Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

ALBANY — Chesapeake Panthers’ coach Andy Clark said his team’s offense got on track Friday.

Yeah, the race track.

The Panthers ran for 313 yards including 100-yard games by Cecil Fletcher and Casey McComas as they spanked the Alexnder Spartans 47-16.

“We got on track offensively,” said Clark whose team only ran six plays in the second half and still scored 20 points.

“We played hard. Our line was better. We were more proficient and in the right place. Our backs blocked better for each other.”

Alexander (1-1) finished with 203 total yards with 126 on the ground and 77 via the air. A.J. Marks ran 25 times for 89 yards and was 7-of-15 passing for 60 yards and two interceptions.

Chase Harris ran three times for 46 yards and was 2-of-4 passing for 17 yards.

“We played pretty well defensively. Harris and Marks are pretty darn good players. Marks is fast and Harris is big and runs hard,” said Clark.

The Panthers (2-0) used two early turnovers to grabbed a 13-0 lead. Ty Wilcoxon ran 2 yards for the game’s first score and Will Scott had a 3-yard TD run at the 6:20 mark.

Alexander got a 13-yard scoring run by Marks in a drive aided by 35 yards in Chesapeake penalties and it was 13-7.

But McComas ran 4 yards to score to begin the second quarter and Scott got a second touchdown on a 2-yard run with 6:56 left in the half and it was 27-7 at the break.

Chesapeake put the game out of reach on the first play of the second half as Fletcher bolted 55 yards for a touchdown and it was 34-7 after Dalton Nida’s conversion kick.

Marks ran 11 yards for a Spartans’ touchdown five minutes late, but Austin Browning had a “scoop and score” as he returned a fumble 85 yards for a touchdown and a 40-13 lead.

Alexander used a field goal to make it 40-16. Chesapeake ran a dive trying to get a first down in hopes of running out the clock but Fletcher squirted free on the play and went 75 yards for the game’s final score.

Chesapeake hosts Symmes Valley next Friday.

Chesapeake 13 14 13 7 = 47

Alexander 7 0 6 3 = 16

First Quarter

Ch — Ty Wilcoxon 2 run (kick failed) 8:58

Ch — Will Scott 3 run (Dalton Nida kick) 6:20

Al — A.J. Marks 13 run (McCloud kick) 3:00 35 yards in penalties

Second Quarter

Ch — Casey McComas 4 run (Dalton Nida kick) 11:44

Ch — Will Scott 2 run (Dalton Nida kick) 6:56

Third Quarter

Ch — Cecil Fletcher 55 run (Dalton Nida kick) 11:40 first play

Al — A.J. Marks 11 run (pass failed) 6:08

Ch — Austin Browning 85 fumble recovery (kick failed) 1:15

Fourth Quarter

Al — McCloud 31 field goal 5:31

Ch — Cecil Fletcher 75 run (Dalton Nida kick) 5:13

Ch Alx

First downs 10 11

Rushes-yards 32-313 39-126

Passing yards 0 77

Total yards 313 203

Cmp-Att-Int 0-2-1 9-19-2

Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-2

Penalties-yards 9-85 1-15

Punts-average 1-37.0 2-36.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Chesapeake: Cecil Fletcher 5-147, Casey McComas 11-104, Will Scott 12-47, J.W. Bartrum 3-13, Ty Wilcoxon 1-2; Alexander: A.J. Marks 25-89, Chase Harris 11-28, Connor Kimbrough 1-8, Wes Radford 2-1.

PASSING—Chesapeake: Casey McComas 0-2-1; Alexander: A.J. Marks 7-15-2 60, Chase Harris 2-4-0 17.

RECEIVING—Chesapeake: None; Alexander: Chase Harris 3-46, A.J. Marks 2-17, Stone Markins-Irwin 1-10, James Wallace 1-2, Connor Kimbrough 1-2, Ethan Howes 1-0.