MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Football team was unable to complete the comeback against CIAA Northern Division leader, Virginia Union, on homecoming on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 38, Virginia Union 48
RECORDS | Chowan 2-4 (1-2, 1-1), Virginia Union 5-1 (4-0, 2-0)
LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Garrison Stadium)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Chowan turned the ball over four times along with a bad snap on a punt and a turnover on downs in the contest. Jaquae Peart led the defense with 11 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Marquise Baldwin registered nine tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Tyrell Freeman rushed for 192 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Brandon Hughes chipped in with 47 yards on six carries. Freeman added five receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown, while Hughes caught two passes for 12 yards and a touchdown.
Bryce Witt threw for three touchdowns but was sacked twice leading to fumbles and an interception. Torry Baker led the receiving corps with nine receptions for 118 yards. Paul Gooden tallied five catches for 32 yards and a score.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
After putting up 90 points last weekend against Lincoln, Virginia Union marched down the field on seven plays for 74-yds to score the opening shot of the contest to lead 7-0.
The Hawks would put together a scoring drive of 11 plays for 67 yards to knot the score at 7-all. Bryce Witt started the drive with a 15-yd run. Witt would move the chains on passes of 15 and 14 yards to Torry Baker. Tyrell Freeman scampered in on a 17-yd rush for the score.
VUU would use a big play through the air with a 51-yd touchdown pass to push ahead 14-7. On the following drive, the Panther defense would force a sack and a fumble to give the ball to the Panthers at the CU 16.
The Chowan defense held strong forcing a 26-yd field goal attempt as Marquise Baldwin and Rafiq Abdul-Wahid teamed up for a sack on second down. Panthers led 17-7.
Second Quarter:
Chowan moved the ball on the next possession as Bryce Witt found Imeek Watkins over the middle for a 12-yd reception. Paul Gooden would find the endzone on a pass from Witt to close the gap to 17-14 early in the quarter.
The VUU rushing attack continued as Panther running back, Tabyus Taylor, punched it in from one-yard out to stretch the lead to 24-14.
Following a Chowan punt, the Panthers' ground attack moved along as Taylor found the endzone again to lead 31-14.
Virginia Union intercepted Bryce Witt on the next possession but the Chowan defense forced a punt.
Chowan ended the half with a 12-play 72 yard drive ending with a field goal. Bryce Witt went 7-10 for 54 yards before Jackson Brooks nailed a 27 yard field goal to close the gap to 31-17 at the half.
Third Quarter:
On the first play of the second half, Tyrell Freeman would take the ball 75-yds, seamlessly untouched, for the touchdown bringing the score to 31-24.
The Chowan defense would get a stop as Arrington Bazemore stymied the run game on third-and-one to force a punt.
Brandon Hughes rushed out towards midfield to move the drive before a 14-yd scamper by Bryce Witt ended the drive as the Panthers forced a fumble at their own 29-yd line. The defense held firm forcing another punt.
The Hawks were forced to punt on the next drive but an errant snap over the punter's head gave the Panthers the ball at the CU 25. Chowan's defense, led by Antwuan Hicks, forced a 43-yd field goal. VUU stretch the lead to 34-24.
After a first down run by Tyrell Freeman, Bryce Witt found Torry Baker on a 33-yd reception. Brandon Hughes rushed for 19 yards before scoring on a 6-yd reception out of the backfield to trim the deficit to 34-31 late in the quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
VUU's drive stalled as Tyler Bembry and David Harden forced an incomplete pass to set up a punt.
A pass interference called led to an 18-yd pass to Torry Baker before Tyrell Freeman set up the Hawks at the one for a QB scamper by Bryce Witt for the 38-34 lead.
The Panthers would regain the lead two plays later as a wide open Panther scored to take the lead 41-38.
Chowan moved the ball down the field with chunks of runs by Tyrell Freeman and Bryce Witt. On fourth-and-seven, the Hawks lined up for a 37-yd field goal attempt. VUU would call a timeout and the Hawks' offense would take the field. A batted ball at the line found the arms of Paul Gooden but was unable to move forward resulting in a turnover on downs.
The Chowan defense gave the ball back to the Hawks on a three-and-out with 6:52 remaining. Chowan was forced to punt on the drive.
VUU salted away the clock as Tabyus Taylor gashed the Hawks for 55 yards on the drive leading to the touchdown, 48-38.
The Panther's defense recorded a strip sack and recovered the ball to run out the clock.
UP NEXT
Chowan hits the road for the first time in a month to face CIAA Northern division rival, Elizabeth City State, on Saturday, October 20. Kick-off is slated for 1:30pm.
