ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State University were unable to maintain their home winning streak Saturday as they fell 54-39 to the visiting Hampton Pirates in a non-conference game.
 
Mississippi Valley State got three total touchdowns from Booker Chambers, but the Delta Devils were forced to play catch-up after trailing 28-7 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Chambers caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Jett Even in the first half, which included a 71-yard score 65 seconds into the game to put Valley ahead 7-0. Chambers later added an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter; it was his second punt return for a touchdown this season.
 
At game's end, Chambers finished with 11 catches for 180 yards. Darrion Harper caught four passes for 47 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown pass from Chris Fowler. Quinn McElfresh also caught four passes, gaining 49 yards through the air.
 
Raeshad Herriot led the Pirates (6-3) with 135 yards rushing and a touchdown on 19 carries. William Robinson rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
 
Valley split time at the quarterback position, with Even throwing for 173 yards and a touchdown on 9-of-18 passing. Fowler completed 12 out of 14 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.
 
After Hampton's quick start, the Delta Devils outscored their guests 32-26 over the last three quarters of the game. Valley pulled to within 10 points late in the first half when Chambers' 16-yard touchdown reception capped a four-play, 44-yard drive with 3:42 left to play in the second quarter.
 
Tadarius Davis again led the Delta Devil defense, as he recorded 10 tackles in the game.
 
Saturday's game marked the first time Mississippi Valley State and Hampton had met on the gridiron in 29 years. The high-scoring game was a stark contrast to the only previous meeting between the two teams, when Hampton won 6-3 in 1989.
 
The Delta Devils play their final home game of the 2018 season next Saturday when they host Alabama A&M. Kickoff has been pushed ahead to 11 a.m. to ease potential traffic congestion, as Mississippi Valley State University will also be hosting the Southwestern Athletic Conference's postseason volleyball tournament next weekend.