RICHMOND, Va.- The Chowan Football team suffered a 35-10 setback against Virginia Union on the road in CIAA Northern Division action on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 10, Virginia Union 35
RECORDS | Chowan 2-5 (2-2), Virginia Union 5-2 (3-1)
LOCATION | Richmond, Va. (Hovey Field)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Tyrell Freeman paced the offense with a career-high 185 yards rushing. Freeman's 185 yards rushing is seventh most in program history.
Bryce Witt completed 19-of-35 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown. Witt was picked off twice and sacked twice.
Ra'Cee Lucas hauled in two catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Herman Dupas Jr. caught six passes for 56 yards.
Bryan Bryant led the Hawks defensively with seven tackles. Dre Terry notched six tackles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter:
Virginia Union received the opening kick-off and returned the kick to midfield. The Panthers used two plays to jump on the scoreboard just 45 seconds into the contest.
The next Panther possession had the Hawks down 14-0 as VUU completed a 52-yd swing pass for the touchdown.
Chowan's second drive of the game featured Tyrell Freeman as the workhorse recording 44 yards on the ground to put the Hawks in the redzone. The drive stalled at the VUU 13. Connor Killeen would miss the 30-yd field goal attempt to the left.
2nd Quarter:
Tyrell Freeman sparked the drive with back-to-back first down runs gaining chunks of 11 and 21 yards to put the Hawks just outside the redzone.
Once again the Hawks drive stalled in the redzone and had to settle for a field goal. Connor Killeen's 25-yd attempt sailed through the uprights to cut into the Panther lead 14-3.
Marcus Devin picked off his third pass of the season as the Panthers were driving into Hawks' territory.
Devin's interception gave the Hawks momentum as three plays later, Bryce Witt found Ra'Cee Lucas on a deep ball for a 64-yd touchdown reception cutting the deficit to 14-10.
On the next possession, Bryce Witt was intercepted at the VUU 34. Virginia Union would march down the field on a 12 play 69 yard drive to end the half with a touchdown to lead 21-10 at the half.
3rd Quarter:
The second drive of the half for the Hawks looked promising as the Hawks moved the ball inside the redzone. Bryce Witt connected on 4-6 for 45 yards but a sack and two penalties stalled the drive. The Hawks were unable to convert on fourth and goal.
On the next Hawks drive, Bryce Witt was intercepted near midfield and returned to the CU 27 setting the Panthers up with good field position.
4th Quarter:
The Panthers would need three plays to find the endzone grabbing a chunk of the yards on the ground before the 28-10 lead.
VUU extended their lead to 35-10 with 11:18 remaining in the contest after a quick three play 66 yard drive.
Chowan moved the ball on their next drive aided by three defensive penalties. Tyrell Freeman reeled off a 26-yd rush followed by a personal foul penalty on VUU spotted the ball at the VUU 9. Bryce Witt rushed to the VUU 1 but an incomplete pass and two rushes for no gain stymied the Hawks at the goal-line.
The Hawks would get the ball back after a VUU punt, but Virginia Union's defense forced a fumble three plays later.
In their own territory, Chowan's defense stepped up as Wayne Pittman forced a fumble and recovered the fumble at the CU 14.
It took the Hawks six plays to get the ball down the field as Bryce Witt connected on five straight passes. Witt found Herman Dupas for 18 yards along with Ra'Cee Lucas for 19, Torry Baker for 16 and Aaron Mathews for 22 yards to get the ball to the VUU 10 for first and goal.
Virginia Union would bend but not break as the Panther defense had a strip sack that ended the game.
UP NEXT
Chowan returns home for the first time in three weeks as the Hawks host Elizabeth City State on October 21 for Homecoming. Kick-off is slated for 3pm.
