WILLOW WOOD — The Chesapeake Panthers were without some key players, but they weren’t without some help.

Despite missing two starters and losing their best lineman early, the Panthers used four key turnovers to help fuel a 34-6 victory over the Symmes Valley Vikings Friday night.

Missing was running back Aaron Ross while guard Eric Ross was limited to playing sparingly on offense. Two-way tackle and top lineman Brad Wiley became ill in the first quarter and left the game. He did not return.

“We played pretty good even though we played without a lot of people,” said Panthers coach Phil Davis.

“(Quarterback Aaron) Donahoe did a good job running the offense and running the option, and (Drew) Blake made some big plays receiving.”

The Vikings (1-2) were victimized by three interceptions and two lost fumbles.

“We played well at times and we didn’t play well at times and they took advantage of it. And we had four big turnovers,” said Vikings coach Rusty Webb.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Chesapeake, but we shot ourselves in the foot too many times.”

Chesapeake (1-2) drove for the game’s first score, an 8-yard pass from Aaron Donahoe to Clinton Baise and it was 6-0.

Heath Hazlett then intercepted a Vikings’ pass to set up a 37-yard scoring strike from Donahoe to Drew Blake. Alex Wells ran for the conversion to make it 14-0.

Chesapeake recovered a fumble at midfield to set up a 19-yard touchdown pass to Drew Blake with 6:55 left in the half.

Another fumble recovery set up a 29-yard, 7-play drive capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by Wells and it was 26-0 at the break.

Neither team scored in the third quarter.

Symmes Valley got a break of its own on a muff punt snap set up a 22-yard, 4-play drive. Chris Capper ran the final yard and it was 26-6.

Chesapeake scored with 2:39 to play on a 13-yard run by Drew Brock. Peter Hintz ran for the conversion.

“We didn’t play that well the second half. It’s hard to keep your intensity,” said Davis. “We didn’t execute well in our passing game. We should have had some more completions.”

While Davis wasn’t happy with his team’s second half effort, Webb was encouraged by the play of his young team.

“I’m proud of my kids’ effort in the second half. We played a good first quarter until there was under a minute to play. They got on us real quick and got us out of our game plan,” said Webb. “I thought our defense played well.”

Chesapeake capped the scoring on a 13-yard run by Drew Brock. Peter Hintz ran for the conversion.

Hazlett and Aaron Allen had interceptions for the Panthers who have won 17 straight in the series.

Chesapeake141208=34

Symmes Valley0006=6

First Quarter

Ch — Clinton Baise 8 pass from Aaron Donahoe (pass failed) 0:47

Ch — Drew Blake 37 pass from Donahoe (Alex Wells run) 0:29

Second Quarter

Ch — Blake 19 pass from Donahoe (run failed) 6:55

Ch — Wells 4 run (pass failed) 2:07 fumble at the 29 7 plays

Fourth Quarter

SV — Chris Capper 1 run (run failed) 7:24 muffed snap on a punt got ball at 22 4 plays

Ch — Drew Brock 13 run (Peter Hintz run) 2:39

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ChSV

First downs176

Rushes-yards40-20033-96

Passing yards5823

Total yards258119

Cmp-Att-Int4-16-04-13-2

Fumbles-lost1-13-3

Penalties-yards7-362-27

Punts-average3-33.34-27.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Chesapeake: Aaron Donahoe 9-48, Alex Wells 13-69, Aaron Allen 5-46, Drew Blake 5-12, Peter Hintz 2-3, team 1-minus 12, Trey West 1-15, Drew Brock 1-13; Symmes Valley: Chris Capper 10-32, Hunter Boggs 5-30, Kyle Bowen 4-10, Evan Herrell 5-6, Jacob Patterson 2-2, Gage Patterson 3-11, Jesse Graybeal 1-0, C.J. Blankenship 2-4, Nathan Dockery 1-1.

PASSING—Chesapeake: Aaron Donahoe 4-16-0 58; Symmes Valley: Chris Capper 4-13-2 23.

RECEIVING—Chesapeake: Clinton Baise 1-8, Drew Blake 2-56, Aaron Allen 1-minus 6; Symmes Valley: Kyle Bowen 1-23, Jesse Graybeal 2-4, Hunter Boggs 1-minus 4.