Chapman rolls Blue Ridge on senior night

Despite KB Henderson’s 141 yards and two touchdowns, Blue Ridge was outclassed by a strong Chapman team, 50-21. The Tigers dropped to 1-8 on the season and 1-2 in region play.

Blue Ridge (1-8, 1-2 region) was unable to ride the highs of last week’s first win of the season and carry them into another. Chapman (8-1, 3-0 region) came into Jim Howard Stadium and spoiled the Tigers’ senior night, crushing Blue Ridge 50-21.

“Chapman is a very good football team. They’re very tough defensively and have an efficient offense,” said Blue Ridge head coach John Boggs.

Two touchdowns from Chapman quarterback Coleman Gray — a 23-yard rush and four-yard pass — helped the Panthers jump out to a 16-0 lead early in the first quarter. Chapman running back Mathai Scott took a two-yard run and a seven-yard run into the end zone on the Panthers’ next two possessions, giving Chapman a 30-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half.

KB Henderson got the Tigers on the board the following drive, taking a 67-yard run down the sideline to bring the score to 30-7. The touchdown rush lifted Henderson over 1,000 rushing yards on the season.

Chapman showed no mercy, however, as Gray connected on his third touchdown pass the very next play, a 55-yard strike to Shawn Cunningham. Scott would carry in his third touchdown the following Chapman drive on another seven-yard rush.

At halftime, the Panthers led 47-7.

Another KB Henderson rushing touchdown and a touchdown pass from Tigers quarterback Colton Clouse to wide receiver Asheton Stokes made the scoreline more respectable in the second half. But the Tigers were outclassed throughout the night by a Chapman team many consider one of the best in Class 3-A.

“Chapman’s quarterback [Coleman Gray] does an exceptional job getting the ball to his receivers and being a field general,” said Boggs. “And they do some things formationally that put us in a bind. But their quarterback really made the difference.”

Blue Ridge’s final matchup of the regular season finds the Tigers heading to Travelers Rest. The Tigers and Devildogs have both clinched Class 3-A playoff spots, but the winner of Friday night’s “Battle for the Jug” rivalry will obtain the higher seed.

Blue Ridge won last year’s matchup, 49-48 in overtime.

“This is a big rivalry. A lot of these kids go to church together, there are some churches right in between these two schools so these kids are in youth groups together.

“Travelers Rest had won that jug trophy for the past five or six years before we took it last year. We’re ready to renew that rivalry and play for it again on Friday night.”