FC Pioneers blank the Panthers 17-0

By JIM CUNNINGHAM/Staff

The Fort Chiswell Pioneers overcome some offensive miscues to defeat the Northwood Panthers 17-0 in a non-district football game played Friday night at the Fort.
The Pioneers racked up a total of 247 rushing yards, had 21 first downs and were down in scoring range several times, but had trouble capping off drives due to fumbles. FC fumbled five times in the game and lost four of those.
The Pioneer defense was up to the challenge every time, however, to boost FC’s record to 2-1.
Northwood falls to 0-3.
“Defensively, we played well,” said Fort Chiswell Head Coach Stephen James.
But he was concerned about the way the offense played. “To play like we did, we were fortunate to win…We’ve got to hold onto the football. We missed some (scoring) opportunities, but our defense stepped up.”
Everything considered, the coach liked the outcome. “I’ll take a sloppy win over a loss any day,” he said.
FC running back Chris Rodriguez was the leading rusher with 163 yards on 25 carries. FC quarterback Hody Viars completed six of his 13 passes for 106 yards. Will Freeman also saw action at quarterback for FC and completed one of his two passes.
A large home crowd at C.F. McKinney Stadium saw the Pioneers receive the game’s opening kickoff on a mild (temperatures in the low 70s) early September night.
But two plays later, the Pioneers lost their first fumble of the night, and the Panthers took over at the FC 42-yard line.
Northwood moved the ball to around the FC 25, but the Pioneer defense held firm after that as the FC offense took over on downs.
The situation repeated itself on the next series, as FC lost the ball again on a fumble and the Panthers took over just inside the FC 20.
Once again the Pioneer defense held and forced NHS to give it up on downs.
Fort Chiswell’s third possession of the game proved to be a charm as the Pioneers moved downfield, mostly due to the running of Rodriguez and a Viars pass to Bradley Robinson.
The drive was culminated on a one-yard TD run by Viars on a quarterback keeper. Kyle Mabry kicked the extra point to make it a 7-0 game with 3:02 left in the first quarter.
The FC offense got the ball back almost immediately when Jacob Henley made an interception and returned the ball to the NHS 20.
Rodriguez ripped off eight yards on the next play, and Viars passed to Anthony Whisman to set up first and goal from the 10.
But the Pioneer offense stalled, and the Panthers took over on downs.
Neither team was able to mount a threat for the remainder of the first quarter and into the second quarter until the Pioneers took over possession near midfield with only 22 seconds left in the first half.
Viars passed to Michael Dunford for a big gain that set up a 24-yard field goal by Mabry with only four seconds left in the half to boost FC’s lead to 10-0.
Bodie Keesee gave Northwood good field position to begin the second half when he returned the kickoff to the FC 39.
But the Pioneer defense allowed only seven yards after that to take over on downs.
The Pioneers put together a good drive that was highlighted by several good runs by Rodriguez and a couple of nice keeper plays by Viars as FC moved down to the NHS six, first and goal.
But two plays later, the Pioneers lost another fumble.
Robinson ended the Northwood possession with an interception, and the Pioneers went back to work at the NHS 42 near the end of the third quarter.
Robinson caught another pass later during the series to set up first and goal at the four, and Rodriguez took it over on the next play with 11:23 left in the fourth quarter. Mabry’s kick made it 17-0.
A slow, steady rain began falling about midway in the fourth quarter and continued until the end.
Parker Mabe later made an interception for Fort Chiswell and returned it to the Northwood 28. But the Pioneers lost another fumble on the next play.
Neither team threatened for the rest of the game.

Northwood 0 0 0 0 – 0
Fort Chiswell 7 3 0 7 – 17

Scoring:
FC – Hody Viars 1 run (Mabry kick)
FC – FG Mabry 24
FC – Chris Rodriguez 4 run (Mabry kick)
(T – 2:06)