BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Chowan football team battled strong against Division I Campbell in the 2018 season opener on the road on Thursday evening before falling 49-26.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 26, Campbell 49
RECORDS | Chowan 0-1, Campbell 1-0
LOCATION | Buies Creek, N.C. (Barker-Lane Stadium)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Kyeem Perry and John Kight helped the special teams in major ways to flip field positions. Perry returned six kick-offs for 126 yards including a 52 yard return. Kight posted seven punts with a 44.9 average including a pair of 50+ yard kicks.
Bryce Witt led the Hawks in rushing with eight carries for 91 yards and a touchdown. Witt finished 11-24 for 100 yards and two interceptions under center.
Jayden Riley tallied two passing touchdowns in a backup role in his debut for the Blue and White. Sha'Von Harkless was on the receiving end of both touchdown passes. Harkless finished with 42 yards rushing and 19 yards receiving.
Torry Baker led the receivers with four receptions for 51 yards.
Dre Terry led the defensive unit with eight tackles and a fumble recovery. Josh Berry and Marquise Baldwin tallied six tackles each.
Marcus Devin and Calvin Stephens picked off the Campbell quarterbacks. Stephens returned his for a touchdown.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter:
Both teams opened the season with a punt on their opening drives of the game. On the second drive of the game for the Camels, Dre Terry would recover a fumble after the Camels reached the redzone.
Bryce Witt would rush for 38 yards on the ensuing drive but an errant pass turned into an interception and a touchdown for the Camels to take an early 7-0 lead.
Chowan moved the ball on the ground into Campbell territory but was forced to punt. The defense held strong for the Hawks forcing another punt.
2nd Quarter:
Chowan was able to move into Camels territory but the drive would stall to open the quarter.
After a pair of punts in the quarter, Campbell was able to find the endzone on a 49 yard touchdown reception to extend the lead to 14-0. Another long reception by the Camels pushed the lead to 21-0 at the half.
Marcus Devin would pick off a pass late in the half to end the threat heading into the locker room.
3rd Quarter:
Campbell benefited from a tipped pass to start the second half. The Camels would punch the ball into the endzone.
The big play finally happened for the Hawks as Bryce Witt connected with Torry Baker on the ensuing drive for a 46 yard reception. Witt would finish off the drive with a 21 yard scamper for the score to close the gap to 28-6 after the failed extra point attempt.
Campbell continued to air the ball out with two receptions to find the endzone for the score, 35-6, midway through the quarter.
Chowan looked to stonewall the Camels deep in the redzone forcing a fourth down on the two-yard line. An offside penalty allowed the drive to continue and push their advantage to 42-6.
Kyeem Perry sparked the offense with a 52 yard kick-off return on the ensuing drive heading into the fourth quarter.
4th Quarter:
The drive would find the endzone as backup quarterback, Jayden Riley, connected on his first pass with Sha'Von Harkless for a 16 yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 42-12.
On the ensuing drive, Calvin Stephens would pick off a pass and return it for 57 yards for a touchdown to close the gap to 42-19 early in the quarter.
Campbell would regain the momentum with 13 play 63 yard drive to push the Camels' lead to 49-19 with just over five minutes to play.
Jayden Riley would throw his second touchdown pass of the evening with 11 seconds remaining finding Harkless for a short three yard strike.
UP NEXT
Chowan continues their early road swing as the Hawks travel to Davidson, N.C. to face Division I Davidson on September 8 at 7pm.
