FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Chowan Football team struggled to move the ball against Fayetteville State in a 66-20 CIAA cross-divisional loss on the road on Saturday.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 20, Fayetteville State 66

RECORDS | Chowan 1-4 (0-2), Fayetteville State 4-1 (2-0)

LOCATION | Fayetteville, N.C. (Jeralds Stadium)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Fayetteville State rushed for 487 yards on the afternoon and seven touchdowns.  Chowan produced a season-low 354 yards of total offense including 196 yards on the ground.

The Broncos forced three turnovers and had three sacks.

Bryce Witt went 17-31 with two touchdowns and two interceptions for 158 yards.  Witt added 48 yards on the ground.  Torrance Brumfield rushed for 61 yards on 11 carries.  Brumfield added a receiving touchdown.

Imeek Watkins recorded a rushing touchdown.  Jeremiah Smith led the receivers with three receptions for 36 yards and a score.

Colby Scott led the defense with nine tackles.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter:

On the third play from scrimmage, the Broncos would pick off Bryce Witt to set up shop near midfield.  The defense would hold Fayetteville State to a 42 yard field goal to trail 3-0.

Imeek Watkins would pick up a first down with a 10 yard carry but the drive would stall.  John Kight would pin the Broncos deep but a heads up play by Demetrius Moore recovered the fumble to give the Hawks life at the FSU10.  Watkins would score on the next play with a speed sweep to give Chowan a 7-3 lead.

Fayetteville State would open up the run game from that point as a 79 yard rush gave the Broncos the 10-7 advantage just two plays later.

Kourtney Johnson picked up a 14 yard rush and Bryce Witt connected with Adrian McNeil for 11 yards on the drive but a sack forced a punt.

FSU found the endzone three plays later on a long touchdown run to lead 17-7.

Torrance Brumfield and Bryce Witt rushed for 36 combined yards on the next drive.  The Hawks would go for it on fourth down and 10 and come up short on the Witt pass to Jeremiah Smith.

Second Quarter:

The Broncos busted a long run play to start the quarter.  After a couple no gain stops by Colby Scott, the Broncos punched it in from three yards out to increase their lead to 24-7.

Chowan's next drive would move into FSU territory with runs by Torrance Brumfield, Imeek Watkins, and Bryce Witt.  A low snap on fourth down gave the Broncos the ball near midfield.

The quick striking Broncos used five plays to find the endzone to lead 31-7.

Bryce Witt connected on passes to Imeek Watkins and Jeremiah Smith to put the Hawks in the redzone.  Witt would find Smith for the 9-yd strike to cut the deficit to 31-14.

The Broncos would score before the half to lead 38-14.

Third Quarter:

The opening drive of the half provided the same for Fayetteville State as they marched the ball down the field for the score.  Bryce Witt tried to spark the offense with funs of eight and five yards.  Witt found Brian Hopper Jr. for a 15-yd gain.  The Broncos defense forced a strip sack near midfield.

The next drives for both sides would end in punts.  FSU had two long run plays to push the deficit to 52-14.

Before the end of the quarter, Bryce Witt found Dylan Clinger for an eight yard reception.  Torrance Brumfield broke off a 34 yard run and put the Hawks into the redzone.

Fourth Quarter:

Chowan would score on the first play of the quarter as Bryce Witt found Torrance Brumfield for a 13 yard touchdown pass.  The PAT would be blocked, 52-20.

The Broncos would keep the ball on the ground and pick up 60 yards on four carries to find the endzone.

Starting at their own 10, Chowan mustered up a drive to put them in the redzone.  Bryce Witt connected with Shavon Harkless and Brian Hopper Jr. for first down completions.  Short receptions by Dylan Clinger put the ball at the FSU 8.  A holding penalty backed the Hawks up on fourth down and negated a first down run.  The Hawks would turn the ball over on downs.

The Broncos would force another fumble near midfield before using a five play drive to score for the final time.

UP NEXT

Chowan opens up CIAA Northern Division action as the Hawks travel to defending division champion, Bowie State, on October 12.  Kick-off is at 1pm.