MURFREESBORO, N.C. – For the first time in Chowan Football's Division II history, a true freshman has led the Hawks to victory in their debut as Caleb Pierce found EJ Gatling with 10 seconds left for the go-ahead score in a 32-29 comeback victory over Johnson C. Smith in CIAA Crossover action on Saturday.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 32, Johnson C. Smith 29
RECORDS | Chowan 1-2 (1-0), Johnson C. Smith 0-2 (0-1)
LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Garrison Stadium)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Caleb Pierce, true freshman starting quarterback, threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns on 14-18 passing, while adding 65 yards rushing. Pierce joins former Hawk, Bryce Witt, as the only true freshman quarterbacks to win a game during their first season.
EJ Gatling collected two touchdowns in the contest with a 50 yard rushing touchdown and a 28 yard receiving touchdown. Gatling had two receptions for 32 yards and one rush for 50 yards.
Nijere Peoples went over 100 yards rushing for the first time as a Hawk on 20 carries to collect 129 yards and a touchdown. Jordaan Bailey added five receptions for 73 yards. Justin Anderson hauled in a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
Montre Moore and Jamae Blank led the defense with double-digit tackles. Moore collected 13 tackles with 2.0 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. Blank tallied 11 tackles with 2.5 TFLs and 1.0 sack. Nic Wilson posted five tackles and five pass break ups. Kmare Carey added another interception to his total.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
The day did not start well for the true freshman quarterback as on the first drive, Caleb Pierce was intercepted near midfield. Johnson C. Smith would use a six-play 43 yard drive to go on the board, 7-0.
After a pair of punts, the Hawks would start their next drive in the shadow of their own goal-line at the CU4. Nijere Peoples gave the Hawks breathing room with a 29 yard run to the right side. Peoples would add a 15 yard scamper before an end-around by EJ Gatling found the sideline and the endzone to even the score at 7-all.
The defense would force a punt after a quick three-and-out. Caleb Pierce found Demetrius Moore for a 41 yard strike, but a sack would stall the drive.
Second Quarter:
On the first play of the quarter, JCSU quickly regained the lead on an 86 yard pitch and catch to lead 14-7.
Chowan would answer on their next drive taking six plays to find the endzone. Caleb Pierce found Demetrius Moore for a first down reception before Nijere Peoples collected a run of 19 and 28 before finding paydirt to even the score at 14-all.
JCSU moved the ball down the field using an 11-play 49 yard drive before the defense forced a long field goal attempt. The Golden Bulls' kicker would miss short from 42 yards.
On the ensuing drive for the Hawks, Caleb Pierce would connect with Jordaan Bailey for a pair of receptions before scampering forward for 30 yards inside the redzone. The drive would stall out at the JCSU 6, but the 24 yard attempt by Kyle Lotz would hit the right upright and bounce out to keep the score level.
After three first down receptions by the Golden Bulls, Kmare Carey would haul in the overthrown pass and return the interception 35 yards to midfield with 2:02 remaining. The drive would not muster much as the teams went into the locker room knotted up at 14-all.
Third Quarter:
Chowan looked to get JCSU off the field after a quick three-and-out to start the half, but a roughing the punter penalty allowed the JCSU drive to continue. The defense would stand tall and force a turnover on downs at the CU 38.
Caleb Pierce connected with Jordaan Bailey to start the drive for a gain of 17 yards before Nijere Peoples picked up a first down on a run of 14. Pierce added a scamper of 20 yards to the JCSU 14 where the drive would stall. Kyle Lotz would connect from 32 yards out on the field goal attempt to put the Hawks up 17-14.
The Chowan defense would force a punt, but a fumble on the return would hand the ball back to the Golden Bulls. Several penalties on the drive for JCSU would not gain much ground as the Golden Bulls settled for a 29 yard field goal to even the score with 3:01 remaining in the quarter.
On the ensuing kick-off another miscue by the Chowan special teams unit gave the Golden Bulls the ball near midfield. Malik Rencher would pick-off the quarterback on the next play but was negated by a roughing the passer. JCSU would move inside the redzone before Montre Moore and Shaun'dell Hawkins teamed up for a sack on third down to force a field goal. JCSU connected from 37 yards to lead 20-17.
Fourth Quarter:
Caleb Pierce started the drive with a 32 yard pass to Tyrek McNeil before finding his high school teammate, Justin Anderson, for a 25 yard touchdown to regain the lead 24-20.
The Golden Bulls would claw back into the contest with an eight-play 50 yard drive to retake the lead, 26-24, on a 15 yard touchdown pass.
Chowan was unable to gain a first down on their next drive as Tyrek McNeil came up a yard short on fourth down.
JCSU would chew up 5:21 of the game clock on their next drive that ended with a 28 yard field goal to stretch their lead to 29-24 and gave the Hawks the ball back with 1:08 remaining.
After a sack on second down, the Hawks were forced to call their final timeout with 44 seconds remaining. A pass interference against JCSU as Caleb Pierce was looking for another high school teammate, Jordaan Bailey, aided the drive. Pierce would connect with Bailey over the middle of the field for a gain of 32 yards down to the JCSU 28. After a spike to stop the clock, Pierce stepped up into the pocket and found EJ Gatling in the middle of the endzone for the touchdown with 10 seconds remaining. Pierce would find Justin Anderson to his left on the two-point conversion to put the Hawks up 32-29.
A pair of passes were well defended by the Hawks before Jamae Blank put the finishing touches on the comeback with a sack.
UP NEXT
Chowan will wrap up their homestand to start the season as the Hawks will host Winston-Salem State in a CIAA Crossover contest on Saturday, September 24 under the lights. Kick-off is slated for 6pm.
