MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Football returns home after a four week road swing to take on rival Elizabeth City State for Homecoming on Saturday.
WHEN Saturday, October 26 | 1:00pm
WHERE Murfreesboro, N.C. (Garrison Stadium)
FOLLOW GAME DAY CENTRAL
HOMECOMING PART FOUR
Chowan will see their fourth homecoming game in a row this season as the Hawks faced Fayetteville State, Bowie State, and Virginia Union on their homecoming dates.
This will be the Hawks' homecoming game. Chowan is 7-3 in their last 10 homecoming games and 2-1 against Elizabeth City State in such games. The two teams met in 2017 on homecoming in a 28-18 victory for the Hawks.
Since 2009, Chowan has played Virginia Union (2-2), Elizabeth City State (2-1), Shaw (1-0), Lincoln (1-0), and Johnson C. Smith (1-0) on homecoming.
Last season, the Hawks held the lead against Virginia Union but faltered down the stretch to fall 48-38 against the Panthers on homecoming.
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Chowan took a big step in the right direction in the 41-34 loss to Virginia Union last weekend. The Hawks led 26-14 at the half before losing ground in the final half.
Deshaun Wethington is back after missing two games with an injury and has produced 299 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the past two games since returning. Wethington has 661 rushing yards this season in five games and six touchdowns.
The Hawks took better care of the ball against the Panthers with two turnovers while intercepting a pass.
The turning point came on the opening drives of the second half as VUU scored to open the third quarter and forced a turnover and later scored to take the lead 27-26. Following a pair of punts by the Hawks, VUU would score on both drives to put the Hawks down 41-26.
WHERE DO WE STAND?
Deshaun Wethington is 21st in the country in rushing yards despite missing two games. Wethington has 661 rushing yards and is third in the CIAA in yards but second in the league in yards per game at 131.2 rushing yards per game.
Torrance Brumfield is 26th 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 combined kick return yards (569).
Rafiq Abdul-Wahid is fourth in the country and first in the CIAA in blocked kicks (2).
Bryce Witt is 22nd in the country and second in the CIAA in passing touchdowns (15). Witt is second in the CIAA in passing yards (1,357) and passing yards per game (193.9).
Chowan is ranked in the top-25 in several categories:
22nd - 3rd down conversion (46.3%) | 1st - Blocked Kicks (7)
17th - First Downs Offense (165) | 15th - Rushing Offense (246.6)
23rd - Total Offense (455.7)
CIAA RANKINGS
Chowan's rankings within the CIAA Conference:
1st - 3rd down conversion (46.3%) | 1st- blocked kicks (7)
3rd- completion percentage (58.5%) | 2nd - fewest penalties (49)
1st - First down offense (165) | 5th - passes intercepted (8)
4th- passing offense (209.1) | 2nd - rushing offense (246.6)
4th - redzone offense (77.8%) | 3rd - scoring offense (35.0)
3rd - team passing efficiency (134.18) | 1st - total offense (455.7)
FLANKING THE VIKINGS
Elizabeth City State is coming off a 34-18 win against Lincoln last weekend in part of the Vikings' homecoming. The Vikings are 2-5 on the season.
ECSU averages 17.7 points per game while allowing 40.1 points. The majority of their offense comes through the air as the team averages 151.9 yards passing of the 224.6 total yards.
Kedrick Patterson, last week's CIAA Quarterback of the Week, has 11 touchdown passes and seven interceptions for 773 yards.
Defensively, the Vikings are not strong statistically as they have 9.0 sacks and five interceptions to their credit. They do have 10 fumble recoveries on the season.
IN THE SERIES
Elizabeth City State has dominated the series between the Hawks and the Vikings. ECSU leads the series 8-3 overall but the Hawks have won three of the last four meetings. Chowan dominated the last meeting between the teams holding the Vikings to -2 yards rushing and 112 total yards.
