Box Score MURFREESBORO- The Chowan University football team downed Virginia Union University 54-21 on Saturday afternoon at Garrison Stadium.  The Hawks move to 5-2 on the season and 3-1 in CIAA play with the victory.  Virginia Union falls to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in league play with the setback.

Chowan racked up 631 offensive yards in the win, propelled by Randall Dixon's school record 412 passing yards on the afternoon.  He completed 22-38 pass attempts; connecting with six different receivers for two touchdowns in the victory.  Tyrone Carter notched eight receptions for 194 yards and one touchdown for Chowan with Ryan Nolanrecording 132 yards on six receptions and a 39-yard touchdown pass. 

Tyree Lee paced the Hawks' running game with 25 carries for 154 yards.  He tied the school's single game rushing touchdown record with four on the day while accounting for 22 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown to aid the effort.  

Shawheem Dowdy completed 31-68 pass attempts for 380 yards and two touchdowns for Virginia Union. Jusse Yorke totaled 10 receptions for 87 yards while Lavatiae Kelley hauled in eight receptions for 127 yards.

Defensively, Willie Bailey led all players in the game with nine tackles (six solo, three assisted).  Redeshawn Joseph followed with eight stops (seven solo, one assisted). 

Vicente' Stafford paced the Hawks' defensive effort with seven tackles (five solo, two assisted), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and a pass breakup.  Demetrius Newberry tallied six solo tackles in the victory with three tackles for loss (five yards). 

Chowan took control of the momentum right from the start using a two-yard touchdown run by Lee on the Hawks' first drive to take an early lead.  The play capped an eight-play, 65 yard drive.  Connor Killeen's point after attempt was good, giving Chowan a quick 7-0 jump.  Chowan built on the momentum with 3:59 on the clock in the first quarter after Dixon connected with Lee on an eight-yard touchdown pass. 

Carrying a 13-0 lead heading into the second quarter, the Hawks capitalized on a 14-yard touchdown run by Lee and Nolan's 39-yard touchdown pass to Carter to quickly put the game out of reach.  Killeen made good on both point after attempts, respectively; leaving the Panthers trailing 27-0 with 13:04 remaining before halftime. 

Virginia Union ended the scoring drought with 4:41 on the clock.  A one- yard touchdown run by William Stanback capped an eight-play, 90 yard drive for the Panthers.  Jean Claude Brooks' point after attempt was successful. 

Chowan answered back in their next possession and concluded a five- play, 79 yard scoring drive with a five- yard touchdown run by Lee.  Killeen's point after attempt was successful.  The Panthers closed out the second quarter with a score, but the Hawks rolled into the halftime break with a comfortable 34-14 advantage.
 
Less than five minutes into the third quarter, Aaron Matthews intercepted Dowdy's pass and returned it 24 yards for a Chowan touchdown, lifting the Hawks ahead 40-14.  The Panthers responded with a touchdown drive of their own, along with a successful point after attempt on their next drive.   With a 40-21 lead,  Lee's one-yard touchdown run, Dixon's seven-yard touchdown pass to Torry Baker and two point after attempts in the fourth quarter solidified the 54-21 win for the Chowan Blue and White. 

The Hawks hit the road next Saturday to take on Elizabeth City State University.  Game time for the CIAA Northern Division match-up is slated for 1pm.