Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — The Rock Hill Redmen proved to be bullies. They spent the second half picking on the River Valley Raiders.

Sparked by four interceptions, the Redmen rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit to beat the Raiders 39-31 Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Rock Hill (1-7, 1-2) got two interceptions from senior Jordan Hairston that helped set up touchdowns. Austin Collins and Chance Blankenship also had interceptions.

The big defensive plays were needed with both teams racking up more than 400 yards of offense.

Rock Hill ran 50 times for 329 yards. Jonah Cox carried 21 times for 150 yards and two scores. Chance Blankenship had 119 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown.

Quarterback Gabe Marzicola was 5-of-9 for 108 yards and a touchdown. Austin Collins caught three passes for 79 yards and the TD.

The Raiders struggled on the ground with just 52 yards, but quarterback Dayton Hardway was 26-of-49 for 371 yards and two scores. However, he suffered the four interceptions that ignited Rock Hill’s comeback.

River Valley (1-7, 0-3) took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 27-yard field goal by Devin McDonald.

Hardway threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Austin Bradley and Dustin Bickers ran 3 yards for a score in the second quarter as the lead went to 17-0 just before the half.

The Redmen began their comeback in the third quarter.

Jonah Cox ran 1-yard for a score and Jake Malone kicked the extra point and it was 17-7. Marzicola and Collins hooked up on a 19-yard scoring pass and it was 17-13 with 1:35 left in the quarter.

The Raiders extended their lead to 24-13 on a 1-yard scoring run by Bradley with 9:35 left.

Rock Hill answered as Cox ran 1-yard for a touchdown with 6:46 left and it was 24-19.

But then the Redmen began scoring in machine gun fashion as they began to pick off passes.

Marzicola ran 2 yards for a touchdown with 4:47 left and the Redmen led 25-24 with 4:47 to play.

After another interception, Marzicola ran 18 yards for a touchdown with 3:21 left and Malone’s kick boosted the lead to 32-24.

With 1:58 to go, Blankenship ran 5 yards for a touchdown and the Rock Hill lead was a comfortable 39-24.

River Valley got its final touchdown with just 33 seconds to play on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Hardway to Bickers.

Brandon Blankenship led the Rock Hill defense with 10 tackles. Drew McClaskey had five stops.

River Valley 3 14 0 14 = 31

Rock Hill 0 0 13 26 = 39

First Quarter

RV — Devin McDonald 27 field goal 3:17

Second Quarter

RV — Austin Bradley 5 pass from Dayton Hardway (Devin McDonald kick) 4:50

RV — Dustin Bickers 3 run (Devin McDonald kick) 0:58

Third Quarter

RH — Jonah Cox 1 run (Jake Malone kick) 7:29

RH — Austin Collins 19 pass from Gabe Marzicola (kick failed) 1:35

Fourth Quarter

RV — Austin Bradley 1 run (Devin McDonald kick) 9:35

RH — Jonah Cox 1 run (pass failed) 6:46

RH — Gabe Marzicola 2 run (run failed) 4:47

RH — Gabe Marzicola 18 run (Jake Malone kick) 3:21

RH — Chance Blankenship 5 run (Jake Malone kick) 1:58

RV — Dustin Bickers 31 pass from Dayton Hardway (Devin McDonald kick) 0:33

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RV RH

First downs 20 18

Rushes-yards 18-52 50-329

Passing yards 371 108

Total yards 423 437

Cmp-Att-Int 26-49-4 5-9-0

Penalties-yards 11-80 9-95

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Punts-average 1-21.0 4-31.3

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—River Valley: Justin Arrowood 10-49, Austin Bradley 4-3, Dustin Bickers 1-3, Mark Wray 2-2, Dayton Hardway 1-minus 5. Rock Hill: Jonah Cox 21-150 2TD, Chance Blankenship 17-119 TD, Gabe Marzicola 9-56 2TD, Jordan Hairston 1-6, Jordan Blagg 1-minus 2, team 1-0.

PASSING—River Valley: Dayton Hardway 26-49-4 371 2TD. Rock Hill: Gabe Marzicola 5-9-0 108 TD.

RECEIVING—River Valley: Austin Bradley 13-196 TD, Kirk Morrow 9-133, Dustin Bickers 1-25 TD, Tyler Twyman 2-10. Rock Hill: Austin Collins 3-79 TD, Drew McClaskey 2-29.