The first week of the season the Chesapeake Panthers looked to fullback Jeremy Estep.

Saturday, September 11, 1999

The first week of the season the Chesapeake Panthers looked to fullback Jeremy Estep. Last week it was running back Chris Dillon. And this week? Josh Waugh.

Waugh carried seven times for 127 yards and caught one pass for 10 yards and the Panthers exploded for 27 third quarter points in a 40-8 win over the Symmes Valley Vikings Friday in a battle of unbeatens.

Chesapeake, 3-0, led just 7-0 at the half. But a 62-yard touchdown run by Waugh made it 13-0, and then a fumble and blocked punt set up two quick scores the the game quickly turned into a rout.

"I kind of expected to get the ball," said Waugh. "Estep did it the first game and Dillon last week, so I thought they were concentrating on them to run the ball. I proved them wrong."

Chesapeake coach Phil Davis praised not only Waugh but the defensive unit as well.

"Josh Waugh stepped up and did a great job," said Davis. "Number one, we felt they were vulnerable to the back side, and our fullback and wideouts kill people (blocking). Our foot speed killed them."

Symmes Valley, 2-1, stopped the Panthers on the first series of the game, then ran 13 plays as they drove from their own 11-yard line to Chesapeake 17. But four plays resulted in a loss of 10 yards.

"The defense bowed their necks and played tough. We didn’t make any changes, they (the players) just started doing what they’re supposed to do," said Davis.

Chesapeake began a march to the Vikings 18, but Anthony Owens got an interception with 19 seconds on the clock to snuff out the drive.

The Vikings started driving again, but a fumble at the 43 was recovered by the Panthers Jason Adkins on the Symmes Valley 41 turned the momentum.

Waugh ran 31 yards on second and 10 to the Vikings 10, and two plays later quarterback Andy Clark hit Robbie Isaacs in the end zone for the touchdown. Isaacs added the conversion and it was 7-0 with 7:20 left in the half.

After the score, Symmes Valley went back to work and marched from their own 24 to the Panthers 14. Three plays netted 5 yards, but a fourth down run by fullback Adam Niece just came up short of a first down.

The failed scoring chances led Vikings coach Herb Conley pointing a finger at himself. The Vikings ran 39 plays the first half to only 19 for the Panthers.

"To be honest, I did a poor job coaching our kids," said Conley. "The players’ job is to move between the 20s, and it’s the coach’s job to help get it in (the end zone). I take the blame for this loss."

The third quarter became a disaster for the Vikings as the Panthers scored in lightning quick fashion.

Following a Viking punt, Chesapeake scored three plays later on a 62-yard run by Waugh who cut back at the 30 and ran into the end zone.

"I knew I was going to make it after that cut," said Waugh. "This was a big game. We have a three-game road spell and that’s one. It was a big one for us."

Estep blocked a punt on the Vikings next possession and the Panthers recovered the ball at the 6-yard line. Waugh scored on the first play and it was 13-0.

Symmes Valley quarterback Noah Henson was hurt on the next series and the Vikings promptly fumbled the ball. Chesapeake’s Doug Wiley recovered at the Vikings 24 and the Panthers were licking their lips.

A 20-yard pass to Isaacs set up Dillon’s 4-yard scoring run at the 5:42 mark. Clark passed to Waugh for the conversion and it was 27-0.

Henson returned and threw 33 yards to Jeremy Copley and 26 more to Brad Carpenter to set up Carpenter’s 2-yard scoring run. Henson hit Copley for the conversion and it was 27-8.

But it took the Panthers only five plays to answer as Clark kept for 22 yards and the touchdown to build a 34-8 lead.

"They are quicker than we are and they were quicker than I thought," said Conley. "This kind of mushroomed and got out of hand and got ugly. We just have to do a better job next time."

Clark passed 35 yards to Isaacs with 9:52 left to cap the scoring.

Carpenter finished with 90 yards on 16 carries and Henson finished 4 of 12 for 90 yards. Clark was 6 of 10 for 101 yards.

Chesapeake 0 7 27 6 – 40

Symmes Valley 0 0 8 0 – 8

Second Quarter

Ch – Robbie Isaacs 20 pass from Andy Clark (Robbie Isaacs kick) 7:20

Third Quarter

Ch – Josh Waugh 62 run (kick failed) 8:45

Ch – Josh Waugh 6 run (pass failed) 6:41

Ch – Chris Dillon 4 run (Josh Waugh pass from Andy Clark) 5:42

SV – Brad Carpenter 2 run (Jeremy Copley from Noah Henson) 4:48

Ch – Andy Clark 22 run (Robbie Isaacs kick) 2:42

Fourth Quarter

Ch – Robbie Isaacs 35 pass from Andy Clark (kick blocked) 9:52

Ch SV

First downs 18 16

Rushing yards 33-248 56-196

Passing yards 109 106

Total yards 357 302

Passes 7-11-1 5-14-1

Fumbles-lost 3-0 2-2

Penalties-yards 4-30 4-50

Punts-average 3-35.3 4-20.3

Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Chesapeake: Jeremy Estep 8-48, Chris Dillon 4-37, Andy Clark 3-19, Josh Waugh 7-127, Zeb Best 4-19, Jason Brammer 2-minus 1, Jason Adkins 1-minus 1, Tommy Hill 1-1, Marc Bracy 1-3, Matt McDonald 1-0, Brad Smith 1-minus 4. Symmes Valley: Brad Carpenter 16-90, Adam Niece 13-62, Jarod Leffingwell 4-1, Noah Henson 13-15, Chris Lafon 3-0, Joseph Patterson 2-11, Brandon Lafon 2-6, Michael Roth 3-11.

PASSING – Chesapeake: Andy Clark 6-10-1 101, Josh Waugh 1-1-0 8. Symmes Valley: Noah Henson 4-12-1 90, Brad Carpenter 1-1-0 16, Chris Lafon 0-1-0.

RECEIVING – Chesapeake: Robbie Isaacs 5-85, Josh Waugh 1-16, Chris Dillon 1-8. Symmes Valley: Jarod Leffingwell 2-31, Jeremy Copley 1-33, Brad Carpenter 1-26, Noah Henson 1-16.