OAK HILL — All the Rock Hill Redmen needed was a few minutes to compose themselves. The problem was getting the time to do it.

When the time finally came, it was halftime and the Redmen found themselves trailing 21-7 to the Oak Hill Oaks.

Fortunately there was enough time to do what needed to be done as the Redmen rallied for a 35-27 win Friday night.

“In the first half, we got a little confused and a little rattled. We were able to calm down at halftime and play each play one play at a time,” said Redmen coach Todd Knipp.

“We just started playing our techniques and doing our jobs.”

After a quick defensive stop to begin the second half, Rock Hill scored on a 54-yard run by Wes Pierson.

The Redmen (3-0) then recovered an Oak Hill fumbled to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Drew Kuehne.

The conversion kick failed and Rock Hill was down 21-20.

“We set the tone in the second half on our first defensive series. We got a three and out and got the ball at midfield and popped a touchdown run that got us back in the game and settled the kids down,” said Knipp.

Two penalties and a short punt gave the Redmen the ball at the Oaks’ 26-yard line.

Pierson went the distance on the next play and Rock Hill took the lead. Kuehne ran for the conversion to make it 28-21.

Oak Hill did not field the ensuing kickoff and Rock Hill recovered at the Oak 23 by Josh Malone.

A few plays later, Pierson ran 1 yard for the score and the lead was 35-21

Overall, the defense allowed 159 total yards in the first half but just 84 in the second half on 23 plays

“The kids showed lot character and battled back in the second half. They put themselves back in game and we were able to pull it out in the end,” said Knipp.

Rock Hill rolled up 308 yards on the ground with Pierson netting 138 on 23 carries.

Kuehne added 89 yards on 15 carries and Shane Bostic had 62 yards on 14 attempts.

Rock Hill071315=35

Oak Hill14706=27

First Quarter

OH — Justin Fisher 2 run (R.P. Roof kick)

OH — Jesse Slone 7 run (Roof kick)

Second Quarter

RH — Wes Pierson 3 run (Mitchell Davenport kick)

OH — Ian Hall 36 pass from Jesse Slone (Roof kick)

Third Quarter

RH — Pierson 54 run (Davenport kick)

RH — Drew Kuehne 1 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

RH — Pierson 26 run (Drew Kuehne run)

RH — Pierson 1 run (Davenport kick)

OH — Slone 6 run (kick failed)

—————

RHOH

First downs1414

Rushes-yards59-30830-100

Passing yards50143

Total yards358243

Cmp-Att-Int4-6-010-18-0

Fumbles-lost1-11-1

Penalties-yards7-497-38

Punts-average3-35.0na

—————

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Rock Hill: Wes Pierson 23-138, Drew Kuehne 15-89, Corey Bamer 4-17, Shane Bostic 14-62, Mitchell Davenport 1-2; Oak Hill: Bobby Kidd 6-7, Chris Dupree 3-5, Justin Fisher 3-12, Jesse Slone 11-55, Westen Hale 5-18, Ian Hall

2-1.

PASSING—Rock Hill: Drew Kuehne 4-6-0 50; Oak Hill: Jesse Slone 10-18-0 143.

RECEIVING—Rock Hill: Zach Zornes 2-31, Mitchell Davenport 1-10, Josh Christian 1-9; Oak Hill: Ian Hall 4-67, Justin Fisher 1-12, Bobby Kidd 2-40, Westen Hale 1-11, Chris Dupree 1-minus 5, J.D. Hale 1-18.