MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Football wraps up their 2019 home schedule as the Hawks host regionally-ranked Virginia State in the home finale. The meeting will be Hall of Fame and Senior Day for the Hawks.
WHEN Saturday, November 2 | 1:00pm
WHERE Murfreesboro, N.C. (Garrison Stadium)
FOLLOW GAME DAY CENTRAL
Game Notes: Chowan vs Virginia State
RUNNING DOWN THE "HALL"WAY
Chowan ended their five game losing streak with an emphatic win over rival, Elizabeth City State, for homecoming, 49-41.
The Hawks are averaging 56.7 more yards of total offense in the past two games under interim head coach Mark Hall. The majority of that is coming on the ground from Deshaun Wethington who is averaging 215.0 yards the past two games after churning out a career-high 297 yards against Elizabeth City State.
Defensively, the Hawks have slowed the running game from 254.8 to 143.5 in the past two games. The opposing offenses have seen an up-tick in passing yards as the Hawks have faced two teams that like to air it out.
Chowan is 1-1 under the direction of interim head coach with two games to go in the season.
WHERE DO WE STAND?
Deshaun Wethington jumped to 12th in the country in rushing yards after a strong performance against ECSU. Wethington sits with 958 rushing yards. Wethington is second in the CIAA in rushing yards. Wethington also sits third in the country in rushing yards per game at 158.8 and first in the CIAA.
Torrance Brumfield is seventh in the country and second in the CIAA in combined kick return yards with 644.
Rafiq Abdul-Wahid is eighth in the country and second in the CIAA in blocked kicks (2).
Bryce Witt is 15th in the country and first in the CIAA in passing touchdowns (19). Witt is second in the CIAA in passing yards (1,578) and passing yards per game (197.3).
Chowan is ranked in the top-25 in several categories:
17th - 3rd down conversion (48.1%) | 2nd - Blocked Kicks (7)
15th - First Downs Offense (192) | 11th - Rushing Offense (262.8)
15th - Total Offense (473.4)
CIAA RANKINGS
Chowan's rankings within the CIAA Conference:
1st - 3rd down conversion (48.1%) | 2nd- blocked kicks (8)
1st- completion percentage (59.8%) | 4th - fewest penalties (60)
1st - First down offense (192) | 6th - passes intercepted (10)
4th- passing offense (210.6) | 1st - rushing offense (262.8)
3rd - scoring offense (36.8) | 3rd - team passing efficiency (140.54)
1st - total offense (473.4)
TROUNCING THE TROJANS
Virginia State enters the contest with a 6-2 overall record and a 4-1 mark in the CIAA. The Trojans are ranked #7 in the Super Region 2.
Cordelral Cook makes this offense tick with 959 yards passing and six touchdowns along with 477 yards rushing and six touchdowns. The Trojans have a potent offense attack with Cook along with Darius Hagans and Demetrius Strickland. VSU averages 239.8 yards per game on the ground.
The Trojans defensively are one of the best in the league allowing 16.5 points per game. VSU is tops in the league in sacks with 31. Javon Frazier leads the rush with 6.0 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss. Zion Johnson leads the team in tackles with 37.
VSU doesn't allow many points or total yards allowing 238.8 yards per game including a stingy 71.1 yards per game on the ground.
IN THE SERIES
Virginia State leads the series 7-2. The Hawks snapped the five game losing streak in the series last season with a 45-38 victory on the road. Three of the last four meetings have been decided by a single score. The Hawks nearly upset the then-#19 ranked Trojans the last time VSU was in Murfreesboro. Chowan fell short 26-23 as a late fumble ended the upset bid.
