CHESAPEAKE - With his team racked by injuries, all Phil Davis wanted for his Chesapeake Panthers was a chance.

They got it, and they took advantage of it.

Playing opportunistic football, the Panthers held off the Vinton County Vikings 20-12 Friday in a non-league game.

"It was a good win. Vinton County is a good team. We played hard and gave ourselves a chance to win," said Davis. "We took advantage of field when we got it. We made some mistakes, but the kids played hard and we blocked better. We're banged up. We challenged our guys. We talked to them about pride and responded and they played hard."

Vinton County was taking advantage of the situation early.

Wes Harkins rambled 88 yards to the 2-yard line where quarterback Chris Bethel scored and the Vikings led 6-0.

The Panthers put together a 75-yard, 12-play scoring drive in the second quarter capped by Cody Hunt's 8-yard run for the tying touchdown. Justin Finley pass to Dustin O'Brien for the conversion and an 8-6 lead with 3:38 to go in the half.

Three plays later, Tristin Clark recovered a fumble at the Vinton County 39. Hunt then gave Chesapeake a 14-6 lead with a 9-yard scoring run with 1:10 on the clock.

But Vinton County came right back on a 57-yard pass from Bethel to Josh Ousley and it was 14-12 with just 28 seconds left.

"We felt we were in good shape and had the momentum, and then we give up the long pass on fourth down. We covered them like a blanket except for the one play. But give them credit. Ousley got a step on us and made us pay," Davis said.

Chesapeake put an insurance touchdown on the board with 10:48 to play when Finley connected with Caleb Robbins on a 16-yard scoring pass. The conversion run failed.

Vinton County (3-2) had 307 total yards and the Panthers 254. But Davis wasn't concerned about the difference in statistics and praised the defense for holding Vinton County on downs at the 23 and 47 late in the fourth quarter.

"If you take away the 57 pass play and the 88-yard run, they didn't do a whole lot," said Davis. "Our guys stepped up and executed when they had to."

Hunt finished with 142 yards on 24 carries and Tristin Clark added 54 yards on 11 attempts.

Harkins ran eight times for 120 yards to lead the Vikings ground game. Bethel was 5 of 17 passing for 94 yards.

Chesapeake, 3-2, travels to River Valley next Friday to open Ohio Valley Conference play.

Vinton Co.6600-12

Chesapeake01406-20

First Quarter

VC - Chris Bethel 2 run (kick blocked)

8:04

Second Quarter

Ch - Cody Hunt 8 run (Dustin O'Brien pass from Justin Finley)

3:38

Ch - Cody Hunt 9 run (pass failed)

1:10

VC - Josh Ousley 57 pass from Chris Bethel (pass failed)

:28

Fourth Quarter

Ch - Caleb Robbins 16 pass from Justin Finley (run failed)

10:48

First downs:VC8,Ch13

Rushes-yards:VC40-213,Ch41-220

Passing yards:VC94,Ch34

Total yards:VC307,Ch254

Cmp-Att-Int:VC5-17-0,Ch3-5-0

Fumbles-lost:VC1-1,Ch1-1

Punts-average:VC1-28.0,Ch3-39.0

Penalties-yards:VC5-45,Ch2-10

Individual Leaders

RUSHING - Vinton County: Chris Bethel 13-23, Barney 6-29, Wes Harkins 8-120, Curtis Moore 12-45, Boyer 1-minus 4. Chesapeake: Cody Hunt 24-142, Jackson Caynor 5-24, Tristin Clark 11-54, Kersten Harris 1-3.

PASSING - Vinton County: Chris Bethel 5-17-0

94. Chesapeake: Justin Finley 3-5-0

34.

RECEIVING - Vinton County: Josh Ousley 1-57, Powell 3-7, Curtis Moore 1-22,. Chesapeake: Jackson Caynor 1-4, Cody Hunt 1-14, Caleb Robbins 1-16.