Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — Remembers the old first grade readers? Run David. Run, David, run. See David run. David runs and runs.

See the Panthers. See the Panthers run. Run, Panthers, run. The Panthers run and run.

Chesapeake had 427 total yards — all running — including 347 in the first half and the defense rose to the occasion as the Panthers beat the Fairland Dragons 34-26 Friday in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams.

“We played pretty good on both sides of the ball. Our defense did a great job and our defensive backs did really well,” said Clark.

“Our offensive line is getting better. We’ve had to patch some things together because of injuries, but they’re starting to play better and better each week.”

Fairland quarterback Chance Short was 15 of 35 passing for 229 yards and two touchdowns. However, he was intercepted twice the Dragons were held to 99 yards on the ground.

The Panthers attempted to throw just one pass, but it was wiped out by a penalty giving them officially no passing attempts.

Chesapeake (4-2, 1-0) forced a punt to start the game and then drove 74 yards in 10 plays capped by McComas’ 1-yard run. Wesley Stephens added the conversion.

Fairland (0-6, 0-1) answered with 3-yard keeper by quarterback Chance Short to get within 7-6, but the Panthers asserted themselves with three touchdowns in the second quarter to lead 27-6 at the break.

Bartrum had a pair of 10-yard touchdowns runs and then Smith broke loose on a 49-yard scamper for the big cushion.

“It was almost a complete game except we had an extra point blocked.

The Panthers needed the cushion and more in the fourth quarter when Fairland began to make a comeback.

Fairland recovered an onside kickoff to start the second half but the Panthers defense held.

“That defensive stand was big. It was a big reason we won the game. They’ve got a lot of weapons and formations. They’re a nightmare to prepare for,” said Clark.

The Dragons got a 1-yard scoring run from Colton Brumfield and Short hit Nathan Campbell on a 65-yard screen pass play for a touchdown that cut the deficit to 27-18.

But the Panthers answered the challenge with a clinching scoring drive capped by another 10-yard Bartrum touchdown run with 2:17 to play.

Fairland punched in a touchdown with 10 seconds to play on a 6-yard pass from Short to Dylan Murphy.

Brumfield finished with 58 yards rushing on 14 attempts. Campbell — playing his first game since an injury in week one — caught two passes for 106 yards and Murphy had 70 yards on seven receptions.

Fairland 6 0 0 20 = 26

Chesapeake 7 20 0 7 = 34

First Quarter

Ch — Casey McComas 1 run (Wesley Stephens kick)

Fa — Chance Short 3 run (kick failed)

Second Quarter

Ch — J.W. Bartrum 10 run (Wesley Stephens kick)

Ch — J.W. Bartrum 10 run (Wesley Stephens kick)

Ch — Nate Smith 49 run (kick blocked) 1:21

Fourth Quarter

Fa — Colton Brumfield 1 run (run failed)

Fa — Nathan Campbell 65 pass from Chance Short (run failed)

Ch — J.W. Bartrum 10 run (Wesley Stephens kick) 2:17

Fa — Dylan Murphy 6 pass from Chance Short (Short run) 0:10

——

Fa Ch

First downs 11 18

Rushes-yards 23-99 57-427

Passing yards 229 0

Total yards 328 427

Cmp-Att-Int 15-35-2 239 0-0-0

Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-1

Penalties-yards 13-82 7-55

Punts-average 2-32.5 1-30.0

Individual Leaders

RUSHING —Fairland: Colton Brumfield 14-58, Chance Short 4-8, Dylan Murphy 1-minus 3, Sidney Tucker 4-38; Chesapeake: Nate Smith 15-148, Casey McComas 20-122, Maccoy Brown 5-26, J.W. Bartrum 11-85, Cecil Fletcher 6-46.

PASSING — Fairland: Chance Short 15-34-2 239; Chesapeake: None.

RECEIVING — Fairland: Dylan Murphy 7-70, Colton Brumfield 2-30, Nathan Campbell 2-106, Ty Staten 2-19, Trace Adkins 1-9, Collin Damron 1-5; Chesapeake: None.