By Thomas Grant Jr.
Chapin headed to The Swamp last Friday looking to secure its first region win in two years.
It was a seesaw battle which saw the Eagles take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter. River Bluff responded with 10 straight points in the final 12 minutes to deny Chapin by a 34-25 score.
The Eagles needed just three plays to take an early lead in the first minute. Quarterback Tyler Black found Charlie Todd for a long completion from the Chapin 10 to set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Charlie Howell.
River Bluff answered 25 seconds left with a 99-yard kickoff return TD by Darius Carter to tie the game. Chapin reclaimed the lead at 9-7 following an errant snap out of the endzone to punter Liam Flynn.
The Gators went ahead 14-9 with 3:01 left in the first quarter. Once again, it was Carter with the touchdown on a 71-yard pass reception from quarterback Davis Taylor.
A 33-yard field goal by Flynn to open the second quarter extended River Bluff’s lead to 17-9. Chapin answered with a 14-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown by Kingston Bowers to make it 17-15.
As time expired, the Eagles’ Beckham Diimler hit a 27-yard field goal to put his team up 18-17 at halftime. Late in the third quarter, River Bluff pulled off a successful fake punt as Flynn threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Reece Huffstetler.
The PAT put the Gators ahead 24-18 with 1:25 left in the third quarter. Just 13 seconds later, Black connected with Conner Finney for an 80-yard touchdown to put the Eagles back on top 25-24 following the extra point.
River Bluff opened the fourth quarter with a 3-play, 46-yard scoring drive to take the lead for good. Brayden Moore found Brady Barrineau for a 30-yard touchdown to make it 31-25.
Chapin was held scoreless in the fourth and Flynn added a 22-yard field goal with 1:34 left in the game.
Black finished 17-26 for 328 yards and a touchdown and Todd had 155 total yards for the Eagles (4-3, 0-1). Linebacker Patrick Collins had 11 tackles and defensive lineman Clint Gentry and linebacker Charles Ruff each had eight tackles.
Chapin now has the formidable task of trying to snap its 6-game region losing streak against 4-time defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork (5-0, 1-0). The Eagles are 0-13 all-time against the Silver Foxes, who are 50-2 in region play since 2015 and are riding a 16-game overall win streak.
(Photo by GoFlashwin.com)
