NORFOLK, Va. – Turnovers proved to be an issue for the Hampton University football team, which fell 24-14 to rival Norfolk State in the annual Battle of the Bay on Saturday afternoon at a soggy Dick Price Stadium.
 
The Pirates fell to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in MEAC play this season.
 
David Watford threw a touchdown pass for the fourth straight game to open the season, despite throwing three interceptions and being sacked twice. He completed 21 of 44 passes for 180 yards; five of those passes went to Rashawn Proctor for a team-high 53 yards.
 
Rayshad Riddick caught three passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. Chris Dukes had a rushing touchdown for the Pirates, while Dwayne Garrett rushed for a team-high 54 yards on eight carries.
 
The Pirates had 320 yards of total offense.
 
The game was scoreless through the first five possessions, before the Spartans (1-3, 1-0 MEAC) took advantage of a Hampton turnover with a 3-play, 23-yard drive that ended in Gerald Johnson 23-yard touchdown that gave Norfolk State a 7-0 lead with 5:03 left in the first quarter.
 
But the Pirates responded with 14 unanswered points in the second quarter. The scoring started with 7:03 left in the half, when Dukes scored from seven yards out to cap a 15-play, 90-yard drive and tie the game at 7-7.
 
Later in the quarter, the Pirates went 80 yards in 13 plays, taking a 14-7 lead after Watford hit Riddick from 10 yards out.
 
The Pirates took that lead into the half.
 
Norfolk State opened the second half with a 14-play, 69-yard drive that ended with a 42-yard field goal from Cameron Marouf that cut the Pirates' lead to 14-10. Hampton's first possession of the half ended in a three-and-out, before the Spartans scored on the ensuing drive, taking a 17-14 lead with 3:16 left in the third quarter when Greg Hankerson hit Isaac White from 12 yards out.
 
Another Hampton interception followed, which Norfolk State turned into a 4-play, 38-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard scoring rush from Quintrell Chung that put the Spartans up 24-14.
 
Allen Ramsey picked off Hankerson in the fourth quarter, giving the Pirates possession with 10:25 left in the game. But Hampton turned the ball over on downs.
 
The Pirates' last two drives ended in an interception and a lost fumble.
 
Tyrone Ward led the Pirates defense with nine tackles, while Joshua Thorne added eight tackles – three for a loss – and a sack.
 
Hampton will return to Armstrong Stadium to take on North Carolina A&T at 1 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.