WEST PORTSMOUTH — When things went bad, the Rock Hill Redmen went to work.

Injuries forced two linebackers out of the lineup and sent leading rusher Josh Moore to the sidelines for most of the fourth quarter.

But the Redmen proved resilient as they held off the Portsmouth West Senators 27-22 Friday.

“We did a better job battling adversity,” Rock Hill coach Todd Knipp said.

“We’re beginning to understand that if we make mistakes we can come back from them. Two years ago we would have hung our heads. We have confidence we can score and make plays.”

With two starting linebackers hurt, Shane Bostic went from defensive back to linebacker, Corey Bamer and Zack Zornes went from inside to outside. The only starter in his regular position was Corey Burke.

“Every kid we need to step up at a critical time and they did,” Knipp said. “There wasn’t much of a drop-off.”

Moore, who suffered a slight ankle injury, ran 14 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns. His 27-yard scoring run in the first quarter put the Redmen up 6-0.

West (2-2) came back to take the lead on a 1-yard plunge by Thad Staggs and a 33-yard scamper by Austin Seevers to lead 14-6.

Rock Hill (3-1) tied the game in the second quarter on a 17-yard pass from Jarrod Casey to J.C. Murnahan. Casey threw to Wes Pierson for the conversion.

“Jarrod Casey made some big plays for us,” Knipp said.

Moore’s 10-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Murnahan’s conversion kick put the Redmen back on top at 21-14.

With Moore out, Pierson broke loose on a 73-yard TD romp and the lead was 27-14.

The Senators came back within 27-22 on an 11-yard run by Seevers and he also caught the conversion pass.

West put together one more scoring threat with a drive to the 25-yard line late in the game. But on fourth-and-3, the Redmen defense stopped the Senators 1-yard shy of the first down.

“The defense really stepped up. We just got off the ball and made the play,” Knipp said.

Rock Hill had 321 total yards with 275 coming on the ground. Casey had 73 yards on 14 carries and Pierson added 67 yards.

Seevers led all rushers with 178 yards on 31 carries as West had 222 of its 240 total yards on the ground.