Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — One big play deserves another.

Rock Hill came up with a big defensive stop, then used a big offensive play to secure the outcome as the Redmen beat the Northwest Mohawks 19-7 Friday.

“We made some big plays. We did a good job creating some turnovers and stopping their momentum,” said Redmen coach Todd Knipp. “We need to d a better job capitalizing on them sometimes. I thought the kids rallied together really well.”

The Redmen were without running back Jordan Blagg, two-way lineman Tyler Knisley and safety Heath Carpenter.

“We had some kids step up and make some plays. We had three starters out,” said Knipp.

Trailing 12-7 late in the fourth quarter, Northwest drove from its own 30-yard line to the Rock Hill 5-yard line with less than a minute to play, but fumbled the ball away inside the 5 and the Redmen recovered.

Rock Hill’s Chance Blankenship then sealed the outcome as he broke free on a 95-yard touchdown run with 47 seconds to play.

Blankenship led the Redmen with 237 yards rushing on 19 carries and scored all three touchdowns.

Drew McClaskey added 56 yards on 10 carries and Shawn Wilds had 50 yards on 10 attempts as the Redmen (1-1) rushed 44 times for 348 yards.

Northwest (1-1) had 256 total yards with 229 coming on the ground. Donnie Borens ran 21 times for 125 yards and a score.

Borens’ 10-yard run and Dylan Amburgy’s conversion kick gave Northwest a 7-0 lead early in the game. The score capped a quick two-play, 13-yard drive.

Rock Hill answered with a 58-yard, five-play drive capped by Blankenship’s 23-yard run and it was 7-6.

Rock Hill took a 12-7 lead just before the half when Blankenship ran 21 yards for a touchdown to finish off a 70-yard, seven-play march.

Rock Hill 6 6 0 7 = 19

Northwest 7 0 0 0 = 7

First Quarter

NW — Donnie Borens 10 run (Dylan Amburgy kick) 9:13

RH — Chance Blankenship 23 run (run failed) 0:40

Second Quarter

RH — Chance Blankenship 21 run (run failed) 0:58 7-70

Fourth Quarter

RH — Chance Blankenship 95 run (Blankenship run) 0:47 1-95

——

RH NW

First downs 20 18

Rushes-yards 44-348 50-229

Passing yards 14 27

Total yards 362 256

Cmp-Att-Int 2-8-0 1-9-1

Fumbles-lost 1-0 4-3

Penalties-yards 8-49 8-55

——

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Rock Hill: Chance Blankenship 19-237, Drew McClaskey 10-56, Shawn Wilds 10-50, Gabe Marzicola 4-9, Brady Knipp 1-minus 4; Northwest: Donnie Borens 21-125, Chris Silhavy 15-53, Drew Scarberry 3-29, Tylor Slack 5-18, Trevan Bazler 2-2, Michael Lajoye 3-2, Dakota Rush 1-0.

PASSING— Rock Hill: Gabe Marzicola 2-8-0 14; Northwest: Dakota Rush 1-3-0 27, Drew Scarberry 0-6-1.

RECEIVING— Rock Hill: Tyler Cochran 2-14; Northwest: Drew Scarberry 1-27.