Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — In a battle for the Little Brown Jug, the Chesapeake Panthers found themselves hoisting the victory cup.
Chesapeake rallied from a 14-point deficit early in the third quarter to beat the Coal Grove Hornets 35-28 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
Chesapeake (3-2, 1-1) took a 7-0 lead with 6:56 left in the first quarter on a 2-yard run by Will Todd. Brady Wilson kicked the first of five extra points.
Coal Grove (3-2, 1-1) tied the game three minutes into the second quarter on a 24-yard run by Austin Stapleton. The conversion kick failed.
Stapleton gave the Hornets their first lead of the game as he burst through the defense for a 45-yard scoring run. Nate Harmon ran for the conversion and it was 14-7.
But the momentum quickly swung back to Chesapeake as Kamren Harless returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and the game was tied with 4:17 to go in the half.
But Stapleton put the Hornets back in front with a 48-yard scoring gallop and it was 20-14 with two minutes on the clock.
Stapleton finished the game with 144 yards on just eight carries and three touchdowns.
The Hornets rushed 25 times for 302 yards but did not complete either of their two passes.
Harmon — the Hornets’ quarterback — ran a keeper 57 yards for a touchdown less than two minutes into the second half and Stapleton’s conversion run but Coal Grove up 28-14.
But Harless went 31 yards for a touchdown and quarterback Austin Browning kept for a 1-yard scoring run as the Panthers tied the game with 1:19 left in the third quarter.
Chesapeake had another sustained drive with Harless finishing it off with a 3-yard touchdown run. Wilson’s kick made it 35-28 with 4:47 to play.
Chesapeake finished with 224 yards rushing as Harless carried 15 times for 117 yards and Todd had 16 attempts for 75 yards.
Browning ran for 30 yards and completed 3-of-7 passes for 31 yards. Tylan Hutchison had two catches for 20 yards and Eli Archer one reception for 11 yards.
Besides Stapleton, Harmon ran six times for 81 yards and Kyle Sites added 62 yards on six carries.
Next Friday, Coal Grove hosts Portsmouth and Chesapeake travels to Ironton.
Coal Grove 0 20 8 0 = 28
Chesapeake 7 7 14 7 = 35
First Quarter
Ch —Will Todd 2 run (Brady Wilson kick) 6:56
Second Quarter
CG — Austin Stapleton 24 run (kick failed) 9:08
CG — Austin Stapleton 45 run (Nate Harmon run) 4:26
Ch — Kamren Harless 100 kickoff return (Brady Wilson kick) 4:17
CG — Austin Stapleton 48 run (run failed) 2:00
Third Quarter
CG —Nate Harmon 57 run (Austin Stapleton run) 10:36
Ch — Kamren Harless 31 run (Brady Wilson kick) 9:11
Ch — Austin Browning 1 run (Brady Wilson kick) 1:19
Fourth Quarter
Ch — Kamren Harless 3 run (Brady Wilson kick) 4:47
——
CG Ch
First downs 7 12
Rushes-yards 25-302 46-224
Passing yards 0 31
Total yards 302 255
Cmp-Att-Int 0-2-0 3-7-0
Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0
Penalties-yards 9-90 9-55
Punts-average 3-37.3 1-37.0
——
Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Coal Grove: Jalen McKenzie 2-0, Nate Harmon 6-81 TD, Kyle Sites 6-62, Evan Holmes 3-15, Austin Stapleton 8-144 3-TD; Chesapeake: Kamren Harless 15-117, Austin Browning 14-30, Will Todd 16-75, Carson Nida 1-2.
PASSING — Coal Grove: Nate Harmon 0-2-0; Chesapeake: Austin Browning 3-7-0 31.
RECEIVING — Coal Grove: None; Chesapeake: Eli Archer 1-11, Tylan Hutchison 2-20.