MURFREESBORO, N.C. – It was a good day all around for the Chowan Football team as the Hawks pounded the Alderson Broaddus Battlers to a tune of 70-16 in front of the home crowd on Saturday afternoon.
Photo Gallery by Charles Revelle, Next Level Photos
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 70, Alderson Broaddus 16
RECORDS | Chowan 1-1, Alderson Broaddus 0-2
LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Garrison Stadium)
RECORDS WERE MEANT TO BE BROKEN
Chowan rushed for a program best 418 yards on 40 carries, shattering the old record of 365 against Livingstone in 2012.
Bryce Witt threw for seven touchdowns on his way to breaking a five-way tie at the top for a single-game record. Witt is tied with Cameron Stover for most touchdown passes in a career with 53. Witt moved into second place all-time with 5,121 passing yards.
Imeek Watkins broke the single-game record with five receiving touchdowns passing former Chowan greats, James Fox and Robert Holland.
Jackson Brooks went a perfect 10-10 on PATs for the second most in program history behind former All-CIAA First teamer, Nick Hahula.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Deshaun Wethington rushed for 194 yards on 12 carries and found paydirt twice. Bryce Witt tossed for 259 yards for seven touchdown and chipped in with 70 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Brandon Hughes produced 50 yards on the ground, while Torrance Brumfield picked up 43. Imeek Watkins hauled in seven passes for 185 yards and found the endzone five times. Brumfield and Dominic Floyd had a receiving touchdown.
Colby Scott led the charge defensively with 10 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss. Josh Berry and Connor O'Brien chipped in with nine and eight tackles respectively.
Kyree Burns picked off two passes including a one-handed grab, while Aristotle Bowles and Arthur Radford had one interception each. Dudane Anderson would block a punt.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
On the first possession of the game, Alderson Broaddus would march the ball down the field on a 13 play drive to find the endzone. The Battlers would attempt to go for two, but Jeremiah Rosser would snuff it out and force a fumble.
Chowan's first drive was fruitful as Torrance Brumfield returned the kick-off to near midfield. A pair of runs by Tyrell Freeman and Deshaun Wethington moved the ball into the redzone. The Hawks would go for it on fourth down, where Bryce Witt called his own number and scampered in from 20 yards out to put the Hawks on the board, 7-6.
On the next drive for the Battlers, Arthur Radford would pick off the pass and return it for 22 yards. The next Hawk drive would end in a punt. John Kight pinned the Battlers at their own seven.
Alderson Broaddus would not move the ball much as the Hawks defense held its ground and forced a punt. Dudane Anderson would block the punt allowing the Hawks to set up shop at the ABU25.
Second Quarter:
The Hawks needed two plays to find the endzone as a 28 yard pass from Bryce witt found Brandon Hughes to set up a seven yard strike to Imeek Watkins for his first score of the game.
The first drive of the quarter for Alderson Broaddus would take 11 plays to cover 69 yards. The Hawks' defense would hold firm in the redzone to force a 36 yard field goal attempt. ABU would cut the deficit to 14-9. Chowan's defense would not allow another score in the half.
Two chunk play runs by Deshaun Wethington of 16 and 18 yards put the Hawks into the redzone. Bryce Witt would connect with Imeek Watkins for the second time, this time from 19 yards out for the touchdown to push the advantage to 21-9, midway through the quarter.
The defense on the next ABU drive held the Battlers on their half of the field. ABU looked to go for it on fourth down but used a pooch punt, giving the Hawks the ball back at the CU39. The next drive for the Hawks would stall and forced another punt.
Bryce Witt found Adrian McNeil on a 23 yard completion before Deshaun Wethington broke off a 30 yard run to put the Hawks in the redzone. Wethington would finish off the drive with a touchdown run.
Third Quarter:
The opening drive of the second half for the Hawks took 2:13 off the clock as Deshaun Wethington broke off a 54 yard run for a touchdown. Torrance Brumfield added 20 yards on the drive. The Hawks extended their lead to 35-9.
After another punt by ABU, two quick passes to Imeek Watkins and the Hawks would find the endzone again to lead 42-9.
ABU drove down the field on their next possession but would end in the redzone as Aristotle Bowles jumped in the passing lane to intercept the pass at the three-yard line.
Three plays later, Bryce Witt connected with Imeek Watkins for a 75 yard pitch and catch to cover 92 yards on the drive and put the Hawks up 49-9.
The stout defense of the Hawks continued as Kyree Burns intercepted a pass at the ABU 15 and returned it inside the redzone. Bryce Witt found Dominic Floyd for a one-yard touchdown pass.
Fourth Quarter:
A deep pass to open up the quarter put the Battlers in the redzone. ABU scored two plays later for their first points in 26:07 of play to cut the deficit to 56-16.
Chowan's rushing attacked continued with a run by Torrance Brumfield and Shavon Harkless. Deshaun Wethington broke off a 48 yard run before Bryce Witt found Imeek Watkins open on a 23 yard touchdown pass.
Kyree Burns would halt the next drive for ABU intercepting a pass one-handed. Chowan turned that turnover into points with two strong runs by Jayden Riley and a long gashing run by Brandon Hughes. Bryce Witt connected with Torrance Brumfield on an eight yard swing pass for the final score of the contest.
UP NEXT
Chowan opens up CIAA cross-divisional play as the Hawks host Shaw on Saturday, September 21. Kick-off is slated for 6:05pm and will be on the NCAA Division II Showcase Hybrid Model.
