Timothy L. Hale
CHSR Editor & Publisher

(Game photos now online at CHHS Flickr site – http://bit.ly/t9sFu)

Chapel Hill's Andre Dawson (3) wraps up Lithia Springs' Brandon Oliver on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009. The Panthers defeated the Lions 46-0 in a non-region contest. Alan Cordrey/Chapel Hill Sports Report

The Chapel Hill Panthers scored early and scored often in the first half enroute to a 46-0 drumming of Lithia Springs in a non-region contest on Friday, August 28.

Touchdown runs by Mario Cannon, Derrick Parker, Trent White and Johnathan Parks through the first half paced the Panthers to victory.

Head coach Chris Parker said, “We expected the boys to play hard and I thought they did. The margin of victory is always not necessarily how the game goes.”

After forcing the Lions to four and out on their first possession, the Panthers started their first of many drives in the half inside Lithia Springs territory.

It only took six plays before Cannon raced 35 yards to the end zone for the first score. The extra point attempt was no good for a 6-0 Panther lead.

Both teams swapped possessions before Chapel Hill’s Derrick Parker snagged a Myles Mitchell interception at the Lithia Springs 38. Eleven plays later, it was Parker scoring from the Lions 21. James Harris’ extra point attempt was blocked but Parks snatched the ball out of the air and raced in for the two-point conversion to increase the lead 14-0.

In the second quarter, it was White’s turn for the score from five yards out at the 7:28 mark. Harris’ point after was good as the Panther lead increased, 21-0.

After another failed Lithia Springs drive, Chapel Hill was back in business, this time from Lions’ 22. Facing 3^rd and 5 at the Lions’ 5, Parks scampered in for the score. Harris kick was true and the Panthers were cruising, 28-0.

The half ended with Harris hitting a 36-yard field goal as time expired for a 31-0 lead.

Chapel Hill kept the scoring machine rolling right away in the 2^nd half.

Parks took the Lithia Springs kick-off at the 9 and raced up the middle slicing between good, cleaning blocking and raced in for the score. White converted a 2-point play and the Panthers had an insurmountable 39-0 lead.

“He ran hard, he burst in and we did a good job of blocking for him. We’ll take it,” Coach Parker said.

The rest of the quarter remained scoreless with both teams swapping possessions. Lithia Springs gave up an interception and a fumble while Chapel Hill also gave up a fumble and missed on a 54-yard field goal attempt.

Early in the fourth, the Lions were faced with 4^th and 14 at their own 30. Punter Jeremy Butler, who saw plenty of action during the game, kicked the ball into one of his own players. Chapel Hill’s Derrick Dooley picked up the loose ball at the Lions’ 18 and ran in for the final touchdown of the game. Sophomore Blake Butler polished off the TD with an extra point for a 46-0 lead with 9:46 remaining in the game.

With the game firmly in hand, coach Parker gave many of his varsity players a break and allowed some of his younger players in the game. Juniors D’Shawn Abercrombie and Chris Andrews saw plenty of action under center in the late stages of the game.

If there was a down side to the win, it would have to be Chapel Hill penalties, something that plagued the team during the scrimmage.

“I thought our guys played hard but we made a lot mistakes but we did capitalize on their mistakes. We’re happy with the result but we’ve still got a long way to go,” Coach Parker said. “It’s early in the season and it’s something that happens. They (the players) understand that we’ve got a long way to go.”

Unofficially, Cannon led the team in rushing with 126 yards rushing on 7 carries. “He hit the hole hard, the line did a good job coming off the ball and making the blocks.” He added the Parks did a good job isolating the blocks. “Everyone played a part in it but, yeah, he (Cannon) ran the ball well.”

As nice as it is to get that first win under their belt, coach Parker and his team knows that a big challenge lies ahead of them next week when they are on the road against Newnan for the first Region 4-AAAA game of the season. Kick-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.