ESPN College Football

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kyle Whitehurst returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown with 5:55 left in the fourth quarter to seal Hampton's 22-12 win over Howard on Saturday.

Hampton (2-0, 1-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) trailed 12-0 at halftime, but scored 22 unanswered points to earn its ninth straight win in the series.

Howard (1-1, 0-1) took the lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Ronald Venters to Jarahn Williams, and added to it on Keon Coleman's 8-yard touchdown run. However, the Bison were let down in the second half by their offense and special teams.

The Pirates tied the game on a safety when Howard's long-snapper sent the ball over punter Noam Dror's head and into the end zone. A 42-yard field goal by Andrew Paterini gave Hampton its first lead and Whitehurst's interception return clinched the win.

Hampton running backs Alonzo Coleman and Ardell Daniels, both of whom eclipsed 1,000 yards last year, were held to a combined 67 yards on 24 carries.

Coleman scored Hampton's first touchdown on a 20-yard run in the second quarter.

Howard's offense was held to 66 yards of total offense in the second half after totaling 239 in the opening half.