Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — That loud noise coming from coach Rick Marcello’s isn’t an upset stomach. It’s the beating of his heart.

The South Point Pointers came from behind late in the game for the fourth time this season as they rallied to beat the winless Rock Hill Redmen 45-36 Friday.

“I don’t know if my heart can keep taking this,” said Marcello after the Pointers battled back from an early 24-7 deficit.

“We knew we just needed to have some possessions and we could score. We played better defense in the second half, but it took us longer to respond than I wanted.”

Quarterback Gage Townson helped spark the Pointers’ comeback. He was 13-of-18 passing for 186 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran 12 times for 82 yards and two scores.

James Leonard ran 10 times for 75 yards and two touchdowns while Mason White had 75 yards on 11 carries and a score to lead South Point’s ground game.

Audric Harlow had one catch for 42 yards and a TD. Trent Allen caught four passes for 91 yards, Josh Browning two grabs for 25 yards and Isaih Jones had four receptions for 29 yards.

Rock Hill (0-7, 0-2) got an outstanding performance from Chance Blankenship who ran 26 times for 261 yards and three touchdowns.

Drew McClaskey put Rock Hill up 6-0 with a 44-yard run with just under two minutes into the game. Jonah Cox ran 1-yard for a score and the lead was 12-0.

White’s 2-yard scoring run got the Pointers within 12-7, but Blankenship bolted 50 yards for a touchdown and an 18-7 lead.

Gabe Marzicola — who missed last week with an injury — returned and ran 2 yards for a score as Rock Hill took a 24-7 lead with 8:22 left in the half.

Townson then hit Harlow with a 42-yard scoring strike and followed that with his own 2-yard scoring run as South Point trailed 24-20 with 3:24 on the clock.

But Blankenship pushed the lead to 30-20 with a 61-yard gallop with two minutes left in the half.

The Pointers (5-2, 1-1) then got a key score as Townson ran 23 yards with only 58 seconds on the clock and it was 30-27 at the half.

Leonard’s 2-yard scoring run at the 5:32 mark of the third quarter gave South Point its first lead at 33-30, but Blankenship answered with a 6-yard touchdown run and the Redmen were up 36-33 with 1:50 on the clock.

South Point finally regained the lead for good with just 3:19 to play on a 26-yard run by Leonard and it was 39-36.

With time running out, Rock Hill went to the air only to have Browning pick off a pass and return it 31 yards for a touchdown with 2:10 to play.

Tyler Branch had 17 tackles and Reed Murnahan 15 to pace the Pointers’ defense.

South Point 7 20 6 12 = 45

Rock Hill 18 12 6 0 = 36

First Quarter

RH — Drew McClaskey 44 run (run failed) 10:57

RH — Jonah Cox 1 run (run failed) 6:04

SP — Mason White 2 run (Jordan Overstreet kick) 5:15

RH — Chance Blankenship 50 run (run failed) 3:49

Second Quarter

RH — Gaba Marzicola 2 run (run failed) 8:22

SP — Audric Harlow 42 pass from Gage Townson (Alex Whitt kick) 7:48

SP — Gage Townson 1 run (kick failed) 3:24

RH — Chance Blankenship 61 run (run failed) 2:00

SP — Gage Townson 23 run (Alex White kick) 0:58

Third Quarter

SP — James Leonard 2 run (kick failed)

RH — Chance Blankenship 6 run (run failed) 1:50

Fourth Quarter

SP – James Leonard 26 run (kick failed) 3:19

SP — Josh Browning 31 interception return (run failed) 2:10