MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Football team welcomes nationally-ranked Bowie State to Murfreesboro for a top-25 match up on Saturday. The contest will be a "Pink Out" for the Hawks.
WHEN Saturday, October 9 | 1pm
WHERE Murfreesboro, N.C. (Garrison Stadium)
Live Stats and Video click game day central graphic (below)
LAST WEEK'S GAME
The Hawks had no problem scoring in the contest as Chowan scored just 57 seconds into the contest. The defense allowed the Chowan offense many opportunities as the Hawks had the ball for nearly 40 minutes. Chowan held Winston-Salem to 131 yards of total offense. The Rams scored on a blocked punt.
Bryce Witt continued his tear through opposing defenses with eight more total touchdowns throwing for 423 yards and five touchdowns. Laurence King went over 100 yards receiving for the third time this season.
HAWK HIGHLIGHTS
Chowan continues their homestand as the Hawks are 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in CIAA. Chowan entered into the AFCA National Poll for the first time in program history ranking 24th in the country. The Hawks lead the country in points per game at 51.4, while allowing 20.0.
The defense leads the CIAA with 23.0 sacks led by Isaac Anderson and Rafiq Abdul-Wahid with 6.0 and 5.0 sacks each. Gilberto Ortiz has 4.5 sacks this season.
Bryce Witt leads the CIAA in yards per game at 314.6 passing yards and 20 touchdowns to go with 1573 passing yards. Witt was named CIAA Quarterback of the Week for the third straight week. Laurence King leads the CIAA in receiving yards per game (114.2) and Imeek Watkins, sixth in the CIAA (68.4), both are at the top of the CIAA with seven and six touchdowns respectively.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NUMBERS
Defense:
Chowan ranks seventh in the country on Third Down Conversion Defense (23.6%), .001 behind Bowie State for the CIAA lead. 10th in the country in rushing defense (60.2), Fifth in team sacks (4.60), 12th in total defense (253.2)
Offense:
The offense ranks seventh in the country in first downs (132). 11th in passing offense (324.2), Ninth in total offense (489.0).
Rafiq Abdul-Wahid will look to put his name at the top of the all-time sack list, currently with 17.0 sacks. Abdul-Wahid needs 2.5 more sacks to tie Nate Wyche for the lead.
The Hawks have 23.0 sacks on the season through five games, which is more than Chowan had in 2019. The Hawks are four sacks shy of the single-season record of 27.0 posted in 2012 and 2017.
LEASHING THE POWERFUL BULLDOGS
Bowie State enters the weekend with a 4-1 overall record and a 2-0 record in CIAA action. The Bulldogs are tied for 16th in the country in the AFCA National Poll.
Ja'rome Johnson, the BSU signal-caller has 13 touchdown passes for 1092 yards. Johnson has added two rushing touchdowns this season. Calil Wilkins leads the Bulldogs with 321 yards rushing and two scores.
The Bulldogs average 33.2 points per game while allowing 14.2 points. The 14.2 points allowed is 10th best in the country. The defensive unit has accounted for four touchdowns this season.
Bowie State has been at the top of the Northern Division playing in the CIAA Championship contest in 2018 and 2019. The Bulldogs defeated the Hawks 64-17 in 2019 after falling to the Hawks in Murfreesboro in 2018 (42-23).
