MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan defense held Winston-Salem State to 164 yards of total offense and forced four turnovers as the Hawks defeated the Rams 21-7 in CIAA action on Saturday evening.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 21, Winston-Salem State 7

RECORDS | Chowan 2-2 (2-0), Winston-Salem State 0-4 (0-2)

LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Garrison Stadium)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Bernico Perofeta led the defense with 13 tackles and a sack.  Montre Moore added 11 tackles and a sack, while Raydarius Freeman tallied 10 tackles and 1.5 TFLs.

Simeon Burns picked off two passes to go with nine tackles.  Jakob Streeter had one interception and a fumble recovery for a touchdown and recovered an "onside" kick.

Caleb Pierce went 17-26 for 187 yards and one touchdown.  Nijere Peoples had 17 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Jake Ray led the receivers with four catches for 38 yards and a touchdown.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter:

Neither side was able to muster much offense on their first two possessions resulting in punts.  Winston-Salem State punted on their first drive and would be intercepted on their next drive by Jakob Streeter as set the Hawks up at the WSSU 44.

The Hawks was unable to do anything on the drive as the first play of the drive resulted in a fumble that was corralled by the Rams at their own five yard line.

WSSU's drive, starting in the shadow of their own endzone, would be moved along by three penalties allowing the Rams to move to midfield before the end of the quarter.

Second Quarter:

The WSSU drive continued before stalling out at the CU 26, where the Rams would miss a 43-yard field goal to the left after a 21 play drive that amassed 10:03.

Jordaan Bailey started the Hawks in the right direction with a 33-yard scamper around the left end.  The Hawks would push into the redzone before a holding call stalled the drive and Chowan settled for a 41-yard field goal attempt.  WSSU's defense would block the kick to keep the game scoreless.

After three straight run plays that netted six yards for Winston-Salem would set up a punt.  The snap would sail over the punter's head and into the endzone.  The WSSU punter tried to kick it out of the back of the endzone for a safety but missed and allowed Jakob Streeter to fall on the loose ball for the touchdown to put the Hawks on the board 7-0 with 4:03 remaining.

The next drive for the Rams ended with an interception by Simeon Burns over the middle giving the Hawks the ball at the WSSU 40 with 2:30 remaining.

Caleb Pierce started the drive with a pass to Demetrius Moore for a first down.  Pierce would connect with Tyrek McNeil for a 27-yard completion before finding Jake Ray on the goalline for the score to put the Hawks up 14-0 at the intermission.

Third Quarter:

The Chowan defense would force a quick three-and-out but the Hawks' offense would be stopped just short on fourth-down.  WSSU would be forced to punt again on their next drive as a sack by Bernico Perofeta stalled the drive.  WSSU would pin the Hawks at their own 15 after a 52-yard punt.

Caleb Pierce found Jake Ray for a first down completion followed by another first down completion to Jordaan Bailey.  A pair of penalties stalled the drive near midfield.

Fourth Quarter:

Winston-Salem State would see their next drive end in an interception as Simeon Burns read the screen play perfectly and picked off the pass with wide-open space in front.  Burns would fall down after a seven yard return at the WSSU 44.

The Hawks started off the drive with a completion to Justin Anderson over the middle for a first down.  Nijere Peoples rumbled his way to a first down with a 10 yard carry.  Caleb Pierce found Demetrius Moore for a 16-yard completion that set up a one-yard touchdown run by Peoples to put the Hawks up 21-0.

On the ensuing kick-off, Patric Talbot used an "excuse me" kick that bounced off a WSSU player and was recovered by Jakob Streeter at the CU 47.  The Hawks weren't able to capitalize on the field position turning the ball over on downs.

The Rams made a change at quarterback, as the freshman moved the Rams down the field as a great diving catch in the endzone would put the Rams on the board late in the contest.

Chowan would finish off the contest on the ground as Nijere Peoples collected 27 yards on the ground to milk the clock.

UP NEXT

Chowan will take their modest two game win streak on the road for the first time to take on defending CIAA Southern Division Champs, Fayetteville State, on Saturday, October 1.  Kick-off is slated for 7pm.