The Redmen racked up 404 yards on the ground en route to a 39-6 spanking of Portsmouth West.

Saturday, September 18, 1999

The Redmen racked up 404 yards on the ground en route to a 39-6 spanking of Portsmouth West.

"We controlled things up front and that was the key," Redmen coach Andy Hall said. "I’m happy to be 3-1, with minimal injuries and looking forward to next week."

Scott Turley rushed for 198 yards on 20 carries to lead the Redmen and Richie Webb had 86 yards on nine tries.

"Our running game was sound but it was set up at the line of scrimmage," Hall said. "Lucas Starr, J.D. Stevens, Tony Medinger, Paul Kerns, Nick Ferrell and Jeremiah McFann all did a great job of controlling things. Those guys don’t get a lot of credit."

Portsmouth West (3-1) had 184 yards total offense with 157 coming on the ground. C.C. Smith and Justin Cantrell led the Siders with 55 yards rushing.

When Rock Hill was not eating up the clock in the first half then they were busy shooting themselves in the foot.

Nate Lambert picked off a pass, just a couple of minutes into the game, and had clear sailing 30 yards down the sideline. As he was about to cross the goal line, Zach Hamer stripped Lambert of the ball and the Siders recovered in the end zone for a touchback.

Again the Siders turned the ball over when Jason Lewis recovered a fumble giving the Redmen the ball at the Siders 20-yard line.

Five short gainers later and Kevin Dilley pushed his way into the end zone from four yards out making it 6-0.

When the Redmen regained possession they started to march again. Once deep in Sider territory at the 9-yard line, a penalty and an interception again kept the Redmen off the board.

At the 10:21 mark of the second quarter, Turley broke loose in the secondary on the first play of the drive scoring from 28 yards out making it 12-0.

West put together its first drive going 65 yards in 10 plays and scoring when Cantrell went in from a yard out with 1:29 left in the half making it 12-6.

The Siders seemed inspired taking the field in the second half but two penalties on the kickoff and a quick Rock Hill score all but settled the issue.

A five play 47-yard drive was finished off by Dilley who scored from five yards out. Dilley also carried for the two-point conversion making it 20-6.

Three plays and out for the Siders and again the Redmen were ready to score.

Turley carried for 18 yards and Webb did the rest going for 29 yards and scoring on the next play, a 3-yard carry. Sean Primm added the point after and it was 27-6 with 6:49 left in the third quarter.

Turley scored early in the fourth quarter from four yards out and a couple of minutes later Grant Lunsford scored the final Redmen touchdown on a carry from a yard out.

"We must be much more focused next week," Hall said. "We must make improvements. We need more balance in our offense. We have kids that can play the passing game and a quarterback who can throw the ball. We just have some work to do still."

Rock Hill will host Wellston nest Friday night for homecoming.