17 in favor of the Golden Eagles.

Hampton was fortunate when the Golden Eagles fumbled a fair catch that the Pirates recovered on Tennessee Tech's 5-yard line. Jeremiah Schwartz (Orlando, Fla.) then punched the ball in from a yard out to pull the Pirates within a touchdown, with Tennessee Tech leading 31-24 in the third quarter.

Tennessee Tech, though, was not quite done as Lamb took the Golden Eagles 76 yards on just 11 plays for his fourth touchdown pass of the night to make the score 38-24 early in the fourth quarter.

The Golden Eagles scored again off a 25-yard field goal to make the score 41-24, before Champion drove the Pirates another 75 yards for a touchdown when he connected with Jarvis Brown from two yards out to make the score 41-31 with less than two minutes left in the game. 

Tennessee Tech (1-0) had one of its best games in recent years, as the Golden Eagles combined for 548 yards of total offense on 82 plays behind Lamb, who threw for 339 yards and four touchdowns.

The Pirates had highs of their own on defense and special teams. Washington became the first player since Terrence Patrick to return a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. DeVonte` Hawkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Carvin Johnson (New Orleans, La.) had great nights on the defensive side of the ball, recording 19 and 18 total tackles, respectively.

The Pirates will head back home to get ready to host the Monarchs of Old Dominion at Armstrong Stadium on Saturday at 6 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.