WLLOW WOOD — Chesapeake coach Phil Davis knew what his team needed, and they got it.

Trailing 21-7 with less than eight minutes to play, the Panthers tied the game and then won 39-33 in triple overtime Friday to extend their winning streak to 20 straight over the Symmes Valley Vikings.

“When we were down 21-7, we knew we had to get a score and to have something good happen,” said Davis.

It did.

Symmes Valley picked up a couple of first downs and was trying to run the clock out when the Panthers caused a fumble and Colton Lindsey pounded on the ball.

The Panthers ran a pitch to Peter Hintz but the ball was fumbled. However, the ball bounced right back up into Hintz’s hands and he weaved his way through the defense breaking six tackles en route to a 34-yard scoring run.

Trent Saunders’ conversion kicked tied the game at 21-21 with just 1:10 left.

“That was huge,” said Davis. “I think when he fumbled it, their guys changed their pursuit angles and that allowed Hintz to get into the secondary.”

Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb said it was a tough loss, especially after it appeared his team had finally ended a 20-year losing streak.

“We did a lot of things right, but we had a couple of mistakes. The kids felt like they should have won. It’s frustrating,” said Webb.

Chesapeake got its first touchdown after a Vikings’ fumble. Hintz scored on a 3-yard run and it was 7-0.

The Vikings answered with a 59-yard, 11-play drive capped by Evan Herrell’s 9-yard run. The conversion kick was blocked and it was 7-6.

After a goal line stand, the Vikings went 97 yards in just three plays as Herrell broke loose on a 54-yard run. Cody Myers passed to Hunter Boggs for the conversion and a 14-7 lead.

A good punt return set up a 39-yard, 10-play march that finished on a 1-yard run by Myers. Tyler Easthom kicked the conversion for a 21-7 halftime lead.

Following a scoreless third quarter, Gabe Freyre went 3 yards to end a Chesapeake drive that covered 84 yards in 14 plays.

Next came the fumble and Hintz’s tying touchdown that forced overtime.

In the first overtime, Jacob Patterson ran 3 yards to give the Vikings a 27-21 lead. Chesapeake tied the game on a 7-yard run by Trey West.

Freyre ran 3 yards in the second overtime as the Panthers went up 33-27, but the Vikings used a halfback pass from Justin Payne to Myers that put the ball on the 1-yard line where Myers scored on the next play to tie the game.

In the third overtime, the Vikings had a third-and-1, but two 5-yard penalties pushed the ball back and the drive ended.

Chesapeake then won as Hintz scooted 14 yards for the touchdown.

“I was extremely proud of our kids’ effort,” said Webb. “There were a couple of times they had the lead in overtime and we could’ve folded, but we didn’t.”

Freyre led the Panthers with 144 yards on 21 carries and Hintz had 99 yards on 19 tries.

Bowen ran 12 times for 90 yards and Herrell had 11 carries for 88 yards.

“It was a great game. Both teams played hard,” said Davis. “The fans got their money’s worth.”

Chesapeake 7 0 0 14 6 6 6 = 39

Sym. Valley 6 15 0 0 6 6 0 = 33

First Quarter

Ch — Peter Hintz 3 run (Trent Saunders kick) 6:24

SV — Evan Herrell 9 run (kick blocked) 1:02

Second Quarter

SV — Evan Herrell 54 run (Hunter Boggs pass from Cody Myers) 9:53

SV — Cody Myers 1 run (Tyler Easthom kick) 1:50

Fourth Quarter

Ch — Gabe Freyre 3 run (Trent Saunders kick) 5:11

Ch — Peter Hintz 34 run (Trent Saunders kick) 1:10

First Overtime

SV — Jacob Patterson 3 run (kick failed)

Ch — Trey West 7 run (kick blocked)

Second Overtime

Ch — Gabe Freyre 3 run (kick failed)

SV — Cody Myers 1 run (kick failed)

Third Overtime

Ch — Peter Hintz 14 run (no attempt)

—————

Ch Sv

First downs 14 15

Rushes-yards 50-271 60-281

Passing yards 53 31

Total yards 324 312

Cmp-Att-Int 6-15-1 4-7-0

Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-2

Penalties-yards 4-20 8-74

Punts-average 3-29.3 4-28.2

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Chesapeake: Gabe Freyre 21-144, Peter Hintz 19-99, Trey West 6-41, Colton Lindsey 4-minus 13; Symmes Valley: Kyle Bowen 12-90, Justin Payne 4-6, Jacob Patterson 11-39, Evan Herrell 11-88, Tyler Easthom 8-21, Cody Myers 14-37.

PASSING—Chesapeake: Colton Lindsey 6-15-1 53; Symmes Valley: Cody Myers 3-6-0 17, Justin Payne 1-1-0 14.

RECEIVING—Chesapeake: Peter Hintz 2-28, Gabe Freyre 3-15, Jon Pinson 1-10: Symmes Valley: Cody Myers 1-14, Hunter Boggs 1-3, Tyler Easthom 1-8, Evan Herrell 1-6.