September 16, 2006
Monarchs Earn First Win of 2006 Against Chowan
Mike Hill rushes for 141 yards and 3 touchdowns

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-  It took a few possessions for Methodist to work out the kinks, but with 2:31 remaining in the first quarter, the Joseph Matthews made a 9 yard run for the first touchdown of the game and the Monarchs never looked back winning 31-7 against the Chowan Hawks.  Methodist improves to 1-1 while Chowan falls to 0-3.

Sophomore Antonio Bartee started at quarterback again for the Monarchs and finished 8 for 10 for 92 yards with only one interception.  Senior Chuck Howard led the receivers with 51 yards while Mike Hill kept the running game going with 141 yards and three touchdowns.

With the Monarchs up 7-0, senior George Sands made a 14 yard punt return to the Chowan 46 yard line.  Hill rushed for 29 yards before the quarter ended, but Methodist came back in the second quarter and finished things off with a 2 yard gain by R.J. Lassiter, a pass from Bartee to Howard and a 7yard touchdown run by Hill.  Chowan tried to create their own offense but the ball went back to Methodist soon enough and Joseph Matthews led another charge down the field before Bartee completed a 7 yard pass to junior Jonathan Mularski to set up a 24 yard field goal for Patrick Larkin.  The kick was good increasing the Monarchs lead, 17-0.

On the next Chowan possession, Tremaine Snead recovered a fumble by Hawk quarterback Randy Gilbert.  The half ended without either team scoring again to leave it Methodist 17-0.  With less than three minutes into the third quarter, Bartee made a big run for 30 yards setting up the offense on the Chowan 36 yard line.  A pass to Clarence Baker and two runs by Hill creates another Methodist touchdown.

Chowan received the kickoff from Patrick Larkin and ran 15 plays for 78 yards gaining ground to reach the Methodist 2 yard line before Sam Williams pass was intercepted by Mitchell Collier in the endzone.  Methodist could not get past their own 21 yard line before punting back to Chowan, but Williams was intercepted again by Greg Nelson.  The quarter ended with Methodist leading 24-0.

The fourth quarter started with Chowan on the Methodist 1 yard line for quarterback Sam Williams to run the ball in for the only Chowan touchdown of the game.  The final quarter moved much more slowly as the play became more sloppy.  The Monarchs did finish off another touchdown after four runs by Hill and some help from a Chowan penalty to end the game with Methodist defeating Chowan 31-7.

Larkin went 1 for 3 in field goals while completing all four point-after attempts.  Senior Chris Gauntlett led the defense with 10 tackles while Blake Farrell and Antwin Shuford were close behind with 9 a piece.  Farrell and John Northern also each registered one sack.

Chowan quarterbacks Sam Williams and Randy Gilbert combined to finish 14 for 26 for 217 yards passing and 2 interceptions.  Jack Ross led the running game with 60 yards.

The Monarchs will travel to North Carolina Wesleyan next Saturday to face the Bishops at 1 pm.