Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — Casey who?

Last season’s Division VI Southeast District Offensive Player of the Year was Chesapeake quarterback Casey McComas.

Graduation claimed McComas from the Panthers’ offense but you’ll never convince the Alexander Spartans that he’s missed.

Junior quarterback Austin Browning has more than filled McComas’ shoes the first couple of games this season including his performance Friday when the Panthers blanked the Spartans 40-0.

Austin Browning ran nine times for 127 yards and two touchdowns and was 2-of-3 passing for 32 yards. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

“He had a big game for us. We won’t be able to keep him a secret anymore,” said Panthers’ coach Andy Clark.

The Panthers (2-0) amassed 387 yards rushing and 419 total yards. Tyler Eddy had 73 yards and a touchdown on eight tries while Kamren Harless ran five times for 69 yards.

The Panthers were coming off a 28-21 win last week over Oak Hill in a game that saw them turn the ball over three times.

“We played better and we executed better,” said Clark. “Our young kids are getting better.”

Browning got the Panthers on the scoreboard quickly with a 76-yard scoring run with 5:47 left in the first quarter. Dalton Nida kicked the conversion.

Eddy had a 4-yard scoring run on the first play of the second quarter and it was 14-0.

Alexander snapped the ball out of the end zone on a punt attempt for a safety and it was 16-0.

The Panthers had a drive stall when they fumbled the ball at the 7-yard line but recovered to set up Nida’s 25-yard field goal.

The Panthers stopped the Spartans at the 30-yard line on a fake punt with time running out in the half.

Chesapeake took advantage of it as Browning scored on a 9-yard run with just 15 seconds left in the

Browning then returned the second half kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown and it was 33-0.

The reserves took over and Donald Richendollar ran 70 yards with 16 seconds left to cap the scoring.

Chesapeake’s defense held the Spartans to only 127 total yards including 31 on the ground on 30 carries.

The Panthers visit Symmes Valley on Friday.

Alexander        0          0          0          0          =          0

Chesapeake     7          19        7          7          =          40

First Quarter

Ch — Austin Browning 76 run (Dalton Nida kick) 5:47

Second Quarter

Ch — Tyler Eddy 4 run (Dalton Nida kick) 11:56

Ch — Safety (ball snapped out end zone) 7:49

Ch — Dalton Nida 25 field goal 1:29

Ch — Austin Browning 9 run (Dalton Nida kick) 0:15

Third Quarter

Ch — Austin Browning 82 kickoff return (Dalton Nida kick) 11:42

Fourth Quarter

Ch — Donald Richendollar 70 run (Dalton Nida kick) 0:16

——

Alx      Ch

First downs     7          12

Rushes-yards  30-31   32-387

Passing yards  96        32

Total yards      127      419

Cmp-Att-Int    6-11-0 2-3-0

Fumbles-lost   0-0       2-1

Penalties-yards            2-10     4-33

Punts-average  2-37.5  0-00.0

——

Individual Leaders

RUSHING — Alexander: Kaleb Easley 10-2, Connor Kimbrough 7-10, Ethan Howes 10-27, Ryan Marks 1-16, Luke Chapman 1-minus 6, team 1-minus 18; Chesapeake: Austin Browning 9-127, Tyler Eddy 8-73, Kamren Harless 5-69, Kelton Jones 3-7, Carson Nida 3-21, Jacob Moore 1-3, Will Todd 1-2, Josh Ramey 1-5, Donald Richendollar 1-70.

PASSING — Alexander: Kaleb Easley 6-11-0 96; Chesapeake: Austin Browning 2-3-0 32.

RECEIVING — Alexander: Chase Siefert 3-39, Connor Kimbrough 3-57; Chesapeake: Jamey Mills 1-23, Jake Stevens 1-9.