By ANDREW FAISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
andrew.faison@yahoo.com

WINDSOR—Windsor was unable to overcome a 20-point halftime deficit, losing 28-14 to Charles City Panthers in the Tri-Rivers match-up on Friday night.

“I am proud of our kids tonight,” said Windsor Head Coach Chuck Parrish. “The way they played during the game, and in the second half, we fought and got after it.”

The Dukes’ defense held Charles City to 169 yards of total offense.

“I am proud of our defense,” said Parrish. “We held them to 28 points; they have been scoring in the 40-plus range per game, and defensively, I thought we played well all game. ”

Leading the Dukes was Mark Fenner who had 12 rushes for 48 yards and a receiving touchdown, while Oris Bowers had an additional 12 carries for 47 yards and a rushing touchdown. Austin Winkles went 5 for 13 in the air for 88 yards with one interception and one touchdown.

“Offensively, it took us a little bit to get going,” said Parrish. “We would do good things to get the momentum on our side, then we would hurt ourselves with a missed block, penalties, bad snap, things of that nature.”

For the Panthers, Avery Jones went 8 for 15 while passing for 93 yards with one touchdown.

Jones ran the opening kickoff 75 yards to the Windsor 4-yard line. With 1:16 expired off the clock, Avery Jones found Dominic Jones in the end zone for a 4-yard passing touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good.

With 4:18 left in the second quarter Avery Jones hit Dominic Jones for an 11-yard touchdown pass. Avery Jones ran in the 2-point conversion.

The Dukes began the second half with possession of the ball, and proceeded to grind it out with the rushing game. The opening drive of the second half lasted 8 minutes for the Dukes and resulted in a touchdown as Bowers found the end zone from 5 yards out. The 2-point conversion by Bowers was good.

“In the second half, we gutted that thing right out,” said Parrish.

With 3:50 left in the third quarter, Gregory Cottman fumbled the kickoff return, and Winkles recovered for the Dukes. The Dukes were unable to capitalize on the turnover, but only allowed Charles City to run one offensive play during the third quarter.

The Panthers found the end zone again as Joseph Tabb ran the ball in from 7 yards out with 8:48 left in the game. The extra point was no good.

With 5:25 left in the game, Windsor took over the ball on the Panther’s 49-yard line. On the Dukes’ opening play of the drive, Winkles hit a 41-yard pass to David Cooper, which put them on the Panther’s 8-yard line.

After a penalty set the Dukes back 7 yards, Winkles found Fenner in the end zone capping of a 49-yard, 29-second drive. The extra point attempt was no good.

The Dukes host the Sussex Central Tigers next week at home; game time is 7 p.m.