Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

OAK HILL — If defense is the name of the game, just call the Rock Hill Redmen “Mr. D.”

The Redmen used a strong defense that included some key plays to beat the Oak Hill Oaks 17-14 on Friday, their first win over the Oaks since 2011.

Oak Hill drove to the Rock Hill 19 but the Redmen defense stopped the Oaks a yard shy on fourth down.

On third-and-12 at the 17, Mason Darby hit Tim Adkins behind the Oaks’ secondary for a 68-yard pass play to the Oak Hill 15.

Oak Hill used a 7-yard sack to stall the drive but Eli Matney kicked a 28-yard field goal with 6:40 left in the half to put the Redmen up 3-0.

The Oaks came back with a scoring drive as Lane Burdine completed two passes to Cody Swann for 42 yards and running back Matt Gilliland had two carries for 17 yards and the ball was at the 7-yard line.

Burdine hit Swann with a scoring pass and the Oaks led 6-3 with 2:43 left in the half.

Rock Hill (2-1) came back with a 76-yard, six-play drive capped by a 32-yard scoring pass play from Darby to Chance Blankenship. Matney’s kick put the Redmen up 10-6 with 1:02 left in the half.

A scoreless third quarter was highlighted by a Rock Hill goal line stand. Oak Hill got to the 2-yard line but were whistled for some crucial penalties and turned the ball over on downs at the 15.

Rock Hill had another scoring chance when Tim Adkins intercepted a pass and returned it to the Oaks’ 12. But a missed field goal left the Redmen drive empty.

The defense came up with another big play moments later when they stripped the ball and recovered at the Oak Hill 20.

Danny Long bolted into the end zone on the first play from scrimmage and Matney’s kick made it 17-6 with 6:25 to play.

Oak Hill answered quickly thanks to a 65-yard kickoff return by Walker Smith to the Rock Hill 25.

A pass interference penalty in the end zone put the ball at the 10-yard line and Burdine scrambled on the next play for the touchdown.

Burdine threw to Swann for the conversion and it was 17-14 with 5:58 left.

A 54-yard punt by Rock Hill rolled dead at the 12-yard line and the Oaks were unable to move the ball.

The Redmen got the ball back and ran out the clock.

Rock Hill had 145 yards rushing with Long getting 70 yards on 12 tries. Blankenship added 42 yards on 13 attempts and Brady Knipp 41 yards on 10 rushes.

Darby was 4-of-6 passing for 146 yards.

Oak Hill had 149 yards rushing and 87 passing. Gilliland ran 17 times for 117 yards and Burdine was 7-of-14 for 87 yards.

Rock Hill 0 10 0 7 = 17

Oak Hill 0 6 0 8 = 14

Second Quarter

RH — Eli Matney 28 field goal 6:40

OH — Cody Swann 7 pass from Lane Burdine (kick failed) 2:43

RH — Chance Blankenship 32 pass from Mason Darby (Eli Matney kick) 1:02

Fourth Quarter

RH — Danny Long 20 run (Eli Matney kick) 6:25

OH — Lane Burdine 13 run (Cody Swann pass from Lane Burdine) 5:58

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RH OH

First downs 10 13

Rushes-yards 38-145 34-149

Passing yards 146 87

Total yards 291 236

Cmp-Att-Int 4-6-0 7-14-1

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 5-45 3-20

Punts-average 3-47.0 2-49.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING —Rock Hill: Danny Long 12-70 TD, Chance Blankenship 13-42, Brady Knipp 10-41, Mason Darby 3-minus 8; Oak Hill: Willy Harris 9-11, Matt Gilliland 17-117, Zach Fisher 1-3, Lane Burdine 5-17 TD, Andrew Kerns 2-1.

PASSING — Rock Hill: Mason Darby 4-6-0 146; Oak Hill: Lane Burdine 7-14-1 87 TD.

RECEIVING — Rock Hill: Chance Blankenship 2-57 TD, Tim Adkins 1-68, Brady Knipp 1-21; Oak Hill: Cody Swann 4-65, Andrew Kerns 1-4, Willy Harris 1-15, Zach Fisher 1-3.