HAMPTON, Va. (Interstat) — The Campbell Fightin’ Camels, defying pregame projections and a winless start to their season, erupted for 21 points in the third quarter to stun the Hampton Pirates 38-21 on Saturday at Armstrong Stadium.

Entering the game as a three-point underdog and given just a 30 percent chance to win by statistical models, Campbell secured its first victory of the season while Hampton fell to 2-4.

A defensive struggle in the first quarter gave way to a scoring flurry in the second. Campbell opened the scoring with a 33-yard field goal from Alex Crabb early in the period. Hampton responded with a dominant 75-yard drive, capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from Gracen Goldsmith to take a 7-3 lead.

The Pirates extended their advantage later in the quarter after a fumble recovery by defensive end Marcellus Nash. Hampton quarterback Braden Davis of Middletown, Delaware, connected with Maxwell Moss of Brooklyn Park, Maryland, on a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-3.

Campbell answered just before halftime, with running back JJ Cowan of Erwin, North Carolina, punching in a 1-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 14-10 at the break.

The second half belonged entirely to the Fightin’ Camels. They took their first lead of the game on their opening drive of the third quarter, with Cowan scoring his second touchdown from 5 yards out.

After forcing a Hampton punt, Campbell quickly struck again. A 41-yard touchdown run by Ethan Lawrence of Oklahoma City extended the lead to 24-14. The Campbell defense then delivered a decisive blow, as linebacker Lakeem Rudolph of Virginia Beach, Virginia, returned an interception for a touchdown to push the lead to 31-14 heading into the final period.

Hampton showed a brief spark in the fourth quarter, with Goldsmith scoring his second rushing touchdown from 3 yards out to make it 31-21. But Campbell put the game out of reach with 1:31 remaining on a spectacular 63-yard touchdown run by Cowan, his third of the day.

Cowan was the offensive engine for Campbell, rushing for 142 yards on 16 carries. The Fightin’ Camels utilized a dual-quarterback system effectively, with Mike Chandler II of Converse, Texas, and Kamden Sixkiller of Norman, Oklahoma, combining for 125 passing yards and managing the offense.

For Hampton, Davis finished 11 of 17 for 131 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Goldsmith led the Pirates’ ground attack with 32 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, while Moss was the top receiver with 81 yards and a touchdown on four catches.

The Campbell defense was disruptive throughout, sacking Davis five times and intercepting him twice. The 59 combined points narrowly exceeded the pregame over/under line of 59.5.

Campbell, now 1-5, will host New Hampshire next Saturday. Hampton, 2-4, travels to face Villanova.