Lamont Boone carried the ball 20 times for 169 yards and one touchdown to lead Chowan over Methodist, 25-14, in the season opener for both teams.

The win was the Braves first-ever victory over Methodist in seven tries.

Chowan opened the scoring when Doug Leary found Devin Vincent for a 13-yard touchdown pass with just under six minutes to play in the first quarter. The big play of the scoring drive was a 54-yard pass from Leary to Timmy Carter that put the Braves deep into Monarch territory.

The Monarchs got on the board with nine minutes remaining in the first half, when Chuck Lowe returned a Braves fumble 49 yards for a touchdown. The extra point gave Methodist a 7-6 lead. Chowan answered five minutes later, when Boone broke a sweep for an 83-yard score to put the Braves ahead to stay. Boone's run broke two Chowan records, including longest run and longest play from scrimmage. The Braves two-point conversion failed, but they went into the locker room with a 12-7 halftime advantage.

The Braves opening drive of the second half stalled on the Methodist 25. But, on their next possession, they ate up almost six minutes of clock with a 14 play, 57 yard drive capped by a 38-yard field goal by Justin Trout.

After Trout's kickoff pinned Methodist deep in their own territory, Keith Jones jumped in front of a Matt O'Kier pass and returned it 21 yards for another Braves touchdown.

After a three-yard scoring plunge by Methodist's Patrick Mebane, the Braves put the game away when Trout connected on his second field goal, this one from 25 yards. Trout's field goal capped a 14 play, 70 yard drive that lasted almost seven minutes.

The Braves, who amassed 403 yards of total offense to Methodist's 289, opened the season with a victory for the first time in nine years. Leary completed six of sixteen passes for 92 yards and a touchdown, while Jay Staten added 44 yards on 11 carries. Defensively, freshman Terrance Saxby led the way with 12 tackles. Jones added eight tackles and two pass break-ups to his interception, while Jack Rennolds added two sacks and Troy Ingram notched an interception for the Braves.