Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WELLSTON — For the South Point Pointers, it was about making clutch plays.

Each time Wellston made a play, the Pointers would answer with a big play of their own as they beat the Golden Rockets 24-21 Friday.

“We kept shooting ourselves in the foot, but we were able to overcome our mistakes. We had some people make some big plays,” said Pointers’ coach Rick Marcello.

Gage Townson and Tyler Branch made some of the biggest plays. Townson was 12 of 27 passing for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Branch had what proved to be the game-winning score as he returned an interception for a touchdown.

The Pointers (2-0) were leading 18-13 when Branch picked off a Braydon Womeldorf pass and returned it 40 yards for a score with 1:41 to play.

Wellston answered immediately as Michael Downer — who did not play in the first half — returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for the score. Kenny Trimble ran for the conversion and it was 24-21 with 1:27 to play.

But the Pointers were able to run out the clock and preserve the win.

South Point jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the first quarter.

Townson hooked up with Josh Browning on a 45-yard scoring pass and a 6-0 lead midway through the quarter.

After recovering a fumble, the Pointers scored again on a 1-yard run by Townson at the 4:30 mark and it was 12-0.

Wellston cut the deficit to 12-6 with 9:59 left in the half when Womeldorf got loose on a 60-yard run.

The score remained 12-6 until the fourth quarter when Womeldorf scored on a 10-yard run with 7:13 to go and the game was tied.

The Pointers took the lead for good when Townson connected with Mason White on a 34-yard touchdown pass at the 4:19 mark.

Branch then came up with his interception for the final big play.

South Point had 242 total yards with 83 coming on the ground. White had 35 yards on eight carries. Isaiah Jones caught three passes for 60 yards and Josh Browning had two catches for 55 yards.

Wellston (0-2) finished with 252 yards with Womeldorf accounting for 151 of those yards. He ran 12 times for 91 yards and hit 7 of 19 passes for 60 yards.

The Golden Rockets have five turnovers including three interceptions.

South Point 12 0 0 12 = 24

Wellston 0 6 0 15 = 21

First Quarter

SP — Josh Browning 45 pass from Gage Townson (kick blocked) 6:08

SP — Gage Townson 1 run (pass failed) 4:30

Second Quarter

We — Braydon Womeldorf 60 run (kick failed) 9:59

Fourth Quarter

We — Braydon Womeldorf 10 run (kick good) 7:13

SP — Mason White 34 pass from Gage Townson (pass failed) 4:19

SP — Tyler Branch 40 interception return (pass failed) 1:41

We — Michael Downer 70 kickoff return (Kenny Trimble run) 1:27

 

SP We

First downs 11 11

Rushes-yards 27-83 33-192

Passing yards 159 60

Total yards 242 252

Cmp-Att-Int 12-27-1 7-19-3

Penalties-yards 9-75 8-50

Fumbles-lost 3-1 4-2

Punts-average 5-21.0 2-38.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—South Point: Mason White 8-35, James Leonard 5-8, Gage Townson 12-6. Wellston: Braydon Womeldorf 12-91, Michael Downer 8-55, Cameron Williams 8-10, Forrest Hale 2-19.

PASSING—South Point: Gage Townson 12-27-1 159. Wellston: Braydon Womeldorf 7-19-3 60.

RECEIVING—South Point: Isaiah Jones 3-60, Josh Browning 2-55. Wellston: Jake Waldron 4-30, Kenny Trimble 1-25.