Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — Often the kicking game is overlooked, but it can play an important role in any game.

It did Friday night as the Rock Hill Redmen used a field goal and successful extra point to slip past the South Point Pointers 10-9 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Rock Hill (2-4, 1-0) trailed 9-7 when Cameron Barnett kicked a 22-yard field with 2:28 to play that lifted the Redmen to the win.

With an injury to Chance Blankenship last week, the Redmen went looking for a new kicker and turned to the freshman Barnett.

“Barry (Litteral) worked with him for a couple of days and he did pretty well,” said Knipp of Barnett.

South Point also had a field goal but failed to convert on their extra point attempt. However, Pointers’ head coach Rick Marcello said the missed kick was only one of many mistakes that hurt his team.

“We played pretty good defense for the most part, but when it was third down (Rock Hill) just kept churning,” said Marcello.

“We had a lot of little mistakes that came at the wrong time. We were in the red zone three times and scored once. We dropped five passes and had a key offside penalty. The little things killed us.”

Rock Hill (2-4, 1-0) had 253 total yards including 193 on the ground. Quarterback Gabe Marzicola ran 11 times for 90 yards including a touchdown and he was 5 of 12 passing for 60 yards.

Jordan Blagg added 52 yards on 11 attempts before leaving with an injury.

“That was a big bounce back game for us,” said Knipp, referring to last week’s wild 66-53 loss at Sciotoville East. “The kids as a team really stepped up. We made plays when we needed that got us out of a hole and gave us a chance to open up our offense. (Marzicola) made two big plays.”

South Point (3-3, 0-1) took a 3-0 lead on a 22-yard field goal by Jordan Overstreet.

Marzicola kept the ball and ran 76 yards for a touchdown and Barnett kicked the extra point for a 7-3 lead.

James Leonard scored the Pointers’ touchdown on an 8-yard run before the half and South Point regained the lead at 9-7.

But the Redmen were able to put together a short drive late in the game that set up Barnett’s winning field goal.

“Give Rock Hill credit. (Coach) Todd Knipp kept them in the game and gave themselves a chance to win,” said Marcello.

The Pointers had 249 total yards including 180 yards rushing on 32 attempts. Mason White ran 13 times for 76 yards and James Leonard carried 10 times for 55 yards and a touchdown.

Jacob Damron added 26 yards on four tries and Davon Leonard had 19 yards on four rushes.

Quarterback Drew Adams was 12 of 20 for 69 yards. Stephen Wagoner had two catches for 31 yards and White five grabs for 17 yards.

Pointers’ linebacker Reed Murnahan had 13 tackles. Tyler Nicely and Brendan Meadows had 11 tackles each.

Rock Hill 0 7 0 3 = 10

South Point 3 6 0 0 = 9

First Quarter

SP — Jordan Overstreet 22 field goal 8:06

Second Quarter

RH — Gabe Marzicola 76 run (Cameron Barnett kick) 6:05

SP — James Leonard 8 run (kick failed) 0:07

Fourth Quarter

RH — Cameron Barnett 22 field 2:28

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING —Rock Hill: Gabe Marzicola 11-90, Drew McClaskey 5-16, Shawn Wilds 10-19, Jordan Blagg 11-52, Brady Knipp 4-16; South Point: Mason White 13-76, James Leonard 10-55 TD, Davon Leonard 4-19, Jacob Damron 4-26.

PASSING — Rock Hill: Gabe Marzicola 5-12-0 60; South Point: Drew Adams 12-20-0 69.

RECEIVING — Rock Hill: Austin Collins 3-38, Heath Carpenter 1-11, Shawn Wilds 1-11; South Point: Stephen Wagoner 2-31, Mason White 5-17, James Leonard 3-8, Davon Leonard 108, William Borders 1-5.