Box Scores vs. Brevard

MURFREESBORO - Chowan University erased a seventeen point deficit in the second half to beat Brevard College 23-20 this afternoon. The Hawks amassed 373 yards of offense over four quarters while holding Brevard to just 135 second-half yards. Today's win is the first-ever win against a NCAA DII opponent since making the transition to a DII institution in 2005.

Brevard got on the board first in the gridiron duel when they drove 66 yards on five plays and capped it off with a one-yard paydirt pass from Kyle Hamilton to Curtis Lorenz. Hamilton hooked up with Shaton Pratt on a big 56-yard play at the 4:17 mark of the first quarter. Brevard missed their extra point attempt to give them a 13-0 lead.

Chowan put together a solid drive that ate of 6:44 of the clock and kicker Cory Cline split the uprights on a 23 yard field goal at the 11:13 mark of the second quarter. Chowan's defense held and Brevard took at 13-3 lead into halftime.

Michael Gist made an acrobatic catch for Brevard's third score of the game on a six yard pass from Kyle Hamilton. Chowan marched down field on their ensuing possession, driving 73 yards on eight plays. CJ Westler (pictured above) found a wide open Tim Watson from one yard out to cut the Brevard lead to 20-10. Chowan's defense took over in the fourth quarter shutting down Brevard's offense. With more time on the field, the offense went to work to score two touchdowns. Brandon Myrick scampered 47 yards to the endzone to pull Chowan within three points of Brevard. On the Tornados next possession linebacker Jomo Brown intercepted a Kyle Hamilton pass and returned it to 34 yards to set up another Westler connection. He found James Fox at the back of the endzone on a lofted pass for a 26 yard strike. Chowan's point after was blocked but it was good enough to give them a 23-20 lead, and eventual win.

Westler finished the day with 18 completions on 28 attempts for 190 yards. He passed for two touchdowns and one interception on the day. Myrick paced the ground attack with 70 yards on nine carries and one score while freshman JJ Spates tallied 52 yards on six carries. James Fox had four catches for 69 and a paydirt strike.

Defensively Marcus Johnson had nine tackles to lead all tacklers in the game. Jeremy Bednardz-Gray had six tackles while Andrae Deweese had five tackles and a sack.

The Hawks now improve to 1-2 overall while Brevard falls to 1-2 on the year. Chowan will travel to VMI next Saturday for a 1:30pm kick off.