HAMPTON, Va. -- Yahkee Johnson rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns, including 15-yarder for a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, and Dereon Carr had a late interception to help Hampton beat Howard 20-17 on Saturday in the Battle of the Real HU.

After Johnson's score with 11:07 left, Caylin Newton led an eight-play, 65-yard drive to pull Howard to within 20-17 on a 1-yard sneak. Howard went 13 plays in six-plus minutes but missed a 24-yard field goal with 1:32 left, giving Howard one more opportunity.

But Carr sealed it with an interception at Howards' 39.

Johnson had a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and Delmon Williams added a 7-yard sneak in the third for a 14-10 lead for Hampton (6-5, 5-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). Williams threw for 150 yards on nine completions and added 83 yards on the ground.

Earlier in the week, Hampton announced it was leaving the MEAC after 22 years to join the Big South Conference, effective July 1, 2018.

Newton threw for 259 yards but was intercepted twice for Howard (7-4, 6-2).