MURFREESBORO, N.C. – After overcoming a 27 point halftime deficit, the Chowan Football team fought back to take the lead before ultimately falling in double overtime to Shaw in the CIAA opener on Saturday evening on the NCAA Showcase, 48-47.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 47, Shaw 48 2OT
RECORDS | Chowan 1-2 (0-1), Shaw 1-2 (1-0)
LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Garrison Stadium)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Chowan overcame a 27-0 halftime deficit and took a 41-33 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The Hawks defense held strong despite the score in the first half recording 20:45 minutes on the field. Connor O'Brien led the team with 15 tackles. Rafiq Abdul-Wahid and Colby Scott recorded nine tackles each. Abdul-Wahid had two tackles for loss, a half sack and a blocked field goal.
Chowan picked off the Bears three times with Josh Berry swiping two passes and Arthur Radford with one.
Bryce Witt threw for four touchdowns but was picked off three times. Dominic Floyd threw a 43 yard touchdown pass to go along with six receptions for 40 yards and two touchdowns.
Sam Dunn led the receivers with 78 yards and a touchdown. Brian Hopper Jr and Torrance Brumfield add a receiving touchdown. Deshaun Wethington posted his second straight 100-plus rushing game with 106 yards and a score.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
On the opening drive of the game, Shaw marched the ball down the field on a 14 play 81 yard drive to take an early 7-0 lead. The second play of the Hawks' drive would be intercepted near midfield.
Shaw would capitalize on the field position with points as the Hawks would hold the Bears to a 28 yard field goal.
Bryce Witt connected with Brian Hopper Jr. for a 23 yard gain to start the next drive. The drive would stall as John Kight pinned the Bears inside the 20 with a punt.
Second Quarter:
The Bears would move the ball methodically down the field on a 10 play 88 yard drive to push the lead to 17-0.
Chowan's offense continued to sputter getting a first down on the drive but a dropped pass ended the threat and turned the ball over on downs. Shaw scored on the next drive to lead 24-0.
Bryce Witt found Imeek Watkins on a 17 yard completion but the drive would end on an interception at midfield.
With time running down in the half, Shaw moved the ball into the redzone. Chowan's defense held strong forcing a 33 yard field goal. Shaw led 27-0 at the intermission.
Third Quarter:
Out of the locker room, Chowan looked like a different offense as Bryce Witt connected with Dominic Floyd to spark the offense on an 18 yard pass. Deshaun Wethington broke through several would-be tacklers on a 47 yard run to put the Hawks in the redzone for the first time. Torrance Brumfield went seven yards untouched into the left corner of the endzone to cut the deficit to 27-7.
After the kick-off, Chowan's defense forced the first turnover of the contest as Colby Scott stood up Marquis Gorham allowing Calvin Stephens to punch out the ball. Marcus Devin scooped up the fumble and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown.
Chowan's defense would force a punt on the next drive. The offense would hand the ball back to Shaw as a tipped pass was intercepted. Shaw converted on the other end with a touchdown run. Arthur Radford blocked the PAT to keep the score 33-14.
The Hawks' offense flourished on the next two drives as Chowan pulled off the double pass. Bryce Witt lateraled the ball to Dominic Floyd, who found Samuel Dunn wide open down the right side for a 43 yard touchdown pass.
Merrix Hart and Rafiq Abdul-Wahid teamed up for a sack followed by Arthur Radford's interception put the Hawks near the redzone at the Shaw 22. A penalty by Shaw put the ball at the SU 8. Bryce Witt escaped several potential sacks and found Dominic Floyd as the Bears closed in around Witt for a touchdown to trim the deficit to 33-28.
Fourth Quarter:
The Chowan defense continued to give the Hawks opportunities as Josh Berry hauled in an interception. Bryce Witt would throw two touchdowns on the drive as the first one to Kobe Chavis was negated by a flag. Witt would connect with Dominic Floyd again for the touchdown to take a 34-33. The snap on the PAT was muffed.
Defense proved to be the driving force for the Hawks getting another stop and forcing a punt. The snap would go over the punter's head and allow Raydarius Freeman to get to the punter for the tackle at the Shaw 11. Two runs by Deshaun Wethington and the Hawks would have a 41-33 lead with 6:49 to play.
Shaw would get great field position after the kickoff return. The Bears benefitted on a simultaneous catch that looked like an interception for Calvin Stephens ruled a completion into the redzone. Josh Berry stepped in front of the next attempt and gave the Hawks the ball at their own three.
Three rushes for the Hawks to get out from their own goal post would not prove much as a short punt allowed Shaw prime field position. Shaw would convert on fourth down and five from the CU 7 for a touchdown with 47.9 seconds left. The Bears would go for the two-point conversion and be successful to knot the contest at 41-all.
Overtime:
Chowan would go on offense to start overtime. After a nine yard completion by Bryce Witt to Imeek Watkins, a false start and a rush for no gain forced a fourth down. Chowan went for it but was stopped short.
The Chowan defense would hold strong once again as a botched snap pushed the Bears to the 31 yard-line. Rafiq Abdul-Wahid would block the 48 yard field goal attempt to force a second overtime.
On the first play of the possession, Shaw's quarterback threw a perfect pass for the go-ahead score. Shaw would convert the PAT to lead 48-41.
After a penalty to start the possession, Bryce Witt found Dominic Floyd for an eight yard completion. Deshaun Wethington posted a run of nine and four yards. Brian Hopper Jr. would high point the pass from Bryce Witt for the touchdown.
Chowan would go for the win in front of the home crowd. Witt rolled to his left and found Dominic Floyd in the left corner of the endzone but would be just off his fingertips and fall to the ground.
UP NEXT
Chowan makes their longest trip in program history as the Hawks will meet McKendree in Lebanon, Ill. for a non-conference game on Saturday, September 28. Kick-off is slated for 2pm.
