Bath crushes Pendleton 41-6

Hot Springs, Virginia – The Bath County Chargers hosted the Pendleton County Wildcats Friday night in Hot Springs. The Chargers needed a convincing win to tune up for the upcoming state playoffs – and they got it – with a 41-6 shellacking of the Cats.

The Chargers made impressive scoring drives of 98 and 90 yards in the first half. RB Christian Woodzell broke tackles for a five-yard TD in the first quarter and Raymond Miller threw a 60-yard TD pass to Ryan Plecker in the second quarter. Miller completed to Chris Nichols for a two-point conversion following Plecker’s score.

Bath held a 14-0 lead at halftime but blew the game open after the break.

Miller connected with Plecker for a 43-yard TD pass early in the third quarter, giving the Chargers a 20-0 advantage.

Later in the third quarter, the Charger defense forced a Wildcat punt from the end zone and Bath took over on the Pendleton 40. After the Chargers advanced the ball to the Wildcat three, big lineman Mitchell Stinespring got the call and muscled his way to paydirt. Miller connected with Aaron Newmarker for a two-point conversion, putting the Chargers ahead 28-0.

The Chargers recovered a Wildcat fumble in the fourth quarter and had the turkey on the table at the Pendleton 22. Matthew Quantz capped the short drive with a one-yard TD plunge and Lucas Hodge kicked a good extra point, giving the Chargers a comfortable 35-0 lead.

Pendleton avoided the shutout late in the fourth quarter with a 10-yard TD pass, after the Chargers had pulled many of their starters.

As time ran out, Wells, who had a 60-yard punt return for an apparent TD negated by a penalty in the first quarter, scooped up a Wildcat fumble and dashed 94 yards for a TD, making the final 41-6 Bath County.

Miller completed seven out of ten passes for 132 yards and two TDs. Plecker caught three passes for 109 yards and a two TD`s. Woodzell carried six times for 45 yards and a score.

Miller was selected as the player of the game and lineman Levi Riley was named the unsung hero of the game.

Bath County finished the regular season with a 4-6 record and qualified for the Eastern Section Division I playoffs at the number 12 spot. The Chargers travel 250 miles to Franklin, Virginia on November 11 to challenge the Franklin Broncos in a first-round playoff game.