Chapin quarterback Matt Charpia (7) gets the pass off just as Westwood’s Bradley Carter makes contact. (Photo/Ross Burton)
CHAPIN – The Westwood Redhawks travelled to Chapin Stadium Friday to take on the Eagles in the region opener. The team statistics between the two could not have been closer in every category, but Friday night the Eagles were just a little better, as they eked out a 29-21 win.
With 9:01 to play in the first, the Redhawks began their second possession of the night with the ball on their own 32-yard line. An offside penalty against the Eagles improved their field position by five yards. In the early going, running back Christian Brown had a slow start, running the ball for two plays with no gain. Quarterback Chris Patterson took to the air with complete passes to Vyncint Smith and Adonus Lee to fight their way deep into Eagle territory. With the Redhawks on the Chapin 30-yard line, Patterson hit Smith for a 30-yard touchdown pass. Brandon Howard’s point after kick was good, giving Westwood a 7-0 lead.
Chapin got on the board in the second quarter after Alex Young recovered a Patterson fumble on the Westwood 45. The turnover set in motion a nine-play drive that ended when Napier Armstrong trundled into the end zone from 6 yards out. Chapin’s Zach McCall added the extra point to tie the game at 7.
Westwood came right back at the Eagles with a touchdown drive of their own. Patterson connected with Smith twice on the drive and Brown finally found his stride, running the ball in for the score from 10 yards out. Howard again added the extra point, making the score 14-7, Redhawks.
The Eagles had the final scoring drive of the half, and threatened to score the game-tying touchdown. The tough Westwood defense kept them out of the end zone, but Chapin was close enough for McCall to kick the ball through the posts for a field goal. At the half, Westwood led 14-10.
“We just feel like we’re getting outworked by them,” Westwood head coach Rodney Summers said at the break. “We have to make sure we handle running the football. We have to make some passes. We have had some guys open, but Chris (Patterson) hasn’t found them.”
The Eagles received the second half kickoff, but could not get anything going. After three plays, Chapin had to punt; but their drive was saved when Westwood was called for a roughing the kicker penalty, giving the ball back to Chapin, first and 10. Chapin made the best of their good fortune, continuing this 16-play drive until Eagle quarterback Matt Charpia carried the ball into the end zone. Chapin’s touchdown gave the team their first lead of the night, one which they would never relinquish. McCall’s kick was good, and the score stood at 17-14, Chapin.
Chapin regained possession of the ball after Westwood’s three and out punt. Four complete passes by Charpia and three rushing plays by Steffan Washington were enough for the Eagles to score again, this time from the Westwood 12-yard line. Charpia handed the ball to Washington, who ran it in. McCall’s PAT, however, was wide of the mark. Chapin led at this point by a score of 23-14.
The fourth quarter began well for the Redhawks, as the defense finally found ways to stop Chapin’s Armstrong. However, on Westwood’s second possession of the quarter, Nick Leveretter’s pass was intercepted by Sam Holaday who ran it in for a touchdown. Chapin tried a 2-point conversion, but the attempt failed; but Chapin led 29-14.
The Redhawks needed two scores to have a chance at winning the game. With 3:11 to go, the Redhawks received the kickoff on their own 30-yard line. They began a determined drive to the goal line, ending with a short touchdown pass from Leveretter to Smith. Howard’s PAT kick closed the gap to 29-21. Unfortunately for Westwood, the clock showed only 2:04 to play in the game. Howard’s onside kick failed to travel the required 10 yards, meaning that all Charpia had to do to run out the clock was to take a knee, twice.
“We came out little flat (and made) too many mistakes,” Summers said. “Maybe we were a little over confident. They were a good football team. By all means, that’s not our season, but we need to rally the troops and work hard and fix some things. It’s not the end of the world.”
The Redhawks host the Blue Devils of Dreher High School at 7:30 p.m. this Friday in a region game.
WHS – 7-7-0-7 – 21
CHS – 0-10-13-1 – 29
First Quarter
WHS – Vyncint Smith 30-pass from Chris Patterson. Brandon Howard kick. (4:54)
Second Quarter
CHS – Napier Armstrong 6-run. Zach McCall kick. (6:42)
WHS – Christian Brown 10-run. B. Howard kick. (3:57)
CHS – Z. McCall 29 FG. (0:00)
Third Quarter
CHS – Matt Charpia 1-run. Z. McCall kick. (5:52)
CHS – Steffan Washington 12-run. Kick failed. (0:40)
Fourth Quarter
CHS – Sam Holaday INT return. S. Holaday 2-run.
WHS – V. Smith 2-pass from Nick Leveretter. B. Howard kick. (1:07)
CHS WHS
First Downs 19 15
Rushes/Yards 46-105 28-138
Passing Yards 142 150
C-A-I 13-25-0 12-24-1
Fumbles/Lost 0-0 3-1
Penalties/Yards 4-36 7-66
RUSHING: WHS – C. Brown 15-116, C. Patterson 8-31, M. Canady 1-4, N. Leveretter 4-(-13). CHS – N. Armstrong 23-78, S. Washington 9-30, Bailey 1-2, M. Charpia 11-(-1).
RECEIVING: WHS – V. Smith 8-116, Gallman 2-18, Harris 1-11, A. Lee 1-5. CHS – Livingston 6-43, Carter White 3-41, Blankenship 1-23, Caleb White 1-20, Young 1-8, Engel 1-7.
PASSING: WHS – C. Patterson 5-11, 96 yards, TD; N. Leveretter 7-13, 54 yards, TD, 1 INT.
