South Point will have to find a way to contend with the Panthers speed when the two teams meet Friday at Chesapeake in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Thursday, October 21, 1999

South Point will have to find a way to contend with the Panthers speed when the two teams meet Friday at Chesapeake in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

The Panthers, 8-0 and 2-0 in the OVC, have a chance to clinch at least a share of the league title with a victory. A win over South Point and at Coal Grove next week would give Chesapeake its first-ever back-to-back league championships.

Offense has been the main key to the Panthers success this season. None of Chesapeake’s games have been closer than 22 points.

Chesapeake’s schedule shows the following wins: 47-8 over Green; 28-0 over Wayne; 40-8 over Symmes Valley; 44-7 over Nelsonville-York; 49-8 over Man, W.Va.; 40-18 over Rock Hill, 41-0 over Portsmouth West; and 57-14 over Fairland.

Watts knows why the Panthers have been able to put up such lofty numbers.

"All their receivers can run and catch the ball, and their quarterback (Andy Clark) does a nice job," said Watts. "They get to the perimeter well. We have to make big plays and we have to keep them from making big plays."

Big plays seem to be the theme of the game that is a must-win situation for the Pointers. South Point is 2-6 overall but 2-1 in the OVC and needs a win to keep its title hopes alive.

Panthers coach Phil Davis said the Pointers record is deceiving and called their offense "explosive."

"We need to play well. They have a pretty good mix of run and pass. They’ve got some talented kids. They have fast receivers, a nice quarterback, (D. J.) Bryant is back, and (David) Chapman is still running well," said Davis.

"They’re better than their record. The early schedule hurt them, but they played well against Fairland and Rock Hill."