MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Football team opens the season on the road against UVa-Wise on Saturday in a non-conference contest.
WHEN Saturday, September 7 | 12:00pm
WHERE Wise, Va. (Carl Smith Stadium)
FOLLOW GAME DAY CENTRAL (Stats/Video)
GAME NOTES Chowan vs UVa-Wise
HAWK HITS
Chowan enters the season with a lot of promise returning junior gunslinger, Bryce Witt, and senior running back, Tyrell Freeman. Freeman ranked 10th in the NCAA in yards per game, 129.2, and second in the CIAA. Witt finished 12th in the NCAA in passing yards per game, 270.0, and second in the CIAA.
The Chowan offense ranked sixth in the country in total offense last season recording 511.7 yards per game, a program best. On the flip side, the defense ranked 129th in yards allowed.
The offensive line or referred to as the "Trench Mob" returns four of the five starters from last season including American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All- American in Donald Boone. Donte Wooten, Aaron Ray, and David Keck also return for the Hawks.
PRESEASON ALL-CIAA
The Hawks were picked to finish fourth overall in the CIAA this season after posting a 6-4 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the league last year. CU took a tough 40-38 loss to CIAA Southern Division Champion, Fayetteville State, and a close 48-38 loss to Virginia Union.
Donald Boone, Tyrell Freeman, Bryce Witt, Rafiq Abdul-Wahid and John Kight were named to the All-CIAA preseason team.
CHASING RECORDS
Tyrell Freeman rushed for over 1,000 yards last season to become the third player in Chowan history to achieve the milestone (Jawarren Cowles and Tyree Lee). Freeman is the DII all-time rushing leader with 2,305 rushing yards and is 58 yards away from Cowles all-time rushing total (2,363). Cowles played from 1999-2002 during the DII era.
Junior Bryce Witt will look to continue his record climb up the list sitting with 4,692 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.
SURROUNDING THE CAVALIERS
UVa-Wise posted a 4-6 record behind one of the nation's top defenses. The Cavaliers returns several starters from the defensive unit including All-MEC First Teamer and Super Region I Third Team selection, Marcus Tarrer. Tarrer led the team with 78 tackles.
The defensive unit allowed 168.1 yards through the air to rank 18th in the country and allowed only 302.6 yards per game. UVa-Wise have five Division I transfer to add to their stout defense.
The Cavaliers will have a new offense and defensive coordinator for their first contest. The offense will be led by sophomore quarterback, Tanner Bernard. Bernard averaged 165.8 yards per game through the air with 1492 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.
