MURFREESBORO, N.C.—The Chowan University football team picked up its first win of season Saturday after beating Virginia Union University 35-34 in CIAA gridiron action. It was the Hawks’ first-ever televised event.

Chowan’s Robert Holland hauled in 11 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns.

The Hawks improve their overall record to 1-4 and their CIAA record to 1-1.

Chowan collected 345 yards of total offense  with 234 yards coming through the air. Chowan’s Steven Carroll came in for relief of starter Cameron Stover to throw for 183 yards on 19 completions.

Carroll also threw three of four touchdowns. Stover, still nursing a shoulder injury, left the game in the second quarter.

Virginia Union amassed 397 yards of offense with 215 of those coming on the ground. Washingon ended the day with 166 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown. Hickman passed for 182 yards and three touchdowns on 13 of 38 passes.

Holland and Stover got Chowan off to a 6-0 lead after hooking up for a 10-yard touchdown pass at the 7:06 mark of the first quarter.

Virginia Union answered late in the second quarter after Jerell Washington ran one from 39 yards out.

Chowan got a big play out of Tony Goodman when on the Hawks’ next possession he took a VUU punt 67 yards to paydirt with 41 seconds to play in the first half.

In the fourth quarter, the Panthers’ Andre Winston scored to cut the Chowan lead to 35-28 with 1:22 to play.

The Panthers made onside kick and came up with the ball. Hickman then guided his team down field 64 yards where he connected with Winson with 21 seconds to go in the game. Stephen Velasquez came in to attempt the tie with the extra point kick and missed it wide right.

Defensively for Chowan, Dekarion Desamme had a team-high eight tackles; seven of those were solo.

He also had a sack and a pass break up in the game. Marcus Johnson and Gatlin Williams each had seven tackles.

Anthony Hooks had his second consecutive game with two interceptions. He picked off two passes for 39 yards and had six tackles.

Chowan will host Lincoln University on Saturday, Oct. 9, for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.