Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — Just when Chesapeake Panthers’ coach Andy Clark doesn’t think it could get worse, it does.
The Panthers lost fullback and linebacker Logan Walsh with a broken wrist during the game that added to other players already on the injury list.
The injuries combined with the lack of depth and experience were too much to overcome as the Panthers lost 55-20 to the Gallipolis Blue Devils on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
“We played well early. Their depth is what hurt us. We got tired and they just replaced their tired guys with other guys. When you’re tired, you don’t execute well,” said Clark.
‘We had three freshmen on our offensive line. We still moved the ball, but the injury bug has hurt us.”
Gallipolis (3-1, 1-0) took an 8-0 lead on a 7-yard run by Jacob Campbell who added the conversion run as well.
Chesapeake (2-2, 0-1) cut the deficit to 8-7 with 6:13 on the clock when Carson Nida bolted 58 yards for a touchdown and Brady Wilson’s conversion kick.
The Blue Devils came back with a 17-yard scoring run by Boo Pullins and it was 14-7 at the 5:15 mark.
Gallipolis quarterback Justin McClelland ran 11 yards on a keeper and Andrew Toler’s conversion kick put the lead at 21-7 with 10:30 left in the half.
Chesapeake cut the spread to 28-14 when quarterback Austin Browning ran 3 yards for a score at the 5:46 mark. Wilson added the conversion.
James Armstrong ran 65 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second half as Gallipolis extended its lead to 35-14.
Pullins added a 32-yard touchdown run and the lead grew to 42-14.
The Panthers answered with an 8-yard touchdown run by Will Todd to cut the deficit to 42-20.
But McClelland’s touchdown run boosted the spread to 48-20.
The reserves units finished the game and the Blue Devils’ Briar Williams ran 18 yards for a touchdown with 1:45 to play and Toler’s kick set the final score.
Gallipolis racked up 538 total yards including 434 on the ground.
McClelland had 96 yards on 12 carries, Campbell 87 yards on five attempts, Pullins 85 yards on 11 rushes and Armstrong 82 yards on just three tries.
McClelland was 8-of-14 passing for 104 yards.
The Panthers had a big offensive game with 341 totals yards including 285 on the ground.
Browning rushed 12 times for 83 yards, Kamren Harless had 71 yards on six carries and Nida 61 yards on nine attempts.
Browning was 3-of-11 passing for 56 yards.
Next Friday in league games, Chesapeake hosts Coal Grove and Gallipolis visits Portsmouth.
Gallipolis 14 14 20 7 = 55
Chesapeake 7 7 6 0 = 20
First Quarter
Ga — Jacob Campbell 7 run (Campbell run) 7:09
Ch — Carson Nida 58 run (Brady Wilson kick) 6:13
Ga — Boo Pullins 17 run (run failed) 5:15
Second Quarter
Ga — Justin McClelland 11 (Andrew Toler kick) 10:30
Ch — Austin Browning 3 run (Brady Wilson kick) 5:46
Third Quarter
Ga — James Armstrong 65 run (Andrew Toler kick) 11:41
Ga — Boo Pullins 32 run (Andrew Toler kick) 9:25
Ch — Will Todd 8 run (kick failed) 6:03
Ga — Justin McClelland run (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
Ga — Briar Williams 18 run (Andrew Toler kick) 1:45
——
Ga Ch
First downs 15 10
Rushes-yards 42-434 37-285
Passing yards 104 56
Total yards 538 341
Cmp-Att-Int 8-14-0 3-11-0
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1
Penalties-yards 4-45 4-20
Punts-average 2-42.0 5-21.0
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Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Gallipolis: Boo Pullins 11-85, Justin McClelland 12-96, Michael Beasy 7-45, Jacob Campbell 5-87, James Armstrong 3-82, Daneuvyn Woodson 2-9, Cory Call 1-12, Briar Williams 1-18; Chesapeake: Austin Browning 12-83, Carson Nida 9-61, Will Todd 5-32, Kamren Harless 6-71, Donald Richendollar 1-30, Tyler Eddy 4-8.
PASSING — Gallipolis: Justin McClelland 8-14-0 104; Chesapeake: Austin Browning 3-11-0 56.
RECEIVING — Gallipolis: James Armstrong 3-39, Cory Call 4-38, Cade Roberts 1-27; Chesapeake: Tylan Hutchison 2-36, Eli Archer 1-20.