Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — The South Point Pointers revved up their engine and then put it on cruise control.

The Pointers jumped out to a 26-7 lead and never looked back as they cruised past the River Valley Raiders 47-28 Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We played pretty well early and Isaiah (Jones) had a nice game. We jumped out to a big lead early and then we kind of relaxed,” said Pointers’ coach Rick Marcello.

“But give River Valley credit. We let them hang around and they kept battling.”

Jones had eight receptions for 201 yards and three touchdowns to spark the Pointers’ offense. Quarterback Gage Townson was 15-of-34 for 256 yards and three TDs.

The Pointers running game was just as potent with 236 yards. James Leonard ran 16 times for 144 yards and a touchdown. Leonard also returned an interception for a score.

South Point is 7-2 and 3-1 in the OVC. The Pointers are ninth in the computer ratings and need a win over Coal Grove next Friday along with some outside help in order to get a playoff berth.

River Valley was held to a minus 36 net yards rushing. Quarterback Dayton Hardway was 17-of-35 passing for 297 yards but lost 52 yards on the ground.

Austin Bradley caught eight passes for 123 yards for the Raiders (1-8, 0-4).

The game was scoreless until Leonard ran 7 yards for a touchdown at the 4:40 mark of the first quarter and it was 6-0.

Moments later, Townson and Jones hooked up on a 51-yard scoring strike and Alex Whitt’s kick made it 13-0.

Dustin Bickers return the kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown as River Valley cut the deficit to 13-7.

But Jones and Townson teamed up on a 58-yard scoring pass 21 seconds later and it was 20-7 with 2:09 on the clock.

Leonard then had a pick six at the 1:08 mark and the lead was 26-7.

Townson and Jones clicked on a 31-yard scoring pass and Audric Harlow threw to Josh Browning for the conversion and the lead was 34-7 with 3:58 left in the half.

River Valley scored just before the half on a 27-yard pass to Bradley. Devin McDonald’s kick made it 34-14 at the break.

Bradley ran 2 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter and it was 34-21, but Browning put a charge in the crowd with an 82-yard kickoff return and Jordon Overstreet’s kick put the lead at 41-21 with 3:12 left in the quarter.

Hardway and Mark Wray put together a 64-yard scoring pass as the Raiders cut the deficit to 41-28, but they could get no closer.

The Pointers second unit got the game’s final score on a 20-yard run by Jacob Damron with 57 seconds on the clock. They took a knee on the conversion.

River Valley 7 7 14 0 = 28

South Point 26 8 7 0 = 47

First Quarter

SP — James Leonard 7 run (kick failed) 4:40

SP — Isaiah Jones 51 pass from Gage Townson (Alex Whitt kick) 2:49

RV — Dustin Bickers 94 kickoff return (Devin McDonald kick) 2:30

SP — Isaiah Jones 58 pass from Gage Townson (Jordan Overstreet kick) 2:09

SP — James Leonard 30 interception return (kick failed) 1:08

Second Quarter

SP — Isaiah Jones 31 pass from Gage Townson (Josh Browning pass from Audric Harlow) 3:58

RV — Austin Bradley 27 pass from Dayton Hardway (Devin McDonald kick) 0:40

Third Quarter

RV — Austin Bradley 2 run (Devin McDonald kick) 3:25

SP — Josh Browning 82 kickoff return (Jordan Overstreet kick) 3:12

RV — Mark Wray 64 pass from Dayton Hardway (Devin McDonald kick) 2:50

SP — Jacob Damron 20 run (no attempt) 0:57

RV SP

First downs 12 19

Rushes-yards 21-minus 36 35-236

Yards passing 297 256

Total yards 261 492

Cmp-Att-Int 17-35-2 15-35-1

Fumbles-lost 2-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 3-20 16-135

Punts-average 7-36.0 4-29.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—River Valley: Justin Arrowood 4-12, Gage Overstreet 1-2, Austin Bradley 1-2, Dayton Hardway 15-minus 52; South Point: James Leonard 16-144, Gage Townson 7-21, Jacob Damron 7-45, Tyler Branch 1-14, Davon Leonard 3-13, Josh Browning 1-minus 1.

PASSING—River Valley: Dayton Hardway 17-35-2 297; South Point: Gage Townson 15-34-0 256, Audric Harlow 0-1-0.

RECEIVING—River Valley: Austin Bradley 8-123, Mark Wray 3-99, Tyler Twyman 5-72, Justin Arrowood 1-3; South Point: Isaiah Jones 8-201 3TD, Josh Browning 3-22, Audric Harlow 1-20, James Leonard 2-5, Seth Finnegan 1-8.