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HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University football team made a late comeback attempt on Saturday at Armstrong Stadium, but came up short and couldn't overcome several turnovers in falling 38-26 to Bethune-Cookman.

The Pirates (0-4, 0-2 MEAC) turned the ball over seven times, throwing four interceptions and losing three fumbles.

The Wildcats struck first, going up 7-0 with 10:46 left in the first quarter after Quentin Williams capped a 10-play, 67-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. The Pirates scored on the ensuing drive, as Taurean Durham (Uniondale, N.Y.) nailed a 30-yard field goal with 8:12 left in the quarter to cut Bethune-Cookman's lead to 7-3.

Bethune-Cookman (3-2, 2-0 MEAC) ended the first quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by Rodney Scott to cap off another 10-play drive to put the Wildcats up 14-3.

The Pirates responded in the second quarter by marching 73 yards on seven plays, before Travis Champion (Moreno Valley, Calif.) connected with Andre Griffin (Hampton, Va.) from 11 yards out with 12:38 left in the half to cut the Wildcats' lead to 14-10.

The Wildcats answered with a 42-yard field goal with 4:36 left in the half to go up 17-10.

Hampton opened the second half by driving down the field, taking eight plays to enter the redzone. But in Hampton's first redzone play, Nick Addison picked off Champion's pass at the 10-yard line before returning the ball 90 yards for the score to put the Wildcats up 24-10 with 11:40 left in the third quarter.

The Wildcats then forced at Hampton three-and-out, before taking advantage of a short punt to drive 39 yards in six plays. Bethune-Cookman ended that drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Isidore Jackson with 7:22 left in the third quarter to take a 31-10 lead.

Hampton appeared to answer on the next drive, taking 4:32 off the clock and going 74 yards in 11 plays, but the Pirates couldn't convert a 4th down opportunity in the redzone.

On the Wildcats' next possession, Bethune-Cookman appeared on its way to another score, driving into the redzone. But the Pirates defense held firm, forcing a 32-yard field goal attempt with 13:52 left in the fourth quarter – but Marshall-Lee Mundin (Richmond, Va.) blocked the kick and recovered the ball.

The Pirates wouldn't back down, though, as Jaylian Williamson (Chesapeake, Va.) found Javaris Brown (Macon, Ga.) from 25 yards out with 8:16 left in the fourth quarter to cap a five-play, 71-yard drive and cut the Wildcats' lead to 31-17.

But the Wildcats answered again, capitalizing on a Hampton fumble when Brodrick Waters hit David Blackwell for an 20-yard touchdown pass with 5:37 to play to take a 38-17 lead.

The Pirates defense recorded a late safety to cut the lead to 38-19 with 4:03 left to play.

That momentum carried to the offense, as the Pirates embarked on a nine-play, 57-yard drive before Jeremiah Schwartz (Orlando, Fla.) punched it in from one yard out with 1:09 to play to cut Bethune-Cookman's lead to 38-26.

The Wildcats recovered the ensuing onside kick, however, and ran out the clock.

Champion threw for 208 yards for the Pirates, completing 20 of his 33 passes, while Williamson completed five of his nine passes for 71 yards. Each Pirates quarterback had a touchdown pass, though Champion has three interceptions.

Schwartz ran for 201 yards on 25 carries, becoming the first Pirate to rush for over 200 yards in a single game since Kevin Beverly rushed for 204 yards against North Carolina A&T in 2006. Schwartz recorded the 10th-highest single-game rushing total in program history.

Griffin finished one yard shy of 100 receiving yards on six catches. In all, the Pirates had 536 yards of total offense – 279 through the air and 257 on the ground.

Delbert Tyler (Monroeville, Pa.) led Hampton on defense with 10 tackles, while Lyndell Gibson (Virginia Beach, Va.) had nine tackles.

The Pirates have their second bye week this coming weekend, and will return to action on Oct. 13, when they take on Norfolk State at Armstrong Stadium at 1 p.m. in the annual Battle of the Bay. 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.