Knipp pleased with Rock Hill#039;s effort

Published 12:00 am Monday, November 14, 2005

The playbook may be full of diagrams, but the Rock Hill Redmen understand the unwritten words on the cover: Don't quit.

Despite losing 28-14 to the Ironton Fighting Tigers Saturday night in the Division IV Region 15 playoff quarterfinals, the Redmen never kept trying.

The Redmen found themselves down 14-0 and were held on their next series.

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Second-year head coach Todd Knipp was pleased with his team's effort.

&#8220They played hard,” Knipp said. &#8220At first when they scored that second one so quick, we adjusted to the game and battled back. We got back in it and we felt we could play. I'm extremely pleased with their effort.”

But K.C. Christian, who earlier got off a 72-yard punt, faked the punt and ran for a first down at the 42-yard line.

The Redmen then switched to a shotgun formation and alternated Christian and Jarrod Casey at quarterback. Ten plays later T.J. Blagg scored on a 2-yard run and the Redmen were back in the game.

&#8220We put that in last year when K.C. got hurt and it worked, so we work on it everyday. It kind of changes how you look at things,” Knipp said.

Rock Hill held Ironton on its next series and forced a punt. Ironton in turn held the Redmen to a three-and-out and they punted. However, Ironton fumbled the punt and the Redmen recovered at the Ironton 37.

Another 10 plays later the Redmen were faced with fourth-and-goal at the 9. Casey threw to Christian sliding out of the backfield to the right and he just hit the pylon for the game-tying touchdown.

&#8220I asked the kids if they wanted to kick a field goal and they said ‘let's go for the touchdown.' We ran a two-point play we work on every week but we just deepened it up,” Knipp said. &#8220Jarrod made something happen and K.C. gave a great effort to get into the end zone.”

The second half belonged to Ironton as the Fighting Tigers scored twice in the third quarter to lead 28-14.

Rock Hill did have one more scoring chance after recovering an Ironton fumble at midfield.

The drive got to the 20-yard line, but Brandon Walker sacked Casey for a 14-yard loss

and a fourth down pass fell incomplete.

While Rock Hill managed only 136 total yards, it was yardage used efficiently.

&#8220When we were given some opportunities, we got a little confidence. We could have executed better on the other times,” Knipp said.

&#8220I said early in the week, if we get a turnover or force a turnover we have to capitalize on it.”

The Redmen finished 9-2 with the school's first outright Ohio Valley Conference championship since 1968.

&#8220They should be proud of what they accomplished,” Knipp said.