Chowan Second Half Surge Not Enough Against Davidson Wildcats

DAVIDSON, North Carolina – The Chowan Football team was unable to capitalize on four takeaways to start the second half as Division I Davidson raced past the Hawks 49-28 on Saturday evening.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 28, Davidson 49

RECORDS | Chowan 0-2, Davidson 2-0

LOCATION | Davidson, N.C. (Richardson Stadium)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

The Chowan defense forced four turnovers led by Antwuan Hicks.  Hicks had eight tackles and two forced fumbles and a fumble return for 29-yds in the loss.  Dre Terry would pick off a pass and Aaron Bullock recorded a fumble recovery.

Josh Berry, David Harden, and Tyler Bembry tallied seven tackles each.

Tyrell Freeman posted his first 100-yd rushing outing of the season with 109 yards on 16 carries.   Freeman would find the endzone in the contest on the opening drive.

Torry Baker hauled in 10 catches for 134 yards and two scores to pace the receivers.  Baker would also catch a two-point conversion.  Imeek Watkins caught five passes for 66 yards.  Sha'Von Harkless grabbed a touchdown pass.

Bryce Witt completed 23-35 passes for 302 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter:

The opening drive of the game started off quickly for the Hawks as Chowan marched down the field on eight plays for a touchdown.  Bryce Witt completed 3-3 passes for 47 yards.  Witt added 12 yards rushing before Tyrell Freeman punched it in on a 4-yd plunge.

Davidson would answer on their opening drive going two plays for 62 yards on two rushes to even the game 7-all just 4:02 into the game.

Chowan would move the ball down the field on their next drive but a tipped pass led to an interception. Davidson used three plays on the drive to take a 14-7 lead.

The Wildcats would force a punt on the next drive and then rush the ball down the field for another rushing touchdown to lead 21-7.

Tyrell Freeman would open the next drive breaking off a 35-yd run.  Bryce Witt would connect with Imeek Watkinsfor a 15-yd pass to end the quarter.

Second Quarter:

On the first play of the quarter, Bryce Witt's pass would be intercepted.  Chowan would slow down the Wildcat attack as Davidson needed 11 plays to go 61 yards for the score.

On the ensuing kick-off, Kyeem Perry would take the kick to the Davidson 30 with a 58-yd return.  A penalty would push the drive to the 15.  Bryce Witt found Torry Baker on a 9-yd pitch-and-catch for the score to close the gap to 28-13 after the failed PAT.

Another long run by the 'Cats pushed the score to 35-13 with 5:51 remaining in the quarter.  The next drive for the Hawks moved into Davidson territory.  Bryce Witt started the drive with a 14-yd pass to Imeek Watkins.  Tyrell Freeman would rush the ball down to the Davidson 13-yd line on an eight yard run.  The drive would stall.  The field goal attempt would get blocked and returned for a touchdown.

On the final drive of the half for the Hawks with under a minute to play, the Hawks would just run the clock out with a 15-yd run by Tyrell Freeman.

Third Quarter:

The Hawks would force a fumble on the opening drive of the third quarter as Antwuan Hicks forced the fumble.  The drive would end for the Hawks with two sacks and a blocked punt.

Antwuan Hicks would step up again for the Hawks forcing another fumble, this time taking it 29 yards on the return to put Chowan in enemy territory.

Bryce Witt connected with Paul Gooden to move the chains on a 15-yd reception.  Adrian McNeil was unable to haul in the catch in the endzone as the drive stalled in the redzone.

Chowan's defense was able to force another turnover as Dre Terry picked off a pass near midfield.  Bryce Wittfound Imeek Watkins and Torry Baker for a pair of first downs.  Watkins reached for a pass on fourth down but the Hawks were unable to convert in the redzone.

Fourth Quarter:

Aaron Bullock would recover a fumble to start the fourth quarter for the Hawks' fourth straight takeaway.

Bryce Witt connected with Imeek Watkins on a fourth down conversion to keep the drive alive.  Two plays later, Witt found Sha'Von Harkless out of the backfield for a 21-yd touchdown reception.  Torry Baker would be on the receiving end of the 2-pt conversion to cut the deficit in half, 42-21, with 11:59 remaining.

Davidson would take 5:34 off the clock on an 11 play 75 yard drive.  The Wildcats would keep the ball on the ground to extend the lead to 49-21 with 6:25 remaining in the contest.

Bryce Witt founds Torry Baker for a 26-yd reception and a 25-yd reception by Brandon Hughes to push the ball deep into Davidson territory.  Baker would haul in a 23 yard pass from Witt for a score to cut the deficit to 49-28.

On the ensuing kick-off, Keandre' Randerson recovered the onside kick.  The Hawks would back up on the drive with a penalty and a sack.  The defense would hold for the Hawks to force a punt, but a roughing the punter penalty allowed the drive to continue for the Wildcats.  Davidson would run the clock out to end the contest.

UP NEXT

Chowan takes on Shaw (1-1) on September 15 in CIAA action in Raleigh, N.C.  Kick-off is slated for 1pm.

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