MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Football team will display their talents for the first time this season at home as the Hawks welcome Alderson Broaddus in a non-conference contest on Saturday afternoon.
WHEN Saturday, September 14 | 1:00pm
WHERE Murfreesboro, N.C. (Garrison Stadium)
FOLLOW GAME DAY CENTRAL (Stats/Video)
GAME NOTES Chowan vs Alderson Broaddus
TAKE AWAYS FROM THE FIRST GAME
On the defensive side of the ball, Chowan's starting lineup featured a total of 55 career games led by Rafiq Abdul-Wahid (19), Marcus Devin (14), and Connor O'Brien (10). Abdul-Wahid and O'Brien were the only starters to play all 10 games last season. Five players had not registered one snap in a college game before.
With all the "inexperience" on defense, the Hawks held UVa-Wise to 303 total yards posting 114.4 yards less than the average last season.
The Chowan offense racked up 417 yards of total offense against a defense that was ranked in the top-20 last season. UVa-Wise held opponents to 121.9 rushing yards and 204.1 passing yards a game last season, the Hawks recorded 233 yards on the ground and 184 yards passing.
MOVING FORWARD
After getting the first game jitters out of the way, Chowan will continue to look to senior running back, Tyrell Freeman, and junior signal caller, Bryce Witt, to keep the offense moving like a well-oiled machine. The defensive unit is a game older and will be able to use that experience to keep the momentum moving.
RECORDS ACHIEVED
Tyrell Freeman recorded 62 yards last week against UVa-Wise to become the Chowan all-time leading rusher with 2,367 yards to pass Jawarren Cowles (2,363) that played during the DIII era from 1999-2002.
CHASING RECORDS
Junior Bryce Witt will look to continue his record climb up the list sitting with 4,862 passing yards. Witt is currently third all-time behind Cameron Stover (5,865) and CJ Westler (4,996). Witt is also second all-time in passing touchdowns behind Stover (53) sitting with 46.
HOLES TO FILL
With the absence of the top-two wide receivers: Torry Baker and Paul Gooden, All- CIAA selections in 2018, the Hawks will look to Imeek Watkins and Adrian McNeil to be threats in the Witt aerial attack.
Chowan lost seven of the top-10 defensive players from last season. Connor O'Brien returns as the leading tackler with 41 total tackles. Rafiq Abdul-Wahid posted 10.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks last season.
OVER A DECADE WITH PLACE
Head Coach, Tim Place, enters his twelfth season at the helm of the Chowan football program. Under Place's direction the Hawks have seen four winning seasons including three in the last four years. The first came in 2012 with a 6-4 record and finished second in the CIAA with a 5-2 mark. In 2015 and 2016, Chowan finished with a 6-4 record but 4-3 clips in the league. Last season, the Hawks finished 6-4 with a 4-2 mark in the CIAA. The team finished 6-2 among DII opponents.
GOING TO BATTLE WITH THE BATTLERS
Alderson Broaddus took a 33-21 loss at home to start their 2019 campaign against Glenville State. Last season, ABU finished with a 4-7 record. The Battlers did most of their damage through the air with 235 yards passing and three touchdowns. They also added 161 yards on the ground.
Joe Czelusniak, senior quarterback, identified his favorite target in Damon Rodgers recording five receptions for 117 yards and two scores.
Defensively, the Battlers gave up 413 yards of total offense but held Glenville State to four field goal attempts as both teams combined for 4-10 in the redzone.
