News - Sports

Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008

Chester 48, Lewisville 7

RICHBURG — A varsity debut of 238 passing yards with two touchdown passes was indeed an impressive stat line for Chester quarterback Tony McNeal last week in the Cyclones' 33-32 road loss to Union.

However, Chester coach Maurice Flowers analyzed the game film last weekend and knew that McNeal could do much better.

“He was 17-of-34 for 238 yards, but had at least six drops,” by Cyclone receivers, Flowers said. “And we knew that he could have made better decisions on a couple of more throws.”

Sure enough, McNeal topped his first performance by connecting on 19-of-34 passes for 340 yards and five touchdowns to lead Chester to a 48-7 road victory over Lewisville on Friday.

“I felt real good out and was real comfortable throwing to all of the receivers,” McNeal said.

The 6-1 sophomore connected with six different receivers, the most productive being senior Jeremy Hughes, who grabbed six passes for 181 yards and two scores. Fred Lee caught five for 68 and also two scores.

“He is outstanding to just be a sophomore and he is real exciting to work with,” Flowers added.

The Cyclone air show proved to be too explosive and fast for the Lions, who drop to 1-1 overall.

On the opening possession, McNeal connected on four-of-five attempts with a 32-yard pass falling into the arms of Hughes for the first score. A Lion punt to their own 25-yard line set up the second Chester score. Following an 18-yard completion from McNeal to Lee to the 4-yard line, running back Julius Pendergrass ran in untouched for the 14-0 Cyclone lead with 7:37 remaining in the first period.

McNeal continued to have the hot hand in the second quarter, connecting on three-of-four attempts for 63 yards to the Lion 10-yard line. That set up Pendergrass for his second score with a 10-yard run and 21-0 Chester lead.

The Cyclones got into the end zone once more before the half with McNeal finding Lee from 9-yards out.

Perhaps as impressive as McNeal’s performance was Chester kicker Marshall Whitesides, who booted the first Cyclone extra-point kick since the 2006 season. Whitesides was 6-of-7 on PAT’s after missing on three attempts in the season opener.

“We got a new snapper and holder,” Whitesides said in reference to Brian Caston and Austin Kerr. “We are in a good rhythm now.”

Lewisville avoided the shutout on their first possession of the second half. Isaiah Johnson, who returned the kickoff 45-yards to midfield, capped a 5-play drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.

Chester 48, Lewisville 7

Chester.....14.....14.....7.....13.....—.....48

Lewisville.....0.....0.....7.....0.....—.....7

SCORING SUMMARY

C — Tony McNeal 32-yard pass to Jeremy Hughes (Marshall Whitesides kick)

C — Julius Pendergrass 4-yard run (Whitesides kick)

C — Pendergrass 10-yard run (Whitesides kick)

C — McNeal 9-yard pass to Fred Lee (Whitesides kick)

L — Isaiah Johnson 5-yard run (Logan Pemberton kick)

C — McNeal 3-yard pass to Roberto Howze (Whitesides kick)

C — McNeal 83-yard pass to Hughes (kick blocked)

C — McNeal 1-yard pass to Lee (Whitesides kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

.....CHS..... LHS

First downs .....16.....12

Rushes-yards.....14-58.....48-139

Comp-Att-Int .....20-35-0.....4-10-2

Passing yards.....344.....25

Fumbles-lost.....0-0.....5-3

Penalties-yards.....14-130.....5-36

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Chester: Julius Pendergrass 7-36, Brent Minter 3-7, K.J. Dixon 3-7, Darian Rambert 1-8. Lewisville: Elijah Johnson 16-33, Isaiah Johnson 12-74, Timmy McCullough 5-11, Chris Brett 1-3, Calvin Cope 1-0, Tierrel Simpson 4-16, Corey Thomas 2-5, Laterious McCrorey 4-(-6), Larnell Robinson 1-3, Omar Talford 2-0.

PASSING — Chester: Tony McNeal 19-34-0-340; Tevin Worthy 1-1-0-4. Lewisville: Isaiah Johnson 4-10-2-25.

RECEIVING — Chester: Jeremy Hughes 6-181, Devin Jackson 2-24, Julius Pendergrass 1-22, Fred Lee 5-68, Bobby Kelly 4-31, Roberto Howze 2-20. Lewisville: Laterious McCrorey 2-31, Elijah Johnson 2-(-6).

RECORDS — Chester 1-1; Lewisville 1-1.