Chesapeake outscores Crusaders, 35-26

Published 12:00 am Sunday, November 3, 2002

STEUBENVILLE -- It was expected to be an offensive shootout and it was. Fortunately for the Chesapeake Panthers, they had a little more ammunition.

The Panthers used the running of Michael and Cody Hunt to rush past the Steubenville Catholic Fighting Crusaders 35-26 Saturday night in the Division V Region 19 quarterfinals.

Chesapeake, 8-3, will now play top-seeded and unbeaten Woodsfield Monroe at 7 p.m. next Saturday, possibly at Athens High School. Official playoff sites will be announced Sunday by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Email newsletter signup

Woodsfield Monroe routed Johnstown Northridge 36-0 Saturday.

Steubenville Catholic finishes the season at 8-3.

The Panthers rushed for 311 yards as Cody Hunt had 18 carries for 139 yards and two touchdowns while Michael Hunt ran 15 times for 112 yards and two scores. One of Michael Hunt's scores was 87-yard kickoff return.

While the Panthers had 311 total yards -- all on the ground -- the Crusaders racked up 449 total yards. However, Steubenville Catholic fumbled six times and lost three. Two of the fumbles set up Chesapeake scores and another stopped a scoring drive late in the half.

After a fumble recovery, Michael Hunt ran 49 yards for a touchdown as Chesapeake went up 7-0. Zach Waugh kicked the first of five conversions.

The Panthers went 84 yards in 13 plays on its next possession with Cody Hunt scoring on a 13-yard run and it was 14-0.

The Crusaders then went 73 yards in 12 plays capped by a 16-yard pass from Steve Spence to Ryan Baremes and it was 14-6.

But Michael Hunt returned the kickoff for a touchdown and it was 21-6.

Steubenville Catholic fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Andy Stapleton recovered at the 4-yard line. Two plays later Cody Hunt went 1-yard for the score and it was 28-6.

The Crusaders came back to get within 28-12 at the half on a 6-yard run by Josh Samples.

Catholic cut the deficit to 28-20 when Spence kept out of the shotgun formation on fourth-and-4 to score. He passed to Bartemes for the conversion.

A 67-yard pass play from Spence to Cory Weld sliced Chesapeake's lead to 28-26, but Cody Hunt broke two tackles and raced 58 yards to score with 5:55 to play as the Panthers went up 35-26.

Chesapeake141407--35

Steub. Catholic01286--26

First Quarter

Ch -- Michael Hunt 49 run (Zach Waugh kick)

Ch -- Cody Hunt 13 run (Zach Waugh kick)

Second Quarter

SC -- Ryan Baremes 16 pass from Steve Spence (kick failed)

Ch -- Michael Hunt 87 kickoff return (Zach Waugh kick)

Ch -- Cody Hunt 1 run (Zach Waugh kick)

SC -- Josh Samples 6 run (pass failed)

Third Quarter

SC -- Steve Spence 5 run (Ryan Bartemes pass from Steve Spence)

Fourth Quarter

SC -- Cory Weld 67 pass from Steve Spence (pass failed)

Ch -- Cody Hunt 58 run (Zach Waugh kick)

----------

ChSC

First downs1322

Rushes-yards50-31133-187

Passing yards0262

Total yards311449

Cmp-Att-Int0-0-013-25-0

Fumbles-lost2-06-3

Penalties-yards1-54-14

----------

Individual Leaders

RUSHING -- Chesapeake: Alvaro Jamie 12-54, Cody Hunt 18-139, Michael Hunt 15-112, Tyler Marcum 4-0, Andy Stapleton 1-1, Justin Finley 1-5. Steubenville Catholic: Josh Samples 19-133, Sean Creegan 8-45, Steve Spence 4-16, John Polverini 1-1, Cory Weld 1-minus 8.

PASSING -- Chesapeake: None. Steubenville Catholic: Steve Spence 13-25-0

262.

RECEIVING -- Chesapeake: None. Steubenville Catholic: Todd Pernick 2-13, Cory Weld 2-75, Ryan Bartemes 2-34, Pat McKitrick 4-82, Frank Luckino 1-12, Sean Creegan 2-46.