MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Football team held the Pioneers to three second half points in a 23-21 loss to Tusculum at home on Saturday afternoon after leading 21-20 at the intermission.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 21, Tusculum 23
RECORDS | Chowan 0-2, Tusculum 2-0
LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Garrison Stadium)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Montre Moore had a career day on defense with 16 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack and a forced fumble. Jamae Blank collected seven tackles and 2.0 TFLs. Kmare Carey and Simeon Burns notched six tackles and an interception.
Jordaan Bailey posted two total touchdowns with a rushing touchdown and a receiving score. Mailk Tobias accounted for one receiving touchdown.
The defense forced two interceptions and four fumbles on the day as the Hawks' defense was on the field for 79 plays and just over 33 minutes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
After each team punted to open the contest, Tusculum would take a 7-0 lead as a pair of long receptions allowed the Pioneers to strike from inside the redzone on a slant route.
The Hawks would answer on their next drive as Max Smyth connected with Demetrius Moore for a pair of receptions. Smyth found Jordaan Bailey down the left sideline for a 43-yard touchdown to knot the contest at 7-all.
The turning point of the quarter came on the Pioneers' next drive. The defense would force a punt, but a muffed attempt near the goal line allowed Tusculum to pounce on the ball in the endzone for the score to go up 14-7.
Second Quarter:
The defense continued to stand tall for the Hawks as a sack by Raydarius Freeman at midfield ended the Pioneers' drive. Chowan mustered 21 yards of offense before stalling out at the TU29 on fourth down.
Chowan continued to dig deep forcing another turnover on downs near midfield as Montre Moore sniffed out a QB keeper on fourth-and-one. The Hawks would capitalize on the good field position on their next drive as a pass interference call aided the Hawks down the field. Tyrek McNeil picked up a first down run before an end-around by Jordaan Bailey from 28 yards out evened the score at 14-all.
Tusculum answered with an 11 play 63-yard drive as the Pioneers missed the extra point to lead 20-14.
With 2:05 remaining in the half, Chowan would set up near midfield after a strong return by Jakob Streeter out to the CU45. A pass interference moved the ball to the TU 40 before Max Smyth found Malik Tobias all alone for the long score. Kyle Lotz converted the PAT to give the Hawks a 21-20 lead before the half.
Third Quarter:
Tusculum took advantage of the short kick-off and returned the ball to the CU40. The defense would continue to hold strong forcing a turnover on downs. The Hawks would stall on their next drive.
A short punt allowed the Pioneers to take over at midfield as on third-and-nine, the Pioneers used a long pass play to move into the redzone. The defense held the Pioneers to a 23-yard field goal as Tusculum took the lead 23-21.
Neither team mustered much offense in the final minutes of the frame.
Fourth Quarter:
To open up the quarter, Tusculum attempted a 39-yard field goal that would be blocked by Traevon Mitchell and returned to the CU 29 by Jakob Streeter. A sack would stall the Hawks' drive.
Chowan's defense continued to play stellar as Kmare Carey intercepted the overthrown pass and return it out to the CU45. The offense squandered the takeaway and was forced to punt on their next drive.
The next drive ended the same way as the previous drive as Simeon Burns picked off the tipped pass to give the Hawks the ball at midfield. Two plays later, the offense would give the ball back to Tusculum on an interception.
Once again, the defense stood up to the task as Montre Moore collected a sack to end the Tusculum drive. The Pioneers' punter pinned the Hawks at their own six-yard line.
Both teams were forced to punt on their next drives as Tusculum would once again pin the Hawks deep in their own territory. Chowan was unable to move the ball on the final drive to end the contest.
UP NEXT
Chowan hosts Johnson C. Smith in a CIAA Crossover contest on Saturday, September 17. Kick-off is slated for 1pm.
