CHESAPEAKE — It’s what’s up front that counts.

For the Chesapeake Panthers, the offensive line was the difference as they rolled up 374 yards on the ground en route to a 45-7 rout of the River Valley Raiders Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Chesapeake coach Phil Davis pointed toward the play of the offensive line comprised of center Taylor Banaei, guards T.J. McCoy and Cody Mann, tackles Richard McFarland and Brad Pike, and ends Jacob Wells, Jon Pinson, Tommy Noble and Brandon Noble as the key to the ground game.

“Our kids played pretty well. Our front line did a really good job and that makes it easier running the ball,” said Davis. “And our kids ran hard.”

Leading the running game was Patrick Hintz who carried just seven times for 157 yards and scored. Hintz also had a 70-yard kickoff return to set up a score.

Trey West ran 11 times for 55 yards including two touchdowns while Dylan Nichols added 53 yards on seven attempts and two TDs.

The Panthers went up 6-0 midway through the first quarter on a 10-yard run by Hintz. After a quick three-and-out, the Panthers got the ball back and West ran 7 yards for a score and Austin McMaster threw to Jon Pinson for the conversion and a 14-0 lead.

After forcing another three-and-out, Nichols ran 4 yards for a touchdown two minutes later and it was 20-0.

Hintz broke free on a 55-yard scoring run early in the second quarter and it was 26-0.

McMaster was only 1-of-2 passing, but the completion was a 4-yard scoring strike to Brandon Noble and it was 32-0 with just under five minutes left in the half.

The Raiders fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Panthers recovered to set up a 25-yard scoring run by Nichols. Tommy Noble kicked the point after and it was 39-0 at the half.

Hintz returned the second half kickoff 80 yards to the Raiders 5-yard line where West scored to make it 45-0.

River Valley (1-6, 0-2) avoided the shut out on a 6-yard touchdown run by Kyle Brown with 11:53 to play.

The Panthers’ defense limited River Valley to 151 total yards.

Chesapeake (2-5, 2-0) will face rival Fairland next week with a share of first place on the line.

River Valley 0 0 0 7 = 7

Chesapeake 20 19 6 0 = 45

First Quarter

Ch — Patrick Hintz 10 run (kick failed) 7:53

Ch — Trey West 7 run (Jon Pinson pass from Austin McMaster) 5:51

Ch — Dylan Nichols 4 run (kick failed) 3:41

Second Quarter

Ch — Patrick Hintz 55 run (kick failed) 10:46

Ch — Brandon Noble 4 pass from Austin McMaster (kick failed) 4:58

Ch — Dylan Nichols 25 run (Tommy Noble kick) 3:29

Third Quarter

Ch — Trey West 5 run (kick failed) 10:58

Fourth Quarter

RV — Kyle Brown 6 run (run failed) 11:53

RV Ch

First downs 8 14

Rushes-yards 24-131 42-374

Passing yards 20 4

Total yards 151 378

Cmp-Att-Int 2-9-2 1-2-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0

Punts-average 4-30.0 1-52.0

Penalties-yards 3-25 2-30

Individual Leaders

RUSHING-River Valley: Kyle Brown 14-116, Patrick Williams 2-0, Jacob Hefner 3-9, Austin Smith 3-minus 1, John Campbell 2-15; Chesapeake: Patrick Hintz 7-159, Trey West 11-55, Austin McMaster 1-7, Dylan Nichols 7-53, Nate Jones 3-38, Chad Meadows 2-3, Alex Workman 5-23, Josh Browning 3-39, Cody Conrad 3-5.

PASSING-River Valley: Jacob Hefner 2-9-2 20; Chesapeake: Austin McMaster 1-2-0 4.

RECEIVING-River Valley: Trey Noble 2-20; Chesapeake: Brandon Noble 1-4.