DeLand, Fla.— The Stetson University football team outscored Campbell University 14-7 in the second half, but a 42-7 halftime deficit proved entirely too much to overcome as the Hatters were defeated by the Camels 49-21 at Spec Martin Stadium on Saturday.
 
The loss drops the Hatters to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the Pioneer Football League. Stetson's 0-4 overall record is the first time since the 1934 season the Hatters started the year on a four game losing streak. Campbell snapped a two game losing streak and improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the Pioneer league.
 
The visiting Camels scored four touchdowns in the first quarter to lead 28-0 after just fifteen minutes of football. After the Camels punted on their opening drive, the Hatters got into field goal range. Junior tight end Donald Parham capped the drive with a 45-yard reception that got Stetson to the Campbell 30. A missed 47-yard field goal later in the drive though kept the game scoreless.
 
On the ensuing possession, Campbell went on a nine play, 70-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead. Camels quarterback Daniel Smith ran in a touchdown from 11 yards to give Campbell the lead. On Campbell's next possession, Smith scored again, this time on a 50-yard dash to the end zone to put Campbell ahead 14-0. Later in the first quarter, a two-yard touchdown run by Montel Goods made it a 21-0 score. Then on the ensuing possession, quarterback Colin McGovern threw his first of four interceptions when Campbell defensive back Carlos Merritt got the picked the pass and returned it 37 yards to make the score 28-0 in the closing seconds of the quarter.
 
In the second quarter, the Hatters finally got on the board when McGovern found junior wide receiver Ja'Vonta Swinton for a three-yard touchdown reception with 10:22 to play.
 
Later in the second quarter, the Hatters had a chance to cut deeper into their deficit. Stetson successfully completed a fourth and two at the Campbell 26, but a false start penalty by the Hatters negated the play. On the next play, McGovern threw a pass behind freshman wide receiver Justin Jordan. The pass bounced off of Jordan's foot and ricocheted into the hands of defensive back Isaiah King who ran the interception 71 yards for the second "pick-six" of the game by the Camels. Suddenly it was 35-7 with 8:03 to go before halftime instead of a possible 28-14 score.
 
In the third quarter, with Campbell up 42-7, freshman Gordon Stetson capped off a nine-play, 63-yard drive by scoring his first NCAA touchdown on a one-yard run up the middle. Then late in the fourth quarter, sophomore reserve quarterback Cole Martin found freshman wide receiver Bensley Bornelus on an eight yard leaping catch in the back of the end zone to make the score 49-21 with 1:17 to play. Bornelus's touchdown reception was the first overall reception of any kind in his NCAA career.
 
Overall on offense, McGovern completed 26 of 41 passes for a career-high 268 yards and a touchdown. Parham added nine catches for a career-high 157 yards, while Ja'Vonta Swinton caught five passes for 43 yards plus a touchdown.
 
Defensively, Jeb Boudreaux led the way with nine tackles, while Colby Duncan added five.
 
For Campbell, Smith completed 14 of 29 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 179 yards and scored twice. Defensively, Merrit led the Camels' with nine tackles and two interceptions.
 
Stetson returns to action next Saturday at Valparaiso University at 1 p.m.