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WILSON – Chowan turned the ball over three times in the opening quarter of the contest, allowing Barton to race out to a 14-0 lead and the Bulldogs went on to blank the Hawks, 41-0, in the 2023 season opener for both teams here Thursday night at Truist Stadium.

The Hawks struggled offensively throughout the game as Chowan mustered 129 total yards. Only 27 of those yards came on the ground. Chowan converted just one of 11 third downs.

Barton, meanwhile, rushed for 338 yards on 44 carries. That effort was led by Jordan Terrell’s 186 yards. Quarterback Jaquan Lynch passed for 99 yards and a touchdown and added 59 rushing yards and two scores. Both of Lynch’s rushing TDs came in the first quarter.

Barton increased their lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter thanks to another Chowan mistake when the Bulldogs defense recovered a fumble in the endzone.

Leading 24-0 at halftime, Barton slammed the door on any possible comeback by the Hawks by scoring 10 points in the third quarter on a field goal and a 14-yard TD pass from Lynch to Kameron Johnson.

Dwayne Smith and Jordan Brown registered double-digit tackles for Chowan. Smith tallied 11 tackles and one sack in the contest. Brown collected 10 tackles.

Rashad McKee collected 102 yards in the air and 12 yards on the ground to lead the Hawks offensively. Divon Woods also had12 yards rushing.

Ireal Hills, a freshman from Edenton-Holmes High School, caught four passes for 25 yards to lead the Chowan receivers.

The loss marks the first time since Sep. 20, 2014 (a 59-0 defeat against North Carolina A&T) that the Hawks were shutout.

Chowan heads home to host nationally-ranked Delta State in the Gulf South Conference opener on Sept. 9. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m. at James G. Garrison Stadium in Murfreesboro.