What We Saw: Chester 58, Chapman 24
In this article:
INMAN | Chester rolled into Chapman with a powerful ground game, a capable quarterback, and a stingy defense. All of those factors played a part for the Cyclones. It was Chester’s two-way standouts, though, who made the biggest difference, sparking…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingINMAN | Chester rolled into Chapman with a powerful ground game, a capable quarterback, and a stingy defense. All of those factors played a part for the Cyclones.
It was Chester’s two-way standouts, though, who made the biggest difference, sparking the Cyclones to a 58-24 victory over the Panthers and into a third round trip to Daniel.
Antonio Hopkins Antonio Hopkins 5'11" | 180 lbs | LB Chester | 2024 State SC , Reggie Heath Reggie Heath 6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH Chester | 2024 State SC , and Kyan Kennedy Kyan Kennedy 6'3" | 215 lbs | TE Chester | 2024 State SC came up with huge contributions on both sides of the ball for Chester, and helped the Cyclones run away in a game that wasn’t as close as the score.
Kennedy returned from an injury, and caught four balls in the first half for 56 yards and a five-yard TD. He also played well defensively, helping anchor the front for the Cyclones.
“I told him all week he would have his biggest game of the year tonight,” Chester coach Victory Floyd said. “I thought he played great tonight.”
Heath had a phenomenal all-around game. He caught seven balls for 103 yards and a score, had one carry for an eight-yard touchdown, and picked off two passes, returning one for a 55-yard score.
Hopkins had a ridiculous night. He made double-digit tackles, living up to his Shrine Bowl defensive credentials, and was just as impressive on offense. He had five carries for 94 yards and two TDs, including a 46-yarder that included stiff-arming three separate Chapman defenders to the ground and running through a tackle at the goal line. He also caught a 22-yard TD on a fourth-down play to extend the Cyclones’ lead.
“Just big time plays by seniors,” Floyd said. “They were here two years ago when we beat (Chapman). They were sophomores. They’ve been here. That’s just big time plays by both of them, and it’s honestly what we expect of them.”
BALANCED NIGHT
Chester had an outstanding night on the ground, as Elijah Coleman Elijah Coleman 5'9" | 200 lbs | RB Clover | 2024 State SC rushed 29 times for 110 yards and a score, while the Cyclones had 300 as a team. Trooper Floyd Trooper Floyd 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Chester | 2025 State SC accounted for 74 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He was also sensational through the air. He hit his first six passes, was 11-for-12 in the first half, and finished 13-for-18 for 188 yards, including a near-perfect two-minute drill to close the first half.
TOUGH GOING
Chapman struggled offensively, particularly in the first half. The Panthers ran just 22 plays in the half, but still put up 10 points, including a 22-yard TD run from Coleman Gray Coleman Gray 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Chapman | 2024 State SC . They ran just nine in the third quarter before finding some offensive success late in the fourth, as Gray tossed a 10-yard TD pass to Rashawn Cunningham Rashawn Cunningham 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Chapman | 2024 State SC and Mathai Scott threw a three-yard TD on a halfback pass to Colton McPeters.