Chiefs football could not slow Panthers offense in 49-7 loss

By John Smithson

The North Myrtle Beach Chiefs football team knew that last Friday’s game at The Hank with Carolina Forest was going to be a challenge. They tried to score first and slow the game down in order to slow down the Panthers offense. They actually did that for a few minutes. But reality set in and the Panthers overcame a 7-0 Chiefs lead, scored 35 first half points and won 49-7.

The Chiefs Reo Stevenson took the opening Panthers kickoff nine yards to the Chiefs 35 yard-line. Keith Allison was stopped on first down for no gain and Will McNeely ran for four yards on second down. Then a third down pass from Mason Walker to McNeely gave the Chiefs a first down on the Carolina Forest 49.

Two plays later on a third and 8 yard play, Walker completed a pass to Jonathan Evans to the Panthers 47 yard-line but a late hit out of bounds gave the Chiefs a first down on the Panthers 30.

McNeely ran through a big hole for a 12-yard gain and another first down at the Panthers 18. Evans gained two yards on a short run before Walker passed to Evans in the end zone for a touchdown and it was 7-0 Chiefs after the Nico Miller PAT.

With 5:56 left in the first quarter the Chiefs had used the clock and scored the first touchdown of the game. Miller’s kickoff was a touchback, and the Panthers started on offense at their 20 yard-line. An illegal procedure penalty, a Jaryn Fox eight-yard run and then another illegal procedure penalty set up a second and 12 at the Panthers 18.

On the next play Fox showed why he is one of the best runners in the region as he ran through the right side of his offensive line and didn’t stop until he covered 82 yards for the tying touchdown with 4:50 on the clock. It was obvious the Panthers were not going to slow the game down.

The Panthers kickoff was received by Stevenson at his seven-yard line and returned to the 17. The Chiefs gained seven yards in three plays and punted. Miller’s short kick was taken by Brady McDowell at his 46 and he returned it 54 yards for the second Panthers score in about 90 seconds and a 14-7 lead.

Another Carolina Forest kickoff and the Chiefs were back on offense at their 37, but again went three and out and punted back to the Panthers who began a drive with less than a minute on the clock. Two Fox runs totaling 16 yards moved the ball to the Chiefs 32 and the start of the second quarter.

Except for a quarterback Camren Long eight-yard pass play, the Panthers stayed on the ground until Fox scored from fifteen yards out and a 21-7 lead. The Chiefs next possession was the only other significant offensive series for NMB. Starting on their  26 yard-line the Chiefs went 28 yards on seven plays before punting, this time on a fourth and six from the Panthers 46.

Miller’s punt was downed on the Panthers two-yard line. Faced with a third and six at their 18, Long faked a pitch and went past Chiefs defenders down the right sideline for an 82-yard touchdown run and 28-7 lead with 4:10 left in the first half.

The Chiefs were three and out again after starting their offense on their 13 yard-line. Miller’s punt went 25 yards after bouncing back and giving the Panthers a first down on the Chiefs 43. Fox ran for one yard, then for 25 yards, Long followed Fox’s run with a 16 yard run to the Chiefs one-yard line. Fox scored on the next play and the Panthers went to the locker room with a 35-7 lead.

The Chiefs kicked off in the third quarter and a touchback on the Panthers 20. Carolina Forest went to more of a passing game on their drive and advanced to the Chiefs 26 yard-line but a fourth down pass was short and the ball went over to the Chiefs at thier 18.

Mason Walker hit McNeely for nine yards, Evans ran for one yard and Walker passed 25 yards to McNeely for a first down at the Panthers 47.

The Chiefs moved to the Panthers 22 after a pass interference play. Walker’s next pass bounced off the hands of a Chiefs receiver and was intercepted and the Panthers were back on offense on their 30.

The Panthers then used all of the three minutes on the third quarter clock to travel 70 yards in eight plays for a 42-7 lead.

The Chiefs started on their 20 after a touchback and a Panthers pass interference penalty moved the ball to the 35. The Chiefs moved the ball to the Panthers 49, but Carolina Forest intercepted Walker at their 49. Two plays later they fumbled the ball and Jasaun Bellamy recovered for the Chiefs.

Another NMB four and out and the ball was back with the Panthers at midfield. Four plays after that Jaiden Anderson scored from 16 yards out and the Panthers led 49-7. The Chiefs ran out the clock on their possession and the Panthers had another big region win.

The Chiefs did control the ball for 29 minutes of the game. The problem was that the Panthers used their time to score 49 points on 480 yards of total offense and 221 yards of their offense was due to Fox’s 221 yards and four touchdowns. Kamren Long also scored, had 98 yards running and passed for 76 more. Other than Jonathan Evans’ touchdown from Mason Walker, the Chiefs did not have an effective offense. McNeely gave his usual effort, but the Panthers defense was not bending or breaking.

The Chiefs will return to The Hank again Friday night, this time against St. James.