Panthers ground attack blows away Tornadoes

CHESAPEAKE — Paul McCartney had a number one hit with the song Band On The Run. The Chesapeake Panthers are feeling like their early season run is number one with their own Band On The Run.

The Panthers offense continued its running ways on Friday as both Kaden Perkins and Drew Plantz ran for more than 100 yards in a 41-9 win over the Racine Southern Tornadoes.

Chesapeake's Drew Plantz (4) follows his blockers through a hole during Friday's game against the Southern Tornadoes. (Tim Gearhart)

Perkins ran 8 times for 102 yards and 2 scores along with a receiving TD while Plantz carried 9 times for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Panthers rushed for 292 yards as a team.

Andrew Daniels added 68 yards on 6 carries and also scored a touchdown. The Panthers had 338 total yards of offense in less than 2 and a half quarters.

The Panthers’ defense limited the Tornadoes to only 48 total yards offense with just 16 rushing yards and 3 first downs.

Chesapeake forced a 3-and-out to start the game and then went 62 yards in just 4 plays as Daniels broke through the middle of the defense and ran 32 yards for the touchdown.

Logan Diamond’s kick put the lead at 7-0 with 9:07 on the clock.

On the ensuing kickoff, Zach Thomas fumbled the ball momentarily, started right as the coverage began to break out of its lanes, and cut left and bolted past the kicking team for an 80-yard kickoff return.

Cooper Diddle kicked the conversion to tie the game.

The teams exchanged punts and then the Panthers went 64 yards in only 5 plays when Plantz bolted 51 yards into the end zone and it was 13-0 with 2:43 left in the quarter.

Following another Southern punt, the Panthers drove 58 in 5 plays as Plantz scored from 35 yards out on the second play of the second quarter.

Jacob Harris threw to Ethan Kerns for the conversion and it was 21-7 at the 11:22 mark.

Perkins had an interception at the Tornadoes’ 38 and returned it to the 8-yard line.

But Southern’s defense  stiffened and held the Panthers on 4 downs to keep the score close.

Southern got within 21-9 when the Panthers snapped the ball over the punter’s head and out of the end zone for a safety with 4:03 on the clock.

But Chesapeake scored with just 4 seconds left in the half as Harris scrambled and hit Perkins with a 4-yard scoring pass to cap a 65-yard, 11-play drive and it was 27-9 at the half.

Chesapeake's Jacob Harris (right) drops back to pass during Friday's game against the Southern Tornadoes. (Tim Gearhart)

Chesapeake put the game away in the third quarter in rapid fashion.

A good kickoff return to start the second half had the ball at the Southern 38 and Perkins scored 3 plays into the half on a 34-yard gallop. Diamond’s kick pushed the lead to 34-9 at the 10:30 mark.

Southern fumbled the ball away on the next play from scrimmage and Casey Barker recovered for the Panthers at the Panthers 40-yard line.

This time it took 5 plays to score as Perkins got loose as he ran right, turned the corner and went down the sidelines on a 37-yard scoring run.

Diamond’s kick made it 41-9 with 7:40 left in the quarter and triggered the running clock.

Lightning caused play to be stopped and it continued until the teams agreed to call the game.

The Panthers begin Ohio Valley Conference play next Friday at home against Coal Grove in the battle for The Little Brown Jug.

Southern    7 2 0 0 = 9

Chesapeake 13 14 7 0 = 41

First Quarter

Ch — Andrew Daniels 32 run (Logan Diamond kick) 9:07

RS — Zach Thomas 80 kickoff return (Copper Diddle kick) 8:49

Ch — Drew Plantz 51 run (kick failed) 2:43

Second Quarter

Ch — Drew Plantz 35 run (Ethan Kerns pass from Jacob Harris) 11:22

RS — Safety (ball snapped over punter’s head out of end zone) 4:03

Ch — Kaden Perkins 4 pass from Jacob Harris (kick blocked)

Third Quarter

Ch — Kaden Perkins 34 run (Logan Diamond kick) 10:30

Ch — Kaden Perkins 47 run (Logan Diamond kick) 7:40

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RS Ch

First downs 3 11

Rushes-yards 11-16 27-282

Passing yards 32 56

Total yards 48 338

Cmp-Att-Int 2-8-1 6-15-0

Fumbles-lost 3-1 0-0

Penalties-yards 8-48 7-50

Punts-average 5-27.2 1-30.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Southern: Wyatt Smith 1-13, Carson Reuter 4-11, Nathan Shuster 4-0, Brandon Laudermilt 1-3, Team 1-minus 16; Chesapeake: Kaden Perkins 8-102 2-TD, Drew Plantz 9-101 2-TD, Andrew Daniels 6-68 TD, Jacob Daniels 4-11.

PASSING–Southern: Nathan Shuster 1-7-1 minus 2, Zach Thomas 1-1-0 34; Chesapeake: Jacob Harris 6-14-0 56, Drew Plantz 0-1-0.

RECEIVING–Southern: Brandon Laudermilt 1-34, Landon Everson 1-minus 2; Chesapeake: Ethan Kerns 4-60, Kaden Perkins 1-4 TD, Jacob Harris 1-minus 8.

MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.