Chatham rallies, falls short against Dan River

CHATHAM — Chatham rallied from a two-score deficit in the second half to take its first lead of the game late in the third quarter but couldn’t hang on as Dan River slipped away with an 18-12 Dogwood District victory on Friday night.

Dan River running back DeMarrio Hunt scampered 64 yards to pay dirt on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving Dan River an 18-12 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

“We can’t keep spotting the opponent two touchdown leads and expect to win games,” Chatham coach Malon Dalton said.

Dan River (1-2) linebacker Ladarius Davis broke through the line to block a Chatham punt on the Cavaliers’ first drive to set the Wildcats up on the Chatham 35-yard line. Four plays later — on a fourth-and-3 — Dan River quarterback Kevin Eldridge found Charles Warren for a 28-yard touchdown pass to put the Wildcats up 6-0 with 3:03 left in the first quarter. The point after was blocked.

After some nifty moves by Cavaliers running back Josh Witcher on Chatham’s next possession, the Cavs fumbled the ball back to the Wildcats near midfield.

D’Anthony Dickerson punched it in from nine yards out, giving Dan River a 12-0 lead with 9:08 left in the half. Again the conversion was no good, and Dan River took that advantage into the locker room.

Chatham seemed to have found momentum, surprisingly, after a three-and-out to start the second half. Dan River turned the ball over on its first play as the snap sailed over the head of Eldridge, and Chatham recovered on the Wildcats’ 19-yard line. Four plays later, Cavalier quarterback Buzz Keel called his own number and scored from three yards out with 7:29 left, cutting Chatham’s deficit to 12-7.

On Chatham’s next possession, Keel hit Cam McClennan for a 25-yard touchdown pass to give the Cavaliers a 14-12 lead with just 5:06 left in the third. But that was all the offense Chatham was able to muster, and Dan River was able to retake the lead early in the fourth quarter.

On Chatham’s ensuing drive after surrendering the lead, Keel was intercepted by Justin Gunter for the second time in the game.