Football: Chesapeake Advances to Regional Finals

What started as a nightmare has slowly evolved into a dream season for .

Running back Malcolm Dowery rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, as Chesapeake defeated Lake Clifton, 38-0, in a Class 2A North semifinals Friday at CCBC Essex.

The Bayhawks (8-3), , will play in the region finals next week against the winner of the other semifinal between Dundalk (5-5) and Edmondson (6-4). That game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute.

“We made plays when we had to on offense and our defense did what they were supposed to and that is hold the other team in check,” Dowery said.

Chesapeake put Lake Clifton away in the second quarter when they scored 24 points. Dowery scored first on a 3-yard touchdown run that capped an 11-play, 89-yard drive with 5:12 left in the first half.

Senior linebacker Rodney Jenkins then scored two touchdowns less than a minute later. His first came as he blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone with 4:26 left in the quarter.

Then just 11 seconds later, Jenkins scored again on a fumble recovery and scampered 12 yards in for the score to extend the lead to 32-0.

“I just saw the ball each time and took advantage of the situation,” Jenkins said. “This was a big win for this program and we’ll be ready for whoever we have to play next.”

Quarterback Russell Sprague scored Chesapeake’s other two touchdowns. His first came on a 2-yard run in the first quarter followed by a 1-yard score in the final minute of the game.

With the win, Chesapeake returned to the regional finals for the second time in three seasons. The Bayhawks have not reached the state semifinals since their lone appearance in 1984.

“We’ve already surpassed our goals for the year,” said first-year Chesapeake coach Rocco Bruno. “We want to win our division in the county and we did that. Now we’re going to ride this wave and see where it takes us.”

Lake Clifton finished its season 6-5.

CHESAPEAKE 38, LAKE CLIFTON 0

1st Quarter

CH—Safety 7:55

CH—Sprague 2 run (run failed) 4:11

2nd Quarter

CH—Dowery 3 run (Dowery run) 5:12

CH—Jenkins blocked punt( Sprague pass) 4:26

CH—Jenkins fumble recovery (Sprague pass) 4:15

4th Quarter

CH—Sprague 1 run (run failed)