HAMPTON, Va. (Interstat) — Rodney Nelson rushed for 233 yards and four touchdowns, powering the Monmouth Hawks to a 28-10 victory over the Hampton Pirates on Saturday at Armstrong Stadium.

The Hawks, improving to 5-1 overall, relied heavily on their ground game, amassing over 300 rushing yards while quarterback Frankie Weaver managed the contest, completing 14 of 25 passes for 122 yards.

Monmouth established control early. After Hampton opened the scoring with a 19-yard field goal from hometown kicker Brett Starling midway through the first quarter, the Hawks responded with a methodical drive capped by Nelson’s first touchdown, a 5-yard run. Hudson Fiene’s extra point gave Monmouth a 7-3 lead.

Nelson added his second score late in the second quarter, plunging in from 3 yards out to culminate another sustained drive and send the Hawks into halftime with a 14-3 advantage.

Hampton, which fell to 2-5, found a spark in the third quarter. Quarterback Braden Davis engineered a promising drive, connecting with receiver Tae’Shaun Johnson on a 44-yard pass to set up first-and-goal. Gracen Goldsmith finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, pulling the Pirates within four points at 14-10.

The Pirates’ momentum was short-lived. Monmouth’s defense stiffened, and the Hawks put the game away with two fourth-quarter touchdowns from Nelson, his third and fourth of the day, to seal the 28-10 win.

Davis finished 21 of 33 for 242 yards for Hampton, with Johnson being his primary target, hauling in seven catches for 104 yards. The Pirates’ offense, however, was hampered by penalties and a critical interception by Monmouth’s Israel Clark-White in the fourth quarter that ended a promising drive.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had forecast a narrow 42-41 victory for Monmouth. The Hawks’ defensive performance and dominant rushing attack proved to be the difference.

Monmouth travels to face Bryant next Saturday. Hampton has a bye week before hosting Maine on Nov. 8.