PEMBROKE – Josh Ehrlich accounted for 365 yards of total offense and four touchdowns Saturday afternoon as UNC Pembroke pulled away from Chowan for a 38-21 Conference Carolinas victory before 6,588 fans at Grace P. Johnson Stadium.

Ehrlich completed 18 of 21 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 136 yards and a score, helping the Braves improve to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The victory handed Chowan (4-4, 3-1) its first league loss and strengthened UNC Pembroke's position in the conference race.

The Braves have now won all four meetings with the Hawks, including Saturday's Homecoming and Senior Day contest, and extended their Homecoming winning streak to 11 games.

But UNC Pembroke needed a strong second half to put away a Chowan team that twice held the lead before halftime and remained within three points midway through the third quarter.

The decisive stretch came after Chowan quarterback Tyler Adkins found Amir Alexander for a 16-yard touchdown with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter, cutting the Braves' advantage to 24-21.

UNC Pembroke answered with an 11-play, 53-yard drive that consumed nearly seven minutes. The possession survived a third-and-27 situation when Ehrlich scrambled for 23 yards, then converted fourth down with a 5-yard completion to Bryson Simpkins.

Ehrlich later connected with Aaron Osborne for 12 yards to reach the Chowan 1-yard line, where Jake Davids scored to give the Braves a 31-21 lead with 1:12 remaining in the third quarter.

The extended possession proved especially important. Chowan had just responded to an early second-half touchdown with a scoring drive of its own, but UNC Pembroke reclaimed a two-possession advantage and never allowed the Hawks to get closer.

The Braves' defense took over from there.

Chowan failed to score in the fourth quarter despite moving into UNC Pembroke territory on consecutive possessions. The first ended on downs at the Braves' 34-yard line with 7:14 remaining.

The Hawks threatened again late, advancing from their own 13 to the UNC Pembroke 37 before defensive lineman Isi Etute forced a fumble on a sack of Adkins. Myles Hudson recovered the loose ball and returned it 13 yards to midfield.

Three plays later, Ehrlich broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run with 1:39 remaining, completing the scoring and securing the 17-point victory.

The finish capped an afternoon in which UNC Pembroke outgained Chowan 437-281, including a decisive 208-54 advantage on the ground.

The Braves controlled the ball for more than 35 minutes and converted six of 11 third-down opportunities. They also scored on all four trips inside the red zone.

The game had been considerably tighter during the opening half.

UNC Pembroke struck first on a 37-yard field goal by Jared Navidad with 7:55 remaining in the first quarter. Chowan responded immediately, covering 75 yards in three plays before Adkins connected with Dezmond Randolph for a 39-yard touchdown and a 7-3 lead.

The Braves answered with an eight-play, 65-yard drive capped by Ehrlich's 13-yard touchdown pass to Malik Brown, reclaiming the lead at 10-7 late in the opening quarter.

Chowan moved back in front midway through the second period when Adkins found James Williams for a 25-yard touchdown. The five-play, 57-yard possession gave the Hawks a 14-10 advantage with 4:41 remaining before halftime.

UNC Pembroke responded with one of its most important drives of the afternoon.

Starting at its own 41, the Braves marched 59 yards in 11 plays, with Ehrlich finding Brown for an 8-yard touchdown on third down with just eight seconds remaining. The score gave UNC Pembroke a 17-14 halftime lead.

The Braves carried that momentum into the third quarter.

After receiving the second-half kickoff, UNC Pembroke needed only three plays to extend its advantage. Ehrlich connected with Jonathan Barnett for a 53-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 24-14 just 1:26 into the period.

Chowan refused to go away, answering with an eight-play, 75-yard possession capped by Alexander's touchdown reception. But the Hawks' offense would not reach the end zone again.

Ehrlich's dual-threat performance was the difference. His 136 rushing yards came on 20 carries, including the late 44-yard touchdown, while his three passing scores gave him at least four touchdowns accounted for in four consecutive games.

Brown finished with four receptions for 49 yards and two touchdowns, marking his third consecutive game with multiple touchdown catches. Barnett added three receptions for 69 yards and a score, while Davids contributed 33 rushing yards, 39 receiving yards and a touchdown.

For Chowan, Adkins completed 19 of 27 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

Randolph led the Hawks with five receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. Alexander added five catches for 62 yards and a score, while Williams finished with four receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown.

The Hawks struggled to establish a consistent rushing attack against UNC Pembroke's defensive front. Lane Roberts led Chowan with 38 yards on five carries, while Timothy Baker Jr. added 36 yards on eight attempts.

UNC Pembroke recorded four sacks and eight tackles for loss, with Fred Giles contributing 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. TaShawn Jeter and Jadin Baptist shared the team lead with seven tackles apiece.

Chowan's defense also produced several strong individual performances despite the loss. Cameron Richardson and Darian Whitaker each recorded nine tackles, while Tayshawn Benson finished with seven stops, four tackles for loss and two sacks.

The Braves' victory kept them firmly in the Conference Carolinas championship picture entering the final weeks of the regular season. UNC Pembroke has now won seven games for the second consecutive season while continuing its success at home.

The Braves will have a bye week before traveling to Ferrum on Nov. 7 for their regular-season finale.

Chowan, meanwhile, will look to rebound from its first conference defeat as the Hawks continue their pursuit of a strong finish to the season. 

WILSON – Jackson Parrish carried 39 times for 221 yards and three touchdowns as Barton outlasted Chowan 28-21 on Saturday afternoon at Truist Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina. The Bulldogs improved to 2-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play, while the Hawks fell to 2-5 and 1-2.

Parrish's workload defined the game. His 39 carries represented 85% of Barton's rushing attempts and nearly two-thirds of the team's total offensive plays. He scored from two yards out twice in the second quarter, added another two-yard touchdown run in the third, and capped the winning drive with a five-yard score with 2:14 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The running back's longest gain, a 46-yard burst in the third quarter, set up his third touchdown and gave Barton a 21-13 lead. That run came on second-and-5 from the Barton 37-yard line and put the Bulldogs at the Chowan 17. Three plays later, Parrish punched it in from two yards out at the 8:39 mark of the third quarter.

Chowan struck first when Maurice Smith scored on a 16-yard run with 12:12 left in the opening quarter, capping a five-play, 74-yard drive. The extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the Hawks with a 6-0 advantage. That lead held until the second quarter when Barton put together a 14-play, 96-yard drive that consumed 7:27 and ended with Al Lee's one-yard touchdown run at 9:20 of the second period.

The Hawks answered immediately. Operating out of a two-quarterback system, Chowan used passes from both Smith and Jaden Leonard on a five-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Leonard connected with Luke Krall for 66 yards to set up Smith's 15-yard touchdown pass to Dezmo Randolph. Jack Beylo's extra point gave Chowan a 13-7 lead with 5:38 remaining in the half.

Barton responded with another lengthy drive, this one covering 11 plays and 75 yards in 4:36. Parrish carried eight times on the possession, including the final two-yard touchdown run that put the Bulldogs ahead 14-13 at the 1:02 mark of the second quarter. Chowan drove into Barton territory in the final minute of the half, but Javon Wesley intercepted a pass from NyJal Johnson at the Barton 9-yard line to end the threat.

The third quarter belonged to Barton's ground game. After a three-and-out by Chowan to open the second half, Barton needed just five plays to extend its lead. Luke Smith's five-yard completion to Jaidan Lee on first down got the drive started, and Parrish handled the rest. His 46-yard run put the ball at the Chowan 17, and he added runs of 10, five, and two yards, the last for the touchdown that made it 21-13.

Chowan's offense stalled midway through the third quarter when the Hawks turned the ball over on downs at the Barton 32. The possession had shown promise after Johnson converted a fourth-and-1 with a 10-yard run by Dominic Haney, but three plays gained just seven yards and Johnson's fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

The Hawks finally broke through on their next possession, a 14-play, 99-yard drive that started at their own 1-yard line with 1:03 left in the third quarter. The drive spanned the quarter break and included two fourth-down conversions. A roughing the kicker penalty on Barton gave Chowan a first down on what would have been fourth-and-2 from their own 9-yard line. Later, a pass interference penalty on third-and-5 moved the ball from the Barton 35 to the 26.

Jalen Razor carried five times for 25 yards on the drive, and Johnson completed four passes for 57 yards, including a 31-yard connection with Randolph that moved the ball to the Barton 40. Smith entered the game and threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Maliqu Frazier at 8:38 of the fourth quarter. Smith then found Randolph for the two-point conversion that tied the game at 21.

Barton's winning drive covered 12 plays and 75 yards, taking 6:24 off the clock. Chowan committed four penalties on the possession, including three offside infractions that extended Barton drives. The first offside gave Barton a first down on third-and-4 from the Barton 31. Another offside on a fourth-down incomplete pass moved the ball from the Chowan 43 to the 38 and kept the drive alive. A personal foul penalty after a five-yard run by Parrish gave Barton first-and-goal from the 7-yard line.

Parrish's final touchdown came on first-and-goal from the 5-yard line after Al Lee's incomplete pass drew a roughing the passer penalty. Andrew Bontekoe's extra point made it 28-21 with 2:14 to play.

Chowan drove from its own 25 to the Barton 30 in the final two minutes, but the Hawks faced fourth-and-10 after three straight incomplete passes. Johnson hit Jakobe Lane for seven yards on fourth down, three yards short of the first down marker, and Barton ran out the final seven seconds.

The statistical breakdown showed two contrasting approaches. Chowan passed for 297 yards on 21-of-37 attempts with two touchdowns and one interception. Johnson completed 10 of 12 passes for 101 yards and both scores. Justin Taylor went 11-for-25 for 196 yards and the one interception. Smith, who started the game at quarterback, completed both passes he attempted for 107 yards but also rushed twice for 18 yards and both Chowan touchdowns.

Barton managed just 97 passing yards on 7-of-13 attempts, all from Lee (six completions on 12 attempts for 92 yards) and Smith (one-for-one for five yards). The Bulldogs rushed for 223 yards and four touchdowns, with Parrish accounting for 99% of that production.

Chowan gained 407 total yards to Barton's 320 but committed 12 penalties for 79 yards compared to Barton's three for 29. The Hawks converted seven of 14 third downs and two of four fourth downs. Barton went seven-for-11 on third down and did not face a fourth down until taking a knee to end the game.

Randolph led Chowan's receivers with five catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. Cam Richardson caught four passes for 56 yards. Kyle Horvath and Lane each had four receptions. Razor carried six times for 28 yards and caught two passes for 26 yards. Haney rushed twice for 10 yards and caught three passes for 29 yards.

Isaiah Jacobs paced Barton's receiving corps with three catches for 46 yards. Tiquez Mallette had one reception for 29 yards. On defense, Ja'Correy Bible recorded 10 solo tackles and 12 total for Barton. Keno Jones added eight tackles. Beylo led Chowan with 12 tackles, while Frazier had seven.

Top Performers

• Jackson Parrish, Barton: 39 rushes, 221 yards, 3 TDs (5.7 avg)
• NyJal Johnson, Chowan: 10-of-12 passing, 101 yards, 2 TDs; 4 rushes, 17 yards
• Dezmo Randolph, Chowan: 5 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD; 1 two-point conversion
• Ja'Correy Bible, Barton: 12 tackles, 1 QB hurry, 1 pass breakup

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