MURFREESBORO, N.C.— For the second week in a row, the Chowan University football team held on to a late lead to score its second victory of the season.

On Saturday, the Hawks notched a 30-27 win over Lincoln University (Pa). The win marked the first time since the 1999 season that Chowan has won back-to-back games.

Lincoln’s Laquan Williams put up big numbers for the Lions with 329 yards passing, but Chowan’s backup quarterback, Ryan Simpson, led the Hawks to two scores in the second half.

Chowan ran 84 plays for 275 total yards while the Lions put up 422 yards of total offense. Williams tossed four touchdowns for Lincoln. He had touchdown completions of 75, 71 and 63 yards and hit two receivers for more than 100 yards.

After trailing 13-10 at the half, Chowan’s Steven Carroll found an open Ryan Murphy for a 16-yard score to open the third quarter. Derek Embree made good on the point after to get on top of the Lions 16-13.

Williams hit Phillip Jean-Juste on the Lions’ next possession for a 71-yard score to take back the lead at 20-16. That’s when Simpson showed up big. Playing for an injured Carroll, he led Chowan to victory after hitting Robert Holland for touchdowns with 2:50 to play in the third quarter and at the 14:56 point of the fourth quarter.

Holland led Chowan’s receiving corps with seven catches and 68 yards. Carroll completed nine of 32 passes with two touchdowns and an interception.

Simpson completed 10 of 14 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Elliot Smalls ran 17 times for 61 yards. Smalls gained late-game rushing yardage that kept the Hawks’ drive alive in the fourth quarter and the ball out of the Lions’ hands.

Defensively Venel Hippolyte had five solo tackles and two tackles for a loss. Brad Cash had four tackles and a sack in the game.

For Lincoln, Matthew Coston reeled in nine passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns, and Jean-Juste finished up with 110 yards receiving on five catches.

Williams was 17 for 36 with 329 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Brucelee Sterile totaled a game-high 11 tackles, including eight solo tackles.

The Hawks improve to 2-4 overall and 2-1 in the CIAA. The Lions fall to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in league play. Chowan will travel to Saint Pauls College for a 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, kickoff in Lawrenceville.