MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Football wrap up their long road trip with a short trip to Richmond, Va. to face off against Virginia Union in CIAA Northern Division Action.
WHEN Saturday, October 19 | 1:00pm
WHERE Richmond, Va. (Hovey Field)
FOLLOW GAME DAY CENTRAL
FIRST THREE VERSUS LAST TWO
Chowan has failed to take care of the ball in the last two contests as nine turnovers has been caused compared to five in the first three games.
On the flip side, Chowan's defense forced eight turnovers in the first three games compared to just three in the last two.
The Hawks' offense is averaging nearly 170 total yards less per game while allowing over 200 total yards more.
Defensively, the top three tacklers: Connor O'Brien, Colby Scott, and Josh Berry are still contributing at the top. The Hawks allowed 104 points in the first three games, while allowing 130 in the last two contests.
Chowan's points per game total plummeted from 43.3 points to 18.5 points per game.
WHERE DO WE STAND?
Deshaun Wethington is 36th in the country in rushing yards despite missing the past two games. Wethington has 523 rushing yards and is fourth in the CIAA.
Torrance Brumfield is 28th in the country and second in the CIAA in all-purpose yards (139.17) per game. Brumfield is fifth in the country and second in the CIAA in in combined kick return yards (569).
Rafiq Abdul-Wahid is third in the country and first in the CIAA in blocked kicks (2).
Bryce Witt is 18th in the country and second in the CIAA in passing touchdowns (14). Witt is third in the CIAA in passing yards (1,156) and passing yards per game (192.7).
Chowan is ranked in the top-25 in several categories:
17th - 3rd down conversion (48.8%) | 1st - Blocked Kicks (6)
15th - First Downs Offense (143) | 12th - Rushing Offense (256.8)
23rd - Total Offense (459.0)
CIAA RANKINGS
Chowan's rankings within the CIAA Conference:
1st - 3rd down conversion (48.8%) | 1st- blocked kicks (6)
1st - completion percentage (58.8%) | 1st - fewest penalties (38)
1st - First down offense (143) | 4th - passes intercepted (7)
4th- passing offense (202.2) | 2nd - rushing offense (256.8)
3rd - redzone offense (82.8%) | 3rd - scoring offense (35.2)
3rd - team passing efficiency (136.88) | 1st - total offense (459.0)
TAMING THE PANTHERS
Virginia Union has shut out their past two opponents (Livingstone and Lincoln) by a score of 106-0 to move to 5-1 on the season and 3-0 in CIAA play.
The Panthers' offense is led by junior signal caller Khalid Morris with league leading 1,274 passing yards, 15 touchdown and four interceptions. Charles Hall is Morris' favorite target with 25 receptions for 655 yards and nine touchdowns. No other receiver has more than nine receptions.
Tabyus Taylor, All-CIAA First Team running back last season, has not been as dominant as last season with 465 rushing yards and four scores.
IN THE SERIES
The 2019 meeting will be the 12th meeting in the series between the Hawks and Panthers. Virginia Union leads the series 8-3. Last season the two teams were in a heavyweight battle in Murfreesboro. The Hawks held a 38-34 lead early in the fourth quarter before two touchdowns allowed VUU to take the contest 48-38. Both running backs, Tabyus Taylor (VUU) and Tyrell Freeman (CU) ran for over 175 yards.
