The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS – One thing for certain about the 2023 Bath County Chargers (2-0) football team, they’re fun to watch!
This past Friday, Bath County picked up their second straight win to open the season following a 52-38 victory over the Page County Panthers.
While the Chargers win moved them to a 2-0, it marked their historic first ever victory over the Panthers.
Against Page County on Friday, Bath County dominated the Panthers.
Well, for at least the first three quarters.
As the Chargers built a 30-point lead after three quarters of football, the Panthers in the fourth quarter scored 22 straight points to cut the lead to just eight points. The closest the Panthers would get within reach of the Chargers was at 45-38 with 3:17 left in the game.
Backed behind star quarterback Wyatt Campbell, Bath County built a lead early on that looked insurmountable.
Last week it was Luke Turner on the opening kickoff who scored for the Chargers. While it was not the opening kickoff, Campbell on the second play from scrimmage on a quarterback keeper, put the ball in the endzone on a 66-yd rushing score for the games first points.
Campbell, who is so talented with his razzle and dazzle ability to throw off the opposing defense with his leg work and agility, did just that on what was the first of his career-high seven total touchdowns. Campbell ran to the left side of the field to gain enough yardage for at least a first down. However, as Campbell cut back to the middle of the football field, he found an opening and wound up finding enough of a gap where he saw nothing but green grass in the open field.
Bath County, who had built a 38-8 halftime lead on Page County, did find themselves trailing the Panthers early on during the first quarter.
Following Campbell’s 66-yd touchdown run, the Panthers answered on their opening drive on an 81-yd TD run from Hunter Pettit. The Panthers would take an 8-7 lead following the success of their two-point attempt. The Panthers went 4-for-5 on two-point attempts in the loss to the Chargers.
Page County’s only lead of the game would last for just over six minutes as Bath County would go on to score 31 unanswered points the rest of the half.
The scoring run started on a 32-yd field goal by Andrew Turner. Turner would go on to have a big day with his leg as he made all seven of his extra point kick attempts.
A mere few minutes later following an unsuccessful drive for Page County, Campbell found the endzone for the second time as he returned a 62-yd punt for the score. The touchdown may have not occurred had it not been for a big block at midfield by Aidan St. Clair as he opened the lane for Campbell to break free for the score.
In the second quarter, Campbell would go on to have three more scores as the Chargers built their 30-point lead.
Campbell would rush for a touchdown and threw two touchdown passes during the second period. Campbell connected with Braiden Mabe for an 18-yd touchdown pass. Then with just under a minute left in the half, Campbell connected with Ethan Bryant on a 38-yd touchdown pass.
The Week 1 Virginian Review Bath County football player of the week Campbell finished with 97 passing yards and 223 yards rushing in the win over Page County.
As Page County closed the gap to seven points in the fourth quarter, it was Campbell who sealed the victory with a 61-yd touchdown run with just over three minutes remaining.
The comeback bid may have gone unsuccessfully for Page County, but it’ll benefit the team in the long run the rest of the season as they will look to rebound following an 0-2 start to their 2023 campaign.
Panthers star quarterback Pettit finished the game with over 150 yards passing and 100 yards rushing. Pettit had two touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown. Meanwhile, Kevin Cowgill had a big game as well as he finished with over 100 yards receiving and two touchdown receptions.
This Friday, Bath County heads on the road to West Virginia to play against the Richwood Lumberjacks.
Page County at Bath County
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ttl
PCHS 8 0 0 30 38
BCHS 17 21 7 14 52
Scoring Plays
First Quarter
11:37 – BCHS – Campbell 66yd run (Extra Point) 7-0 BCHS
10:19 – PCHS – 7 81yd run (2pt attempt successful) 8-7 PCHS
4:03 – BCHS – Turner 32yd field goal. 10-8 BCHS
1:25 – BCHS – Campbell 62yd punt return (Extra Point) 17-8 BCHS
Second Quarter
6:13 – BCHS Campbell 18yd pass to 30 TD Extra Point) 24-8 BCHS
4:01 – BCHS Campbell 8yd run (Extra Point) 31-8 BCHS
0:43 – BCHS Campbell 38yd TD pass to 4 (Extra Point) 38-8 BCHS
Third Quarter
No Scoring
Fourth Quarter
11:52 – PCHS 21 15yd rush TD (2pt attempt successful) 38-16 BCHS
9:51 – PCHS 7 24yd TD pass to 3 (2pt attempt successful) 38-24 BCHS
8:39 – PCHS 35 78yd fumble recovery (2pt attempt fails) 38-30 BCHS
3:41 – BCHS Campbell 1yd TD run (Extra Point) 45-30 BCHS
3:17 – PCHS 7 80yd TD pass to 3 (2pt attempt successful) 45-38 BCHS
3:05 – BCHS Campbell 61yd run (Extra Point) 52-38 BCHS
