BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Hajj-Malik Williams combined for three scores and Campbell defeated Charleston Southern 34-28 in front of a sellout Homecoming crowd Saturday at Barker-Lane Stadium.
 
The Camels (3-2, 1-0 Big South) started Big South play with a win for the third straight season, piling up 436 yards of total offense, and topping CSU for the first time (1-5). The Bucs fell to 0-5 on the season and 0-1 in conference games.
 
Williams completed 16-of-25 pass attempts for 237 yards and two touchdowns, adding 43 yards rushing and another score on the ground, helping the Camels amass more than 400 yards of total offense for the third straight game.
 
Campbell led 31-21 with 9:32 to go in the third after Tai Goode's 12 yard TD run, and turned a Dorian Jones interception into a 27-yard field goal, his second of the night, to give the Camels their largest lead of the night at 34-21 with 13:28 remaining in the fourth.
 
The Bucs answered with a 10-play, 75 yard scoring drive, capped by JD Moore's punch in TD up the middle to make it 34-28 with 9:47 on the clock.
 
The teams traded possessions, but Campbell used 7:06 of game time, giving CSU the ball with 1:52 to play. The Buccaneers used seven plays to reach midfield, but Tony Bartalo's fourth and one pass fell incomplete to turn the ball back over to CU for the final time.  
 
Bryant Barr rushed for 70 yards on 19 carries, while NaQuari Rogers added 54 yards rushing. Austin Hite hauled in 85 yards and a TD on four catches, with Julian Hill making four grabs for 56 yards and a score.
 
CJ Tillman gathered 12 tackles, including 1.0 stop for loss, to lead the Campbell defense, which picked up eight tackles for loss in the win. Monchovia Gaffney added eight tackles with 1.5 TFLs, while Brevin Allen notched four tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, including a sack on the final Buccaneer possession, also batting down a pass.
 
The Camels took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in eight plays to take the lead.  Williams connected with Julian Hill on a 37-yard scoring pass.
 
The Bucs drew even on TJ Ruff's 1-yard rush, set up by a 43-yard completion from Isaiah Bess to Seth Anderson that gave CSU a first down and goal at the Campbell three.
 
Campbell responded with a 65-yard drive on just four plays to retake the lead on Williams' 51-yard TD pass to Austin Hite with 1:12 left in the opening quarter.
 
Aaron Maddox intercepted Bess' pass to give the Camels a first down at the Buccaneer 22.  Williams then extended the lead to 14 with a 4-yard run on fourth and goal to put the Camels ahead 21-7 with 4:00 left in the half.
 
Bess then connected with Anderson on a 35-yard catch and run to bring CSU back within 21-14 with 1:27 to play before the break.
 
Dowdell nailed a 40-yard field goal with 4 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Camels a 24-14 lead at the half.
 
Bess paced CSU with 243 yards passing, completing 13-of-30 attempts with two touchdowns and two interceptions. JD Moore added 54 yards rushing with a TD, while Seth Anderson caught two passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.
 
Garrett Sayegh posted a game-high 16 tackles for CSU, including a sack, while Hombre Kennedy tallied 11 tackles.
 
Campbell continues Big South play next week, hosting Robert Morris at 1:00 p.m. on October 15.