Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — The Chesapeake Panthers were determined to finish with a flourish.

After battling through injuries and inexperience all season, the Panthers used a strong second half to pull away to a 38-20 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Rock Hill Redmen on Saturday.

“It’s nice to go into the off-season with a win,” said Panthers’ coach Andy Clark. “It was a fun group to work with. They tried hard every day. The seniors as a whole persevered.”

The Panthers (2-8, 2-3) were able to get the win thanks to a strong running game and a big play in the kicking game.

Nate Smith ran 10 times for 152 yards and a touchdown and Chad Meadows had 94 yards on 15 attempts and a score as Chesapeake ran for 306 yards.

Quarterback Austin Oldaker added 32 yards on five attempts with two TDs and he also threw for 38 yards as the Panthers finished with 344 total yards.

Rock Hill (1-9, 1-4) also put together a strong running game with 288 yards on the ground.

Chance Blankenship carried 22 times for 156 yards and a touchdown to lead the Redmen. Jonah Cox had 90 yards on 16 rushes and a score. Gabe Marzicola finished with 31 yards and a touchdown.

Oldaker’s 9-yard scoring run with 4:39 left in the first quarter and Wesley Stephens’ conversion kick staked the Panthers to a 7-0 lead.

Rock Hill answered with a scoring drive capped by Blankenship’s 4-yard run with 9:12 left in the half and it was 7-6.

Chesapeake quickly opened up a 14-6 lead as Casey McComas returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown

But Marzicola’s scored on a 7-yard run with only 12 seconds on the clock and then threw to Cox on the conversion to tie the game at 14.

The Redmen came out the second half with a scoring drive to take a 20-14 lead. Cox ran the final yard for the touchdown at the 8:18 mark.

Chesapeake came right back as Smith ran 18 yards to culminated the scoring drive. Stephens’ kick put the Panthers up for good at 21-20.

Oldaker scored his second touchdown from 1-yard out with 4:10 on the clock and Meadows had his own 1-yard run just before the end of the quarter and the lead was 35-20.

Stephens capped the scoring with a 35-yard field goal with 5:44 to play in the game.

Rock Hill 0 14 6 0 = 20

Chesapeake 7 7 21 3 = 38

First Quarter

Ch — Austin Oldaker 9 run (Wesley Stephens kick) 4:39

Second Quarter

RH — Chance Blankenship 4 run (kick failed) 9:12

Ch — Casey McComas 90 kickoff return (Wesley Stephens kick) 8:59

RH — Gabe Marzicola 7 run (Jonah Cox pass from Gabe Marzicola) 0:12

Third Quarter

RH — Jonah Cox 1 run (Wesley Stephens kick) 8:18

Ch — Nate Smith 18 run (Wesley Stephens) 5:52

Ch — Austin Oldaker 1 run (Wesley Stephens kick) 4:10

Ch — Chad Meadows 1 run (Wesley Stephens kick) 0:08

Fourth Quarter

Ch — Wesley Stephens 35 field goal 5:44

——

RH Ch

First downs 16 14

Rushes-yards 46-288 37-306

Passing yards 13 38

Total yards 301 344

Cmp-Att-Int 1-10-1 3-6-0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-1

Penalties-yards 9-85 8-50

Punts-average 2-39.5 2-31.5

——

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Rock Hill: Chance Blankenship 22-156, Jonah Cox 16-90, Jordan Blagg 1-1, Drew McClaskey 1-10, Gabe Marzicola 6-31; Chesapeake: Chad Meadows 15-94, Maccoy Brown 7-28, Austin Oldaker 5-32, Nate Smith 10-152.

PASSING—Rock Hill: Gabe Marzicola 1-10-1 13; Chesapeake: Austin Oldaker 3-6-0 38.

RECEIVING—Rock Hill: Jordan Hairston 1-13; Chesapeake: Andrew Saunders 2-27, Chad Meadows 1-11.