Chowan leads D2 football in passing defense

Chowan’s football season is off to a rough start in the win-loss column, but the Hawks have shown promise on the defensive end.

Coming out of week three, Chowan leads the nation (all of NCAA Division II) in fewest passing yards allowed per game. The Hawks have surrendered just 103 yards through the air to Elizabeth City State and Barton.

That’s an average of 51.5 yards per game and is nearly 10 yards per game less than the No. 2 team on the list, Quincy (61.0) — and 21.5 yards less than the No. 3 team, defending national champion Harding (73.0).

Barton completed just four passes against Chowan on Saturday, netting 38 yards and no touchdowns. That’s the fewest yards allowed by a college team in our state so far this season.

Elizabeth City State went 8-for-15 through the air against the Hawks on Sept. 7, earning a mere 65 passing yards and, again, no touchdowns.

Chowan, which lost nailbiters to the Vikings and Bulldogs, also ranks 10th nationally in total defense this week, allowing 217.5 yards per contest.

North Carolina is well represented on the D2 passing defense leaderboard. Barton sits in sixth (92.0 ypg), Elizabeth City State in eighth (106.0 ypg) and Catawba in 10th (110.0 ypg).

Johnson C. Smith has the No. 8 rushing defense in Division II, giving up just 49.5 yards per game on the ground after three contests.

Elizabeth City State (2-1) is the single-game statistical champion thus far in terms of total defense. While the Vikings struggled to move the ball against Chowan on Sept. 7, their defense proved equally as stout — allowing the Hawks only 164 yards in a 12-9 triumph.