Panthers nearly pull off wild comeback against Northwest

McDERMOTT — Trailing by three touchdowns after three quarters, the Chesapeake Panthers mounted a wild comeback final quarter, only to fall a point short in a 42-41 loss to the Northwest Mohawks on Friday.

Jayden Washington gave an indication that it would be a wild game as he returned the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown as the Panthers took the early lead of the game 7-0 after Lily Helmstatler’s conversion kick 13 seconds into the game.

Northwest (2-1) answered with a 67-yard, 6-play drive as Jake Brown connected with Carson Christian on a 44-yard scoring pass. Wesyn Lang kicked the conversion and it was 7-all.

Chesapeake (0-3) regained the lead  with a 72-yard, 5-play drive that was sparked by Peyton Muncy’s 50-yard run. Jon-Cooper Barker hit Philip Thacker with a 3-yard scoring pass to make it 13-7.

Northwest answered again with a 34-yard scoring run by Brown and it was 13-13.

Neither team scored in the second quarter only to see things get wild in the second half.

The Mohawks scored to start the second half on a 2-yard run by Brown and it was 20-13.

Chesapeake fumbled on the kickoff and Northwest was back in business.

Get 15% OFF your fist purchase when you use the code GET15 at checkout!

Northwest went 50 yards in just 3 plays with Evan Ferguson running 12 yards for the score and a 26-13 lead.

Following a Chesapeake punt, the Mohawks scored again on a 42-yard pass from Brown to Christian.  Brown ran for the conversion and the lead was 34-13.

The Panthers were able to get control of an onside kickoff and went 53 yards in 9 plays with Barker going one-yard for the score. Barker also ran for the conversion and it was 34-21.

But Northwest  answered with a 32-yard pass from Brown to Christian again. Brown threw to Austin Smith for the conversion and the lead was now 42-21.

A 17-yard pass from Barker to Thacker on the first play of the fourth quarter capped a 67-yard, 6-play drive and it was 42-27.

The Panthers then recovered an onside kickoff at the Northwest 49 and drove for the score as Barker ran 7 yards. Muncy ran for the conversion and the Panthers were within 42-35.

Chesapeake went right back to the onside kickoff and recovered the ball at midfield.

A 20-yard pass to Andrew Isaacs to the ball to the one-yard line where Barker scored on the next play. On the important extra point play, the pass reception was ruled just short of the goal line and Northwest was still clinging to a 42-41 lead.

The Panthers’ defense was able to hold on a fourth-and-one play but an interception two plays later gave the ball back to Northwest.

After Northwest was forced to punt, the Panthers had time for one last play but the desperation pass was intercepted to end the game.

Chesapeake had 384 total yards with Barker running 16 times for 87 yards and hitting 18-of-28 passes for 158 yards. Muncy ran 8 times for 68 yards.

Isaacs caught 7 passes for 80 yards, Washington 4 catches for 44 yards and Thacker had 6 catches for 43 yards.

Brown and Ferguson each ran 16 times for 104 yards. Brown was 10-of-14 for 185 yards with Christian catching 5 passes for 134 yards.

The Panthers travel to Coal Grove this Friday.

Chesapeake    13 0 8 20 = 41

Northwest    13 0 29 0 = 42

First Quarter

Ch — Jayden Washington 83 kickoff return (Lily Helmstatler kick) 11:47

NW — Carson Christian 44 pass from Jake Brown (Wesyn Lang kick) 8:07

Ch — Philip Thacker 3 pass from Jon-Cooper Barker (kick failed) 3:26

NW — Jake Brown 34 run (kick failed)

Third Quarter

NW — Jake Brown 2 run (Wesyn Lang kick)

NW — Evan Ferguson 12 run (kick failed)

NW — Carson Christian 42 pass from Jake Brown (Jake Brown run)

Ch — Jon-Cooper Barker 1 run (Philip Thacker pass from Jon-Cooper Barker)

NW — Carson Christian 32 pass from Jake Brown (Austin Smith pass from Jake Brown)

Fourth Quarter

Ch — Philip Thacker 17 pass from Jon-Cooper Barker (pass failed)

Ch — Jon-Cooper Barker 7 run (Peyton Muncy run)

Ch — Jon-Cooper Barker 1 run (pass failed)

———

Ch NW

First downs 21 16

Rushes-yards 27-172 40-241

Passing yards 212 185

Total yards 384 426

Cmp-Att-Int 22-34-4 10-14-0

Fumbles-lost 2-2 3-3

Penalties-yards 3-42 3-25

Punts-average 3-44.7 4-30.5

———

Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Chesapeake: Jon-Cooper Barker 16-87, Peyton Muncy 8-68, Aaden Nester-Howard 2-12, Philip Thacker 1-5; Northwest: Jake Brown 16-104, Evan Ferguson 16-104, Carson Christian 7-9, Austin Smith 1-minus 3.

PASSING–Chesapeake: Jon-Cooper Barker 18-28-2 158, Aaden Nester-Howard 4-5-1 54, Philip Thacker 0-1-1; Northwest: Jake Brown 10-14-0 185.

RECEIVING–Chesapeake: Andrew Isaacs 7-80, Jayden Washington 4-44, Philip Thacker 6-43, Aden Parrott 2-27, Peyton Muncy 3-12; Northwest: Carson Christian 5-134, Austin Smith 5-51.

MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.