Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

It’s only week five and the showdown of the season has arrived.
The two main favorites in the Ohio Valley Conference race collide on Friday as the Chesapeake Panthers host the Coal Grove Hornets in a battle of unbeatens.
Chesapeake is 4-0 and Coal Grove 3-0. Both teams are 1-0 in the league.
The game will match the balance of the Hornets against the big play offense of the Panthers.
Coal Grove will utilize four running backs and have added more punch in their passing game with senior quarterback Matty Cordle.
“They have speed in the backfield. They have several guys to give the ball. They get in a lot of different formations and their backs block well for each other,” said Panthers’ coach Andy Clark.
“They run hard. Clark is really quick. Rutherford runs really hard. Baldwin runs hard. Henry is a solid runner and then you throw in Cordle and they’re tough.”
Senior Jacob Clark has rushed 28 times for 237 yards and two scores. Senior Tanner Henry has 139 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns and junior fullback Kimo Baldwin has 28 carries for 192 yards and three TDs.
Senior Daniel “Rudy” Rutherford is a duel threat. He has carried the ball 19 times for 120 yards and has six receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
Cordle is 16-of-26 passing for 226 yards and six touchdowns.
Chesapeake senior quarterback Casey McComas has carried 26 times for 351 yards for a 13.5 average. He has scored five touchdowns and he is also 9-of-20 passing for 218 yards and three touchdowns.
Junior speedster Cecil Fletcher has carried just 19 times for 357 yards and an 188 average. He has seven touchdowns.
Senior fullback Will Scott has rushed 33 times for 278 yards and an 8.4 average with eight TDs.
The top receiver is sophomore Austin Browning with two catches for 34 yards — both touchdowns.
The Panthers won last year’s meeting 34-6 but are missing a lot of personnel from their offensive and defensive lines due to graduation.
“Coal Grove has most of their players back. When you look at them compared to the four teams we’ve played they have a solid offensive line and the key is always defense,” said Clark.
“They’re solid defensively. Their linebackers (Henry and Baldwin) are pretty good. Their line does a nice job and their secondary is pretty athletic.”
Kickoff is 7 p.m.