Chesterfield downs Carvers Bay, wins state title

CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENTS

Chesterfied's Derrick McQueen (28) charges down the field as Carvers Bay faced Chesterfield in the Division 1 Class A State Championship football game.

Carvers Bay's Clayton Geathers (26) head to the ground after getting hit by two Cherterfield defenders.

View more images from the championship game, click here.

ORANGEBURG — One of the big questions entering Friday’s Class A Division I state title game was whether a youthful Carvers Bay team could slow down Chesterfield’s high-octane offense.

But by the end of the game, it was the Rams’ defense that was getting all the attention.

Chesterfield shut out Carvers Bay for the first time since 2004, holding the Bears to 122 yards of offense in a 21-0 victory at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

The win is the Rams second state title in as many years, and marks the third straight year the two teams have played for the state championship.

“We had a lot of people who didn’t think we’d make it back here,” Carvers Bay coach Nate Thompson said. “I’m proud of how our kids responded. It was a tough road here, and even though we didn’t play as well as I’d hoped, they never quit."

Big plays, poor field position and a slow start all contributed to the Bears’ defeat.

On Chesterfield’s first drive, quarterback Akeem Johnson went 3-for-4 for 58 yards. Johnson connected with Jonathan Murvin on a 24-yard touchdown pass as Murvin and Carvers Bay’s Davious Chestnut both had their hands on the ball in the end zone.

“That play really set us up for the rest of the game,” Chesterfield coach Steve Taneyhill said. “It could have been an interception, but wound up being a heckuva play.
“That’s how a lot of our games have been. Our offense hits a few big plays and then our defense settles in."

And the Rams defense settled in quickly. Carvers Bay went four and out on its first two drives before finally picking up a first down with time winding down in the first quarter. The Bears managed just six first downs the entire game.

“They have a great defense,” Thompson said. “We were limited a couple times in what we could do and they made sure they shut down the running game."

“I think the biggest key was just making sure we tackled,” Taneyhill said. “Once one of our kids got their hands on them, they didn’t let them go and make a big play."

The Rams had no problems in the running game in the first half. Derrick McQueen rushed for 113 of his 156 yards and Sergio Johnson scored two rushing touchdowns as Chesterfield built a 21-0 halftime lead.

The Bears managed little more in the second half. Carvers Bay was in Chesterfield territory just once after a muffed 10-yard punt. Otherwise, the Bears spent most of their time near their own end zone.

“It does limit a lot of what you’re able to do,” Thompson said. “But we could never get any kind of rhythm on offense and they did a good job of taking away a lot of the things we like to do."

Chestnut finished with 42 yards rushing to lead the Bears. Andre Anklin had 31 while Clayton Geathers finished with 30.

Carvers Bay quarterback Carlton Linnen was 5-of-9 for minus-2 yards and one interception.

Johnson finished with 162 yards passing, one touchdown and one pick for the Rams.