Weather, Char-Houston slow down Bentworth
Bentworth’s Riley Nickeson breaks the tackles of Chartiers-Houston’s Matt Whitfield and Noah Minney Friday during the first half.
Chartiers-HoustonþÄôs Cody Scears runs the ball down the field during the first half of the game against Bentworth.
Bentworth’s Marquez Bentley tackles Chartiers-Houston’s Jordan Davis Friday forcing a second-quarter fumble.
Bentworth’s Marquez Bentley celebrates after his teammate Ryan Wise recovers a second-quarter fumble Friday.
Chartiers-Houston’s Cody Scears is tackled down by Bentworth’s Tom Wade during Friday night’s game.
ELLSWORTH – For Coach Ron Skiles’ Bentworth Bearcats, scoring points were not a problem in the early stages of the 2016 season.
But sometimes forces out of one’s control can alter offensive output.
A savage Chartiers-Houston defense along with heavy rains and lightning stifled the Bearcats and earned the visitors a 12-3 win Friday night in Ellsworth.
Both teams were forced to play in a quagmire following a 62-minute delay for thunderstorms.
Bentworth (1-1, 2-1) had multiple chances to score when the field was dry but was done in by turnovers. The most critical came early in the third quarter when Josh Hughes was intercepted by RJ Hall at the Bucs’ 24. The interception came after the Bearcats moved swiftly into Chartiers-Houston (1-0, 2-1) territory on their first second-half possession.
Just before the delay and after the Hall pick, the Bucs moved deep inside Bearcats territory. They faced fourth-and-goal after the delay from the 1, where AJ Myers plunged into the end zone. The kick was no good, leaving Chartiers Houston’s lead at 6-3 midway through the third quarter.
After a three-and-out by Bentworth, the Bucs offense again took the field and marched 37 yards in four plays. TJ Johnston found Jordan Davis in the end zone for a 22-yard score and a 12-3 lead late in the third.
Midway through the fourth, Bentworth attempted a fake punt from its own 34, but Ryan Wise was stopped short of the first down on the Bearcats 41.
But the Bearcats forced a turnover on downs on their own 10 and took over with 3:57 left.
Facing fourth-and-11 with 1:16 remaining, Hughes was flushed from the pocket and stopped two yards short of the first down, giving the ball and game to the Bucs.
Bentworth was handed positive field position early in the first quarter. Myers was set up to punt on the Bucs 30, but the snap sailed over his head. Bentworth took possession at the 18, but could not move a yard. That set up a Levi Jordan 35-yard field goal that would be Bentworth’s only points of the evening.
The Bucs turned away Bentworth late in the half as well. Myers misplayed a punt deep inside Bucs real estate. Ryan Wise fell on the ball at the Char-Houston 2. However, on the ensuing play, Riley Nickeson was stripped of the ball and Donald Greene recovered in the end zone for the Bucs, keeping the Bearcats’ lead at 3-0 at the half.