MURFREESBORO – In a top-25 match up the Chowan Football team came up short against Bowie State in a CIAA North Division clash on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
The Chowan defense held Bowie State to 112 yards of total offense while racking up five sacks. The Hawks defense set the single-season record for sacks with 28.0 on the season.
Basilio Fernandez led the Hawks with 13 total tackles. Rafiq Abdul-Wahid posted eight tackles with 1.5 sacks. Gilberto Ortiz added eight tackles, three TFLs, and a sack.
Imeek Watkins led the Hawks with four catches for 55 yards and 23 yards rushing. Tyrek McNeil added 41 yards on the ground.
Both quarterbacks posted 50% completions for less than 70 yards each.
The Hawks had two fumbles and 11 penalties.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
The Hawks defense forced a punt on the opening drive as Rafiq Abdul-Wahid registered a sack on third down.
Bryce Witt started the drive with a seven-yard rush. Laurence King added a 17-yard rush to put the Hawks close to the red zone. Jude McAtamney connected from 40 yards out to put the Hawks up 3-0.
Once again, the Chowan defense held strong picking up another sack, this time by Montre Moore and Gilberto Ortiz to force a punt.
The swarming Bowie State defense would post a strip-sack and return the fumble for a 33-yard touchdown to take the lead 7-3.
On the next drive, Bryce Witt connected with Imeek Watkins for a first down reception and moved the ball to the other side of the field on a roughing the passer flag. Witt found Watkins again for 23 yards before the drive stalled.
Second Quarter:
Bowie State would be forced to punt as Gilberto Ortiz and Rafiq Abdul-Wahid teamed up for a sack.
The Hawks would move the ball on their next drive as Imeek Watkins rushed for 23 yards and added 13 yards on a penalty to move the ball into the red zone. A holding call and false start moved the Hawks backward forcing a field goal attempt. Jude McAtamney missed from 40 yards out to the right but was given a second chance after a penalty. McAtamney put the ball through the uprights but was called no good.
Third Quarter:
The Hawks would move the ball down the field on the opening drive of the half but would turn the ball over on a fumble.
The defense would hold strong to force a punt that would trickle down to the Chowan 11. Both teams had to punt on their following drives.
Fourth Quarter:
Bowie State was aided on a pair of personal foul penalties by the Hawks to put the Bulldogs in the red zone. The Bulldogs added an insurance touchdown with 4:47 remaining, 14-3.
Bryce Witt connected with Imeek Watkins for a touchdown before a pair of sacks ended the drive.
UP NEXT
Chowan will look to bounce back as the Hawks take on Virginia Union in a CIAA Northern Division contest on Saturday, October 16. The Hawks will celebrate Homecoming with kickoff slated for 1pm.
Story courtesy of Chowan Athletics
