Trojans come up with enough big plays to fend off Panthers

CHESAPEAKE — It was a game of big plays, and the Portsmouth Trojans came up just a little bigger.

In a defensive game, the Trojans were able to make enough big plays including one by the defense to beat the Chesapeake Panthers 20-3 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.

Chesapeake (2-4, 0-2) put together a 10-play drive in the first quarter that was aided by Marquis Branch’s 16-yard run.

But the drive was stalled by the Trojans’ defense and led to a 25-yard field goal by the Panthers’ Lilly Helmstetler and it was 3-0.

The Panthers’ defense forced three punts in the first half and the Trojans hurt themselves with 12 penalties for 70 yards.

Portsmouth (4-2, 2-1) got a big defensive play on the third play of the second half by forcing a fumble that was recovered at the Panthers’ 43.

On the ensuing play, Fernando Poxes took the handoff and went the distance for the touchdown and the Trojans led 6-3.

Chesapeake recovered a fumble at Trojans’ 45 and began to move the ball toward the end zone. But Portsmouth defensive back Mekhi Berry anticipated a bubble screen and broke on the ball as he intercepted the pass and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown.

Quarterback Camron Williams threw to Berry for the conversion and it was 14-3.

Needing a score, Chesapeake had a fourth down pass go incomplete at their own 49 and the Trojans took advantage to go the distance in 8 plays — all on the ground — with Poxes running the final 5 yards and it was 20-3.

The Panthers ran four plays and turned the ball over on downs and Portsmouth ran three plays to end the game.

Chesapeake finished with 158 total yards with just 40 net yards on the ground. Quarterback K.J. McLain was 14 of 30 for 118 yards with an interception.

Portsmouth had 308 total yards with 198 on the ground and Williams completing 12 of 20 passes for 110 yards.

Poxes led the ground game with 117 yards on 16 carries and scored twice while Williams ran 11 times for 100 yards.

This Friday in league games, Chesapeake goes to South Point and Portsmouth visits Fairland.

Portsmouth 0 0 14 6 =  20

Chesapeake 3 0 0 0  =  3

First Quarter

Ch — Lilly Helmstetler 25 field goal

Third Quarter

Prt — Fernando Poxes 43 run (run failed)

Prt — Mekhi Berry 76 interception return (Mekhi Berry pass from Camron Williams)

Fourth Quarter

Prt — Fernando Poxes 5 run (run failed)

———————

Prt       Ch

First downs 13        8

Rushes-yards 33-198 25-40

Passing yards 110      118

Total yards 308      158

Cmp-Att-Int 12-20-0 14-32-1

Fumbles-lost 1-1       5-1

Penalties-yards 17-150 8-54

Punts-average  5-22.0  4-35.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING — Portsmouth: Fernando Poxes 16-117 2-TD, Camron Williams 11-100, Jemarkus Parker 2-minus 23, J.J. Henderson 2-4, Da’Monie Wood 2-minus 2; Chesapeake: Marquis Branch 6-28, Jaden Washington 4-2, Peyton Muncy 4-17, Colten Huffman 4-4, Boogie Burdine 1-minus 1, K.J. McLain 6-minus 20.

PASSING — Portsmouth: Camron Williams 12-20-0 110; Chesapeake: K.J. McClain 14-30-1 118, Peyton Muncy 0-1-0, Colten Huffman 0-1-0.

RECEIVING — Portsmouth: Fernando Poxes 4-50, Da’Monie Wood 1-11, Trey Pendleton 1-7, Nick Poxes 1-15, Mekhi Berry 3-19, J.J. Henderson 2-12; Chesapeake: Jaden Washington 5-67, Boogie Burdine 5-27, Aden Parrott 1-6, Alex Elder 1-5, Aden Nester-Howard 1-7, Marquis Branch 2-6.