By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

CHESAPEAKE — Coach Andy Clark knew a game of “keep away” would help the Chesapeake Panthers win a game of football.

The Panthers turned to ball control and ran 62 plays to 46 for the Redmen as they picked up a 40-12 Ohio Valley Conference win on Friday.

“Rock Hill has a good offense. They moved the ball. But we were able to run the ball and control the clock and keep it out of their hands. That was the key,” said Clark.

Chesapeake (4-2, 1-0) ran the ball 55 times for 391 yards led by Brandon Noble and Patrick Hintz who each went over the century mark.

Noble ran 13 times for 120 yards and a touchdown while Hintz ran 12 times for 102 yards and two scores.

Noble also had two interceptions on defense.

Clark said there was no secret why the Panthers were able to run the ball so well.

“Our offensive line did a good job blocking from snap to whistle which we haven’t been getting the last few games. And the backs blocked as well as they have all year,” said Clark.

While Chesapeake racked up 425 yards of offense, the Redmen had nearly 300 of their own including 234 on the ground. Jared Bruce ran nine times for 105 yards while quarterback Will McCollister ran for 56 yards and threw for another 56.

Chesapeake scored early on a 9-yard run by Nick Jones to lead 6-0, but Rock Hill answered less than a minute later as Bruce got loose on a 74-yard jaunt to tie the game.

The Panthers came back with a 49-yard, 4-play drive that ended on a 1-yard run by Austin McMaster and it was 12-6.

Noble came up with the first of his interceptions one Rock Hill’s next series to set up his own 5-yard touchdown run. McMaster ran for the conversion and the Panthers were up 20-6 at the 6:01 mark.

Rock Hill (1-5, 0-1) didn’t let up. The Redmen drove to the Panthers’ 4-yard line before the drive stalled.

Chesapeake then showed real ball-control with a 12-play, 96-yard scoring drive that culminated with an 11-yard run by Hintz with 7:01 left in the half.

“That was a key drive. It helped us out defensively by keeping the ball away from them,” said Clark.

The Panthers weren’t finished, though. The ended the half with a 3-yard TD run by Dylan Nichols with just 1:44 on the clock and it was 33-6 at the break.

“I knew (Rock Hill) would come out ready to play like that. They came out after halftime, too. They moved the ball on us, but offensively we executed well,” said Clark.

Rock Hill did come out in the second half and score on a 5-yard run by Jesse Lane to make it 33-12.

But the Panthers put the game away with a scoring drive that ended on a 6-yard run by Hintz on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Rock Hill 6 0 6 0 = 12

Chesapeake 20 13 0 7 = 40

First Quarter

Ch – Nick Jones 9 run (kick failed) 9:23

RH – Jared Bruce 74 run (run failed) 8:32

Ch – Austin McMaster 1 run (kick failed) 6:52

Ch – Brandon Noble 5 run (McMaster run) 6:01

Second Quarter

Ch – Patrick Hintz 11 run (Jacob Wells kick) 7:01 12-96

Ch – Dylan Nichols 3 run (kick failed) 1:44

Third Quarter

RH – Jesse Lane 5 run (pass failed) 2:59

Fourth Quarter

Ch – Patrick Hintz 6 run (Jacob Wells kick) 11:54

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RH Ch

First downs 9 23

Rushes-yards 33-234 55-391

Passing yards 56 34

Total yards 290 425

Cmp-Att-Int 6-13-3 5-7-0

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 5-50 9-85

Punts-average 2-42.0 2-44.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Rock Hill: Jared Bruce 9-105, Will McCollister 6-56, Jesse Lane 16-49, Jacob Malone 1-24, Trey Wilds 1-0; Chesapeake: Brandon Noble 13-120, Patrick Hintz 12-102, Austin McMaster 8-39, Nate Jones 7-45, Dylan Nichols 4-29, Chad Meadows 4-34, Jacob Collins 3-15, Josh Browning 4-7.

PASSING–Rock Hill: Will McCollister 6-12-2 56, Jonah Cox 0-1-1; Chesapeake: Austin McMaster 5-7-0 34.

RECEIVING–Rock Hill: Chris Clemente 1-30, Trey Wilds 4-23, Steven Moore 1-3; Chesapeake: Tommy Noble 2-27, Javon Thompson 1-10, Patrick Hintz 1-9, Brandon Noble 1-minus 12.