Chowan University played well at times in its 36-21 loss to Albany State. That was no consolation to head coach Tim Place, however.

“We did some good things, but we can’t be pleased with some good things,” he said in a post-game interview, referring to the team’s six turnovers. “When you beat yourself that’s tough. The sun will rise tomorrow and we have to get better.”

The Hawks will have the challenge this week of playing against Old Dominion University in the Monarch’s first football game in six decades.

Over 20,000 fans will be in the house and ODU is a Division I AA school. It will be a tough environment for sure.

“We can’t worry about ODU. We have to worry about ourselves,” Place said. “We don’t know anything about them. We are going into a hornets nest. It will be a neat experience and a neat environment. We can’t go up there and turn the ball over six times. It’s on us to get better this week and worry about ourselves.”

Eric Benton, who played football and basketball at Southampton High School, is starting at tight end for Chowan.

Give Southampton Academy credit for coming back to beat Hampton Christian Friday night. The team is playing with less than 20 players and many have to play both sides of the ball. After falling behind 10-0, the Raiders rallied to beat Hampton Christian 40-22. A victory in the first week has to be a big boost for this team that may be coming of age this year. Last year’s squad had very few seniors and a lot of sophomores.

Isle of Wight Academy looked sluggish in the first half in its 10-6 win over Bishop Sullivan Friday night. Several plays in the first half were slow to develop. The Chargers managed just 41 yards of offense in the first half and only 119 for the game. But like past years, IWA always seems to find a way to win.

Quarterback Daniel Brown did a better job of passing in the second half. Despite the rain, Brown went 5-for-7 for 74 yards.

IWA kicker Justin Vick is developing into a weapon himself. All of Vick’s kickoffs were touchbacks giving Bishop Sullian no return yards. Although he was slow on one punt, which he ended up running on, the other punt attempts put the Crusaders deep in their own territory.

In the second quarter, Vick’s punt pinned Bishop Sullivan back on its own 19. In the third quarter, he punted down to the Bishop Sullivan 25. The final punt of the game pushed the Crusaders back to the 19. In a low scoring game of field possession, punters suddenly become important.

Friday night’s game was only the second game under the lights for Bishop Sullivan. The team has rented lights, which run off generators.