Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — All season the South Point Pointers have tried to rely on their offense. This time the defense took center stage.

The Pointers limited the Chesapeake Panthers to less than 200 yards offense as they posted a 19-7 Ohio Valley Conference win Friday.

“They scored on the second play, but we made some adjustments and the defense took over the game,” said Pointers’ coach Rick Marcello. We shut down what they do best except for one play. We had all 11 guys going after the ball.”

Tyler Branch had 15 tackles and James Leonard 10 stops to lead the defensive effort.

Quarterback Gage Townson and Leonard sparked the offense.

Townson hit 11-of-23 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran eight times for 38 yards and a score. Leonard ran 13 times for 93 yards.

Audric Harlow caught four passes for 70 yards and two scores.

Chesapeake (1-7, 1-2) had 196 total yards with 156 coming on the ground. Chad Meadows ran 12 times for 110 yards and a score. Nate Smith added 43 yards on 11 attempts.

“Their speed made it difficult on us to get outside on the run and to get out and throw the ball. They loaded up the box and made it hard for us to run,” said Panthers’ coach Andy Clark.

“Defensively we did pretty well. Their quarterback scrambles pretty well. But I’m proud of our kids. They never quit.”

On a night when Chesapeake named its field for Hall of Fame coach Phil Davis, the Panthers started as though they planned to name the score.

On the second play of the game, Meadows went 72 yards for a touchdown and Wesley Stephens kicked the point after for a 7-0 lead.

But the Pointers settled down and answered with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Townson to Harlow. Alex Whitt’s conversion kick tied the game at the 3:36 mark of the first quarter.

South Point (6-2, 2-1) took the lead early in the second quarter when Townson and Harlow again teamed up for a 19-yard scoring pass and it was 13-7.

The Pointers opened up some breathing room just before the end of the third quarter when Townson rambled 12 yards for a touchdown and a 19-7 lead.

South Point 7 6 6 0 = 19

Chesapeake 7 0 0 0 = 7

First Quarter

Ch — Chad Meadows 72 run (Wesley Stephens kick) 11:21

SP — Audric Harlow 32 pass from Gage Townson (Alex Whitt kick) 3:36

Second Quarter

SP — Audric Harlow 19 pass from Gage Townson (kick blocked) 9:40

Third Quarter

SP — Gage Townson 12 run (kick blocked) 0:33

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SP Ch

First downs 14 11

Rushes-yards 28-144 38-156

Passing yards 183 40

Total yards 327 196

Cmp-Att-Int 11-23-0 3-6-0

Penalties-yards 7-45 8-55

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1

Punts-average 6-36.8 6-26.3

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—South Point: James Leonard 13-93, Gage Townson 8-38, Mason White 4-10, Jacob Damron 3-3. Chesapeake: Chad Meadows 12-110, Nate Smith 11-43, Brad Meadows 5-12, Austin Oldaker 6-minus 2, Casey McComas 2-minus 6, team 2-minus 1.

PASSING—South Point: Gage Townson 11-23-0 183 2TD. Chesapeake: Austin Oldaker 3-6-0 40.

RECEIVING—South Point: Audric Harlow 4-70 2TD, Josh Browning 3-29, Mason White 2-43, Trent Allen 1-39, Isaih Jones 1-2. Chesapeake: Aaron Thompson 2-29, Blake Ashworth 1-11.