The 5A Chelsea Hornets (8-3) saw an exceptional season come to a close at home last Friday night falling to (8-3) J.O. Johnson 42-17.

The Hornets, who defeated Briarwood for the Region 5 crown, fell in their final two games of the regular season including the loss to J.O. Johnson in the first round of the state playoffs.

First year head football coach Wade Waldrop said he was disappointed that the team lost its last two games.

&8220;Obviously we were disappointed about the results last Friday,&8221; said Waldrop. &8220;I didn&8217;t feel like we played our defensive football game.&8221;

But Waldrop gave credit to J.O. Johnson for keeping the pressure on the Hornets.

Chelsea gave up 202 yards rushing and 170 yards passing for 372 yards total offense to J. O. Johnson.

While the Hornets were able to rush for 239 yards and passed for 55 yards for 294 yards total offense, the contest was almost all J.O. Johnson.

Chelsea scored first on a 26-yard field goal in the firsts quarter and added a Brett Hancock 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. But J.O. Johnson jumped out to a 29-10 lead scoring 29 points in the second quarter alone.

Chelsea quarterback Coty McLaughlin completed seven of 16 passes for 55 yards and two interceptions. Blake Yance suffered one interception on his only pass attempt for the Hornets.

Austin Vinsant led Chelsea rushers with 85 yards on 13 carries. Hancock rushed for 56 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries and Yance carried the ball twice for 54 yards.

The Hornets were able to add a 1-yard David Strider touchdown run in the fourth quarter, but the contest had long since been decided as the visitors led 42-17.

Waldrop said winning the region championship in 2006 was good for the Chelsea kids and the program.

He said Chelsea would replace 17 graduating seniors with 22 juniors next year.

While he said some players will be lost who cannot be replaced, Waldrop said he expects some young faces to step up for the Hornets next season