MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Football team let a fourth quarter lead slip through their hands as Fayetteville State escaped for the second straight season with a 40-38 victory in CIAA action on Saturday under the lights.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 38, Fayetteville State 40
RECORDS | Chowan 1-3 (0-1), Fayetteville State 2-1 (1-0)
LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Garrison Field)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Bryce Witt threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns. Witt also ran for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Paul Gooden hauled in five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Dominic Floyd, Tyrell Freeman, and Adrian McNeil registered a touchdown reception.
Tyrell Freeman carried the ball 17 times for 79 yards.
Marquise Baldwin was all over the field in the contest registering 16 tackles. Connor O'Brien recorded 13 tackles, while Jacquae Peart posted 10 tackles including 2.0 for loss.
Bryan Bryant and George Parker picked off the Broncos quarterback.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
Chowan jumped out to an early 7-0 lead just 1:44 into the contest as Bryce Witt rushed for 38 yards on two plays to start the drive. Witt found Dominic Floyd for a 31 yard touchdown pass to put the Hawks up 7-0.
The Hawks' defense would bottle up FSU running back Stevie Green on the first drive forcing a punt. On the next Chowan drive, Bryce Witt would find Dominic Floyd for a 36-yd reception before finding Brian Hopper for a 38-yd pitch and catch. A face mask and unsportsmanlike penalty put the Hawks at the three yard line. Witt found Paul Gooden for the quick strike to put the Hawks up 14-0.
Chowan forced a field goal late in the first quarter by the Broncos to end the quarter leading 14-3.
Second Quarter:
Fayetteville State would score on the opening possession of the quarter and take advantage of a botched snap on a punt to lead 17-14 early in the quarter.
Chowan would pick off a pass in the endzone but a pass interference call allowed another Broncos' drive to continue. FSU would punch the ball in from one yard out to lead 24-14.
The Hawks would answer on the next drive as Bryce Witt connected with Torry Baker on passes of 8-yds and 25-yds. Witt rushed the ball into the redzone before finding paydirt from 11-yds out.
CU's defense would force a punt on the next possession setting the Hawks up at their own 24 yard line with 2:37 left to play in the half.
After the drive stalled, the drive was kept alive on fourth-and-five as the Hawks benefitted from a penalty. Witt completed passes to Imeek Watkins (18 yards) and Paul Gooden (32 yards) to drive the ball to the FSU 21. Witt dumped a pass off to Tyrell Freeman for the touchdown from 28-yds out to regain the lead 28-24.
Third Quarter:
Chowan forced a punt to open the half. The Hawks were on the move as Bryce Witt found Paul Gooden across the middle. Gooden would fumble the ball into the arms of a Broncos defender near midfield to end the drive.
Fayetteville State converted off the miscue to take the lead 31-28. After a punt, the Chowan defense held strong forcing a field goal attempt. The Broncos kicker would push the attempt left to keep the score at 31-28 with 6:44 left in the quarter.
The next CU drive was aided by a penalty and rushing attempts by Bryce Witt and Tyrell Freeman. The Hawks settled for a 39-yd field goal by Jackson Brooks to knot the contest at 31-all.
Once again the Chowan defense held strong as Bryan Bryant picked off the Broncos quarterback as FSU was driving.
Fourth Quarter:
Chowan capitalized off the turnover as Bryce Witt found Paul Gooden for a 15-yd strike. Tyrell Freeman gashed the defense for a 23-yd rush before Witt found Adrian McNeil for an 18-yd touchdown in the back of the endzone to lead 38-31 with 12:47 remaining.
The Broncos marched down the field behind the strong running of Stevie Green down to the one yardline. An aborted snap went over the head of the Broncos' quarterback allowing Jacquae Peart to recover at the six yardline.
Chowan gained some breathing room as Bryce Witt found Imeek Watkins in the middle of the field for a 31-yd gain. The Hawks were forced to punt on the drive.
FSU used a four play 78 yard drive that took 0:45 off the clock to knot the contest at 38-all.
On the ensuing kick-off, the Hawks were unable to field the ball cleanly as they set up shop at their own 13. Following a delay of game penalty, the Broncos defense sacked Bryce Witt in the endzone for a safety to take a 40-38 lead with 2:41 remaining.
The Hawks defense would give the offense the ball back with 1:00 to play forcing a punt. The Broncos tried a fake punt, but Connor O'Brien sniffed out the attempt and gave the Hawks the ball at their own 45.
Bryce Witt found Torry Baker in the middle of the field for a quick strike but the Broncos defense would come up with the football as Baker had the ball stripped.
UP NEXT
Chowan stays at home for the third straight week as the Hawks welcome CIAA Northern Division powerhouse, Bowie State, to Murfreesboro on Saturday, October 6. Kick-off is slated for 1pm.
