Second Half Burst Lifts Campbell Over Pirates

Saturday, September 26

Hampton, Va.

6:02 PM

Hampton University

1-4 , 0-2

Campbell

4-1 , 2-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Campbell	6	7	31	0	44
Hampton	3	10	0	7	20

Photo by: Katie Gilmore

9.26.26 | Football

Box Score

HAMPTON, Va. (September 26, 2026) … Hampton (1-4. 0-2) and No. 22-ranked Campbell (4-1, 2-0) played on even terms in the first half before the Camels pulled away in the final 30 minutes for a 44-21 victory over the Pirates at Darling Stadium. The Pirates and Camels battled to a 13-13 halftime tie before Campbell exploded for 31 third quarter points to put the game away.

"Campbell was 2-10 last season and are nationally-ranked and 4-1 this year," Coach Van Malone said. "It shows that hard work, discipline and commitment can turn around a program. There is no magic wand. You just have to work hard to improve every day."

In a game played with coastal flood warnings, with brisk winds and ended with rain, an audience of 3,209 braved the threatening weather to see the Pirates play their best half of the season.

In the opening quarter in which the Pirates recovered a fumble on a kickoff, a blocked field goal attempt, blocked an extra point try and a returned a fumble 65 yards, Hampton still found itself on the short end of a 6-3 score after the opening stanza.

The Pirates recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff setting up a 37-yard field goal by Brett Starling. The Camels took a 6-3 lead on a 28-yard pass from Kamden Sixkiller, one of five touchdowns on the day, to Connor Adair midway through the first quarter but the extra point attempt was blocked. Campbell drove the length of the field but Hampton's Cam Sturdifen forced a fumble and raced 65 yards. Gracen Goldsmith's zig-zagged seven-yard run for a score put the Pirates ahead 10-6. The Camels retook the lead when Sixkiller connected with Chinua Ezeigbo, who cruised 34 yards up the middle to put the Camels back on top 13-10 at the 6:30 mark.

A 40-yard pass from Tre'Von Taylor to Chaz Portis moved the ball to the Campbell 32-yard line. An 18-yard scamper by Taylor put the ball into the red zone setting up Starling's 19-yard field goal to tie the score 13-13 at intermission.

Campbell dominated the first half statistics 258 yards to 133 for the Pirates. Sixkiller clicked on 13-of-16 passes for 164 yards and two scores for the Camels. Hampton's Taylor passed for an even 100 yards completing 9-of-15 passes.

The third quarter spelled trouble for the Pirates. Campbell amassed 246 yards offense tallying 31 points to take 44-13 lead heading into the final quarter. Sixkiller threw three more touchdown passes to go along with one on the ground and a field goal in the period. Campbell dominated play with 31 points and 182 yards while holding Hampton scoreless and 19 yards.

Hampton tallied a fourth quarter touchdown when Isaiah Smith outjumped a defender to haul in a five-yard pass from Tayor to close the gap to 44-20.

Sixkiller finished with 308 yards passing in addition to his five TD passes. Hampton's Taylor was 23-of-40 for 259 yards and a score. The Camels accumulated 534 total yards in the game while the Pirates finished with 321.

Hampton travels to Washington, D.C. to take on Howard in the Battle of the Real HU next Saturday at Audi Field at 3 p.m..