CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Chowan Football team moved to 2-0 in CIAA play as the Hawks defeated Johnson C. Smith 10-7 on the road on Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 10, Johnson C. Smith 7

RECORDS | Chowan 2-3 (2-0), Johnson C. Smith 0-5 (0-2)

LOCATION | Charlotte, N.C. (Irwin Belk Complex)

QUOTES FROM COACH TIM PLACE

"We are 2-0 in the CIAA, which is what matters.  We win as a team, as long as we have more points than the other team at the final whistle, which is all we can ask for."

"All three phases have a lot of work to do as we prepare to play a nationally ranked Bowie State team next weekend."

"We are proud of Nate (Wyche) and what he has been able to accomplish.  Nate entered the program as a preferred walk-on and has worked extremely hard to place himself in this position.  He has earned everything with hard work and dedication."

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

The Chowan defense gave the Golden Bulls fits all day as the Hawks allowed 100 total yards, second fewest yards allowed in program history.  100 total yards is the fewest allowed on the road since 2008 against former CIAA opponent Saint Paul's.  Chowan's defense picked up five sacks on the afternoon for a loss of 46 yards.

Nate Wyche recorded his 21.5 sack of his career and 8.0 sacks on the season in the first quarter.  With the 1.5 sacks in the contest, Wyche became the all-time sack leader at Chowan taking the top spot held by former Hawks All-American TJ Batchelor.

Dre Terry paced the Hawks with a career-high 11 tackles and 0.5 sacks.  The Hawks tallied 11.0 TFLs for 61 yards.

Michael Offutt Jr. shined for the Hawks on the ground racking up 96 yards on 21 carries.  Tyrell Freeman rushed twice for 30 yards.

Bryce Witt managed 69 yards through the air on nine completions.  Witt connected with Drew Buck on a six-yard out route for the Hawks' only touchdown of the contest.

Connor Killeen sailed the game-winning field goal through the uprights with 2:42 remaining in regulation on a 29-yd attempt.

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st Quarter

The first quarter was not as exciting as most fans had hoped for as neither team was able to move the ball.

Nate Wyche tied the school record for sacks in a career on the third play as Wyche got to the quarterback for the 12-yd sack on third down and forcing a JCSU punt.

On the second drive of the game for the Hawks, Tyrell Freeman picked up a huge chunk of yards to get the Hawks to midfield.  On the ensuing play, Bryce Witt was intercepted by JCSU looking for a shot down the right sideline.

JCSU's drive moved the ball down the field aided by two penalties.  The Hawks defense stood tall as Chowan forced a punt.

The Hawks managed 51 yards on the ground in the opening quarter.

2nd Quarter

Chowan was able to get the ball past midfield but the drive stalled.  Connor Killeen pinned the Golden Bulls deep in their own territory as Killeen's punt was downed at the one-yard line.

On the next Hawks drive, starting at the JCSU 47, Chowan marched the ball towards the endzone but a penalty and a sack forced the Hawks to kick a field goal.  Connor Killeen's kick was just wide on the 35-yd attempt.

Once again, Nate Wyche found his way into the Golden Bulls back-field as the senior sacked the JCSU quarterback grabbing the his program record 21.5 sack of his career.

The Hawks were able to gain some momentum late in the half as Chowan used a 10 play 61-yd drive to take a 7-0 lead.  Bryce Witt connected with Aaron Matthews on strikes of 12-yds and 5-yds.  Witt picked up a 15-yd rush on a scamper to bring the Hawks into the redzone.  Witt found Drew Buck in the corner of the endzone for his 11thpassing touchdown of the season.

Chowan went into the locker room with a 7-0 lead.  The Hawks defense held JCSU to a daunting 13 total yards.

3rd Quarter

JCSU came out of the locker room with momentum running the ball down the field on a 14 play 74-yd drive that took up 7:32 of the quarter.  The Golden Bulls rushed for 63 yards on the drive and completed one pass as the completion found JCSU's Randy Wiley for the score.

The Hawks drive in the quarter was short lived as Bryce Witt was sacked twice forcing a punt.

4th Quarter

Chowan and Johnson C. Smith played the field position game for most of the final stanza as the first five drives of the quarter ended in punts.

On the sixth drive, the Hawks set up shop at the JCSU 31 after the Hawks had pinned JCSU at their own five yard line.  Michael Offutt Jr. returned the punt for 15 yards to the JCSU 31.

Bryce Witt and Michael Offutt Jr. recorded 19-yds to the JCSU 12 where the drive stalled.  Connor Killeenrebounded after missing the first FG of the game with a 29-yd attempt from the right hash.  The kick sailed through the uprights and gave the Hawks a 10-7 lead with 2:42 remaining in regulation.

The Hawks' defense stepped up forcing back-to-back incompletions on third and fourth down to hand the ball back to Chowan with 1:54 remaining.  Michael Offutt Jr. picked up the first down in the drive allowing the Hawks to move into victory formation sealing the win.

UP NEXT

Chowan continues their road swing as the Hawks travel north to face nationally ranked Bowie State on Saturday, October 7 in Bowie, Md.