Box Score HAMPTON, VA—The South Carolina State Bulldogs suffered their first conference loss of the season in a 28-26 loss to Hampton Saturday (Oct. 29) at Armstrong Stadium.

The Bulldogs fall to 3-4 overall, 3-1 in the MEAC, while the Pirates improve to 4-4 overall, 4-2 in the league.

Freshman wide receiver De' Montrez Burroughs had a career-day catching with seven (7) receptions for 133-yards. Redshirt junior linebacker Dayshawn Taylor spearheaded the defense with nine (9) tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss, while teammate Darius Leonard added seven (7) tackles, one sack in the loss.

Redshirt freshman Bishop was the spotlight on special teams with three kickoff returns 86-yards and 12 carries for 52-yards and a touchdown. He finished with 151-yards All-Purpose yards.

Hampton scored first on a 5-yard run by Eric Carter at the 12:45 mark in the first quarter. SC State responded on a 1-yard punch by Ford. The Pirates took no time finding the end zone again on a 12-yard toss from Jaylian Williams to Jack Willenbrock to make the score 14-7 with 0.50 seconds remaining in the first.

Sophomore quarterback Caleb York put the Bulldogs ahead on back-to-back touchdown throws of 23-yards to Kanome McIntosh and a 13-yard pass to Ford to move ahead 20-14. The extra point was no good by kicker Tyler Scandrett.

South Carolina State led 20-14 during halftime. 

Kicking woes and costly penalties down the stretch seem to be the deciding factor as South Carolina State posted 11 for 99-yards, while Hampton finished with five (5) for 55-yards.

Hampton's Williamson took advantage with a pair of touchdown throws of 4-yards to Rashawn Proctor and 57-yards to Twarn Mixson to push the Pirates lead to 28-20 with 7:04 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs regained possesson on a muffled punt that was recovered by sophomore defensive Alex Brown. SC State scored on a 1-yd run by senior running back Dondre Brown with 2:30 remaining in the game. The two-point conversion failed.

South Carolina State returns to action on Saturday (Nov.5) on the road against league rival N.C. A&T State in Greensboro, NC. Kickoff is 1 p.m.