PEDRO – The Rock Hill Redmen are hoping that the first play from scrimmage of the 2000 season is not a sign of things to come.

Wednesday, August 30, 2000

PEDRO – The Rock Hill Redmen are hoping that the first play from scrimmage of the 2000 season is not a sign of things to come.

The Mohawks scored on the first play on a 59-yard romp by Doug Montavon and never looked back as they handed the Redmen a 31-12 loss Friday in the season opener.

Montavon was a one-man wrecking crew rushing for 290 yards on 26 carries. The Mohawks amassed 354 yards on the gound on 47 tries and had 363 yards total.

"(Montavon) is a good back, but defensively that was the worst we’ve played in five years. (Montavon) did about anything he wanted," Redmen coach Andy Hall said. "But we will get better. We will not accept that kind of effort."

Hall also said the Redmen were always deep in their own territory to start drives.

"Field position was a big factor. We never crossed midfield the first half," Hall said.

Scott Turley had big night on the ground for the Redmen with 125 yards on 18 carries and Johnny Webb added 56 yards on 13 carries. The Redmen had 200 yards total offense and quarterback Travis Gilmore hit 3-9 passes for 30 yards filling in for injured starter Gabe Medinger.

"Turley gave a gutsy performance. His hip was bothering him, but he ran hard and he had 13 tackles on defense," Hall said. "And Johnny Webb ran well. He had a nice run for the touchdown. He played well."

Starting from his own 41-yard line and less than 20 seconds into the game, Montavon took a pitchout, bounced outside and turned the corner on the Redmen defense going 59-yards for the touchdown.

Zach Smith hit Adam Ellis on the two-point conversion making it 8-0.

Late in the second half the Mohawks added another score when Smith hit Jared Strickland with a 4-yard scoring pass. The two-point conversion made it 16-0 at the half.

Rock Hill was poised to make a game of it by scoring quickly to open the second half. Turley ran in from 17 yards out capping a four-play, 77-yard drive making it 16-6.

The Redmen held on three downs and tipped the punt giving them the ball at the Mohawk 47-yard line.

Three plays later and Jason Osborne picked off a Gilmore pass ending the threat.

Northwest took the ball at their own 44-yard line and, in 6 plays scored on a 13-yard run by Strickland making it 24-6 with 4:51 left in the third.

Three plays later and again the Redmen made it close when Webb went in from seven yards out cutting the score to 24-12.

Rock Hill made a couple of drives into Mohawk territory but could not convert. Northwest scored agin in the last minute when Montavon scored from nine yards out.