Hawks Roll past Argos
Box Score MURFREESBORO- The Chowan University football team picked up a 35-28 victory over the University of West Florida on Saturday evening. The Hawks move to 2-1 on the season with the win and handed the Argonauts their first loss of their inaugural season. West Florida stands 2-1 on the year with the setback.
Chowan collected 529 yards of total offense on the day; 130 on the ground and 399 passing. West Florida rolled up 450 yards of offense in the setback and were held to just 44 yards on the ground over the course of the contest.
Randall Dixon completed 28-44 pass attempts for a school record 399 yards and two touchdowns for the Hawks. He connected with four different Chowan receivers including Tyrone Carter 11 times for 188 yards and one touchdown. Tyree Lee totaled 30 carries for 139 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
Kaleb Nobles threw for 398 yards on Saturday, completing 29-48 pass attempts including three touchdown passes. Ishmel Morrow hauled in 12 receptions on the day for 161 yards with Anas Hasic adding nine receptions for 190 yards and three touchdowns. Tim Bellinger recorded 10 carrries for 29 yards on the night.
Defensively, Demetrius Newberry led the way with 14 tackles (seven solo, seven assisted) and one sack. Luis Zequeira and Vicente` Stafford added eight stops each in the win. Marvin Conley recorded 11 tackles for West Florida (seven solo, four assisted) while Joshua Smiley added 10 (six solo, four assisted).
The Hawks quickly took matters into their own hands at the start of the contest as Lee concluded a seven-play, 65 yard drive with a seven yard touchdown run to put Chowan on the board in their first drive. Connor Killeen's point after attempt was good, handing the Hawks an early 7-0 advantage.
West Florida promptly answered with a three-play, 75 yard scoring drive after Hasic hauled in a 58 yard touchdown pass from Nobles. Austin Peffers made good on the point after attempt, knotting the score 7-7. The Hawks would answer back at the 10:50 mark in the first quarter after Carter grabbed a 29 yard touchdown pass from Dixon. The Hawks led 14-7 after Killeen's point after attempt.
The Argos responded late in the first quarter with a 10 play, 84 yard touchdown drive. Nobles connected with Hasic on a 16 yard pass and Peffers' point after attempt was successful, knotting the score 14-14.
With 10:36 on the clock in the second quarter, Kemaree Alcorn intercepted a pass from Nobles on the West Florida 15 yard line to shift the momentum back in Chowan's favor. After a trio of runs by Lee, Nolan's one yard touchdown run and Killeen's successful point after attempt pushed the Hawks ahead 21-14. The Hawks tacked on an additional score before the end of the first half, using a 29 yard touchdown run by Lee and Killeen's point after to take a 28-14 lead heading into the halftime break.
Down but not out, the Argos fought back at the start of the second half. Nobles opened the third quarter with a 71 yard touchdown pass to Morrow and Peffers made good on the point after attempt. At the 11:40 mark, an interception by West Florida led to a six play, 31 yard touchdown drive for the Argos. Peffers' point after tied the score 28-28.
Dixon gave the Hawks all they would need in the fourth quarter, connecting with Kaine Lombard on a four yard touchdown pass to push Chowan ahead 34-28. The play concluded a four play, 69 yard drive. Killeen's point after attempt solidified the 35-28 advantage. West Florida was unable to answer back offensively, resulting in the victory for Chowan.
The Hawks return to action on September 24th. Chowan travels to take on Livingstone College in a 1pm contest. The game marks the first CIAA match-up of the season.