Barker, defense spark Panthers stunning upset of Redmen

CHESAPEAKE — Chesapeake's Jon-Cooper Barker accounted for all 4 touchdowns and the defense came up with 4 interceptions, as the Panthers stunned the Rock Hill Redmen with a 27-14 upset win on Friday night in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Barker had a superlative performance for the Panthers offensively, rushing for 131 yards and throwing for 179 yards. Barker also had a hand in every score the Panthers had — including an interception return in the fourth quarter.

In the passing game, the Panthers were led in receiving by Phillip Thacker with a game-high 6 receptions for 48 yards and a score. Andrew Issacs caught 2 passes for a team-high 68 yards, Logan Clay had a catch for 49 yards., and Jayden Washington had 5 receptions for 14.

The Panthers shocked the Redmen on the opening possession when Barker tossed a pass out to Issacs, and Issacs was able to speed his way down the fair sideline before being caught at the Rock Hill 4.

Barker scored on a designed run the very next play to put the Panthers ahead 6-0 with 10:54 left in the opening frame.

The Redmen couldn't get their offense going in the first half, as turnovers and penalties kept them out of the end zone.

Two of their drives ended with interceptions by Aaden Parrot and Washington. The only other drive the Redmen had in the first half, saw Rock Hill get as far as the Panther 25. But multiple penalties drove them backwards, causing the drive to stall out.

Outside of Rock Hill's long drive, neither team threatened and Chesapeake took their 6-0 lead into the locker room.

In need of a big play, the Redmen finally got theirs on the opening play of the third.

Brady Murrell took a handoff to his right, bounced to the outside and raced down the Rock Hill sideline 65 yards to pay dirt. Cameron Howard added the extra point to put the Redmen ahead 7-6 just 12 seconds in.

But the Panthers would answer in the late stages of the third.

On a 1st-and-10 play from their own 45, Barker would let loose a play-action pass to Clay, who got behind the secondary, and made the catch in stride. Clay was finally dragged down at the Rock Hill 6.

Three plays later, Barker would roll to his left and throw a pass toward Thacker, and Thacker made the diving catch for the touchdown and put the Panthers back ahead with 32 seconds left in the third.

Barker would be the beneficiary of a great defensive play from Thacker, who came off the edge on a pass rush and forced Dallin Cox to get rid of the ball before he wanted to, and Barker caught the pass at the 36 and raced back the rest of the way for the interception return.

Barker added the two-point conversion run to make the score 20-7 with 11:05 remaining in the game.

But Rock Hill wouldn't go away just yet, as the Redmen had a two-play drive to cut the deficit to one score.

Cox completed a 28-yard pass to McClellan along the home sideline. Then on the ensuing play, Murrell made a cut to the outside and beat a Panther defender to the far pylon along the goal line for a 12-yard score. Howard added the point after to make the score 20-14 with 2:14 left.

Chesapeake recovered the onside attempt by Rock Hill and needed to run the clock out to preserve the win.

But Barker had other plans, as he took a designed quarterback sweep to his left, found a crease and bolted 47 yards for the clinching score. Lilly Helmstetler added the extra point to push the lead out to 27-14.

Thacker would put the exclamation point on the night with an interception at midfield to close the game out.

Murrell led the Redmen offensively with 98 yards on 9 carries to go along with his 2 scores. Kelan Davidson finished with 16 carries for 96 yards. McClellan had game-highs with 6 receptions for 74 yards.

Chesapeake hosts rival Fairland in their season finale next Friday. Rock Hill returns home for senior night against Coal Grove,

Rock Hill 0 0 7 7 = 14

Chesapeake 6 0 6 15 = 27

First Quarter

Ch — Jon-Cooper Barker 4 run (kick no good), 10:54.

Third Quarter

RH — Brady Murrell 65 run (Cameron Howard kick), 11:48.

Ch — Phillip Thacker 3 pass from Jon-Cooper Barker (pass failed), 0:32.

Fourth Quarter

Ch — Jon-Cooper Barker 36 interception return (Barker run), 11:05.

RH — Brady Murrell 17 run (Cameron Howard kick), 2:14.

Ch — Jon-Cooper barker 47 run (Lilly Helmstetler kick), 1:05.

———

RH Ch

First downs 13 14

Rushes-yards 33-196 36-117

Passing yards 86 179

Total yards 282 296

Cmp-Att-Int 7-14-4 14-22-0

Fumbles-lost 2-0 2-0

Penalties-yards 8-120 7-75

Punts-average 1-37.0 4-34.25

———

Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Rock Hill: Braylon McClellan 1-minus 6, Brady Murrell 9-98 2-TD, Dallin Cox 10-8, Kelan Davidson 16-96; Chesapeake: Jayden Washington 1-minus 12, Jon-Cooper Barker 2-131 2-TD, Peyton Muncy 5-6, Andrew Issacs 2-minus 5, Logan Clay 1-4, Phillip Thacker 1-3, Team 2-minus 20.

PASSING – Rock Hill: Dallin Cox 7-14-4 86; Chesapeake: Jon-Cooper Barker 14-21-0 179 TD, Phillip Thacker 0-1-0.

RECEIVING – Rock Hill: Braylon McClellan 6-74, Kelan Davidson 1-12; Chesapeake: Jayden Washington 5-14, Andrew Issacs 2-68, Logan Clay 1-49, Phillip Thacker 6-48 TD.

MISSED FIELD GOALS – None.