LEBANON, Ill. – The Chowan Football team could not overcome another slow start as the Hawks would fall to McKendree in another exciting second half, 42-35, in a non-conference game on the road on Saturday.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 35, McKendree 42
RECORDS | Chowan 1-3, McKendree 1-3
LOCATION | Lebanon, Ill. (Leemon Field)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Bryce Witt produced 232 yards through the air and a career-high 183 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Witt became the first Chowan quarterback to rush for 1,000 career yards.
Shavon Harkless found the endzone twice for 50 yards. Kobe Chavis, Brian Hopper Jr. and Torrance Brumfield had three receptions each.
Aristotle Bowles led the defensive attack with 11 tackles. Marcus Devin and Connor O'Brien each had eight tackles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
McKendree would receive the opening kick-off and march down the field and into the redzone. The Bearcats would move themselves out of the redzone after an intentional grounding penalty. MCK would miss the 42-yd attempt.
After picking up a first down on the ground, Bryce Witt saw his pass intercepted near midfield. Two big plays on the drive for McKendree led to the first touchdown of the contest.
The Hawks looked to get things rolling on their next drive as Bryce Witt found Dominic Floyd for a 32 yd reception. Two incomplete passes would lead to a punt. John Kight would pin the Bearcats inside their own 20 at the MCK15.
McKendree would use a quick four play drive resulting in a touchdown as a 68 yd reception went the distance for a 14-0 lead.
On the ensuing drive, Chowan would start moving the ball down the field as Bryce Witt connected with Kobe Chavis for 18 yards. Witt would rush for 27 yards on the drive before the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter:
Two plays into the quarter, Bryce Witt saw his second interception of the game looking for Dominic Floyd.
McKendree used a 13-play drive to take a 21-0 lead.
The next Hawk drive would produce points as Bryce Witt started the drive with a six yard carry. Witt added another carry before finding Imeek Watkins for a 15-yd reception. Shavon Harkless picked up 20 yards on the ground before Watkins punched it in from two yards out to cut the deficit to 21-7 with 3:20 remaining.
The Chowan defense would force a punt on the next drive. With less than a minute on the clock before halftime, Bryce Witt found Imeek Watkins for 16 yards, Brian Hopper Jr. for 20 yards and six yards. The Hawks would run out of time before the half.
Third Quarter:
On the opening drive of the second half, Chowan would use a nine-play 75 yard drive to cut the deficit to 21-14. The Hawks would then run the ball seven times as Shavon Harkless gained 17 yards, Bryce Witt gained 37 yards, and Torrance Brumfield added 11. Witt found Brian Hopper Jr. for a 15 yard touchdown.
McKendree would responded with a touchdown pass of their own to push their lead back to 28-14.
The back-and-forth continued as Bryce Witt connected with Kobe Chavis for 29 yards to start the drive. Witt took the ball down to the MCK 1 before Shavon Harkless punched it in for the score.
The Bearcats would respond two plays later as a long pass play led to a touchdown, 35-21.
The counter punch would be thrown on the next possession for the Hawks as Bryce Witt connected with Samuel Dunn on a 52 yard strike. Torrance Brumfield rushed the ball down to the one-yard line before Witt plunged his way in for the score.
McKendree would drive the ball into the redzone at the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
On the first snap, Rafiq Abdul-Wahid would punch out the ball as the Bearcat running back looked to go into the endzone. Raydarius Freeman would recover in the endzone for a touchback.
Bryce Witt continued to develop the offense with his legs with runs of 15 and 36 to put the Hawks in the redzone. Two short runs by Shavon Harkless on third and fourth down put the Hawks in the endzone to even the score at 35-all with 9:46 remaining.
McKendree would march down the field for the game-winning touchdown drive scoring from one-yard out.
The game-tying drive for the Hawks would not move past midfield as Chowan turned the ball over on downs.
UP NEXT
Chowan continues their long road trip as the Hawks will take on CIAA Southern Division favorite, Fayetteville State, for a league contest on October 5. Kick-off is scheduled for 2pm.
