PROCTORVILLE - Turnovers were turning points.

Forcing seven turnovers including five interceptions, the Rock Hill Redmen downed the Fairland Dragons 48-25 Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

The Redmen not only intercepted five passes but returned one for a touchdown.

&#8221They were the turning points. Our ability to force turnovers helped get our scoring going. Their quarterback is pretty accurate. He puts the ball right there,“ Rock Hill coach Todd Knipp said.

Not only did Rock Hill improve to 7-1 with the win but 3-0 in the OVC. The Redmen visit Chesapeake next Friday in a battle for sole possession of first place.

Fairland (1-7, 0-3) was plagued by injuries all night.

With leading rusher Adam Fuller and lineman Chad Kilgore already out with a knee injury, the Dragons lost Nolan Love with a knee injury for the season and Michael Meachem left the game, went to the hospital but later returned.

&#8221We played hard. There was a three-minute stretch that killed us. We had subs playing for our subs,“ Fairland coach Brent Wilcoxon said. &#8221At one time we had five freshmen in there.“

Quarterback Rich Staggs was 33 of 43 for 400 yards, but the Dragons signcaller was intercepted twice. Josh Johnson was 2 of 3 with an interception.

The Dragons had just 20 rushing years but wide receiver Sam Huff had 14 receptions for 241 yards.

&#8221We had a bend but don't break approach with them,“ Knipp said. &#8221Our backs ran well and our line blocked well. They threw a lot of different fronts at us.“

Despite just 8 passing yards, the Redmen ran for 390 yards. Josh &#8221Deuce“ Moore ran eight times for 178 yards. T.J. Blagg had 12 carries for 70 yards, K.C. Christian had 84 yards on 16 attempts and Jarrod Casey three for 47 yards.

Fairland drove 68 yards in nine plays to open the game and Staggs ran 2 yards for a touchdown.

Rock Hill came back with a 58-yard drive in just four plays that ended on a 3-yard run by Blagg and it was 6-6.

Josh Guy recovered a fumble for the Redmen and at the 40 and six plays later Moore ran 24 yards for a touchdown and Rock Hill now led 13-6.

Wes Ripley recovered a Rock Hill fumble and Fairland drove 67 yards in 13 plays capped by an 8-yard pass from Staggs to Josh Johnson. John Sicarda kicked the tying extra point with 1:34 left in the half.

In the third quarter, Fairland opened with a scoring drive as Staggs and Travis Cardwell hooked up on a 13-yard scoring play and it was 19-13.

But Blagg returned the kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown and Casey threw to Christian for the conversion and Rock Hill led 21-19.

Fairland fumbled away the ensuing kickoff and Rock Hill recovered at the 30-yard line. Four plays later Christian ran 3 yards for the touchdown at it was 28-19.

The Dragons answered with another scoring threat, but Christian picked off a pass and returned it 93 yards for a touchdown and the lead was 34-19 with 5:06 left in the quarter.

Our ability to make big plays was the difference,“ Knipp said.

An interception by Moore gave the ball to the Redmen early in the fourth quarter and set up a 21-yard scoring run by Christian and it was 41-19.

Rock Hill's defense held the Dragons at the 3-yard line on the next series and Moore raced 97 yards for a touchdown on first down as the lead drew to 48-19.

Fairland's final touchdown came with 4:13 left on an 11-yard pass from Staggs to Johnson. The score was set up by Huff's 53-yard kickoff return.

Rock Hill1302114=48

Fairland6766=25

First Quarter

Fa – Rich Staggs 2 run (kick failed) 9:06

RH – T.J. Blagg 3 run (kick blocked)

8:13

RH – Josh &#8221Deuce“ Moore 24 run (T.J. Blagg kick) 0:38

Second Quarter

Fa – Josh Johnson 8 pass from Rich Staggs (John Sicarda kick) 1:34

Third Quarter

Fa – Travis Cardwell 13 pass from Rick Staggs (kick failed) 7:28

RH – T.J. Blagg 77 kickoff return (K.C. Christian pass from Jarrod Casey) 7:17

RH – K.C. Christian 3 run (T.J. Blagg kick) 5:48

RH – K.C. Christian 93 interception return (pass fail) 5:06

Fourth Quarter

RH – K.C. Christian 21 run (T.J. Blagg kick) 9:40

RH – Josh &#8221Deuce“ Moore 97 run (T.J. Blagg kick) 7:02

Fa – Josh Johnson 11 pass Rich Staggs (pass fail) 4:13

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RHFa

First downs1413

Rushes-yards43-39019-20

Passing yards8425

Total yards398445

Cmp-Att-Int2-8-135-46-3

Fumbles-lost5-25-4

Punts-average2-18.00-00.0

Penalties-yards10-809-60

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Rock Hill: Josh &#8221Deuce“ Moore 8-178, T.J. Blagg 12-70, K.C. Christian 16-84, Jarrod Casey 3-47, Dustin Harper 1-6, Derek Robinson 2-5.; Fairland: Travis Cardwell 8-18, Josh Johnson 3-13, Cole Hatfield 1-1, Michael Meachem 3-minus 2, Sam Huff 1-minus 3, Rich Staggs 3-minus 7.

PASSING – Rock Hill: K.C. Christian 1-1-0 2, Jarrod Casey 1-7-1 6.; Fairland: Rich Staggs 33-43-2 400, Josh Johnson 2-3-1 25.

RECEIVING – Rock Hill: Josh Moore 1-2, K.C. Christian 1-6; Fairland: Sam Huff 14-241, Josh Johnson 9118, Cole Hatfield 3-16, Michael Meacham 2-6, Michael Lamb 1-13, Travis Cardwell 5-21.