Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — The Alexander Spartans like to mix football with basketball.

The Spartans run a spread offense but they also like to run the offense at a rapid pace, much like a fastbreak basketball attack.

“They try to put pressure on your defense. They use a whole lot of formations and they try to play a fast tempo,” said Rock Hill coach Todd Knipp.

Rock Hill will be trying to slow down the Spartans’ rapid pace when the two teams meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Division V Region 17 quarterfinals at Alexander.

Alexander’s main weapon is 6-foot, 200-pound senior Mason Chapman who switches from quarterback and running back.

Chapman has rushed 193 times for 1,188 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. He has also completed 23-of-39 passes for 325 yards and five scores with no interceptions.

Senior Taylor Kimbrough (5-11, 155) plays musical positions with Chapman. He is 59-of-109 passing for 914 yards and five scores. He has been picked six times. However, he has only rushed 32 times for 93 yards.

“They’re going to sling it around like Portsmouth but they’ll run it more and they give you that wildcat look,” said Knipp.

“They’re pretty good. They do a nice job. Their linemen get on you.”

The other top rusher is Joey Barnes (5-9, 180) with 337 yards on 48 tries and four TDs.

“They’re athletic and they have some speed,” said Knipp. “We want to control the ball and get first downs and control the clock. And we have to play good defense.”

The Redmen control the ball with their run-oriented offense led by the senior tandem of Chance Blankenship and Danny Long.

Blankenship — missed most of last season with a knee injury — has bounced back to rush for 826 yards on 144 carries for a 5.7 average. He has scored nine touchdowns.

Long — a converted guard — has 135 attempts for 767 yards and he also has a 5.7 yards per carry average. He leads the team with 11 touchdowns.

Junior Brady Knipp is next on the list with 75 tries for 272 yards — a 3.6 average — and he has one score.

Freshman quarterback Mason Darby is 27-of-50 for 450 yards and four touchdowns. He has been intercepted twice.

On the receiving end, Blankenship had nine catches for 154 yards and a score. Trystan Matney has six receptions for 106 yards and a TD, Tim Adkins has five grabs for 105 yards and two touchdowns while Knipp has five receptions for 70 yards.

Defensively, the Redmen have allowed 165 points for 18 points a game.

However, opponents have only scored more than 18 points in a game on four occasions.

Alexander has scored 309 points but has only allowed 130 points including two shutouts.

“Defensively they come after you. Their secondary runs well and breaks well. They have some good linebackers,” said Knipp.

The teams have two common opponents: River Valley and Chesapeake.

Alexander beat River Valley 22-12 but lost to Chesapeake 9-3. Rock Hill fell to River Valley 26-0 but beat Chesapeake 27-20 in overtime.

Alexander’s only previous playoff appearances were 2009 and 2010. Rock Hill is making its fifth postseason appearance and first since 2007.

 

Rock Hill Redmen Offense

Pos. Player No. Ht. Wt. Gr.

WR Trystan Matney 32 6-02 205 Jr.

Tim Adkins 21 5-09 145 Jr.

LT Cameron Barnette 55 5-10 195 So.

LG Matt Murphy 75 5-10 250 Sr.

C Tim Boggs 52 5-10 170 Sr.

LT Cameron Haas 53 6-01 215 Jr.

RG Brian French 65 6-00 250 Sr.

TE Heath Carpenter 23 5-11 170 Sr.

QB Mason Darby 7 6-03 160 Fr.

FB Danny Long 10 5-10 205 Sr.

WB Chance Blankenship 9 5-09 190 Sr.

SB Brady Knipp 34 5-10 180 Jr.

PK Trystan Matney 32 6-02 205 Jr.

 

Rock Hill Redmen Defense

Pos. Player No. Ht. Wt. Gr.

DE Trystan Matney 32 6-02 205 Jr.

DT Brian French 65 6-00 250 Sr.

NG Tanner Delong 83 5-08 165 Sr.

DT Cameron Haas 53 6-01 215 Jr.

DE Nate Malone 5 6-00 170 Jr.

LB Cameron Barnette 55 5-10 190 So.

LB Eli Matney 54 5-11 180 So.

CB Tim Adkins 21 5-09 145 Jr.

CB Zach Harrison 85 5-06 130 So.

SS Chance Blankenship 9 5-09 190 Sr.

FS Brady Knipp 34 5-10 180 Jr.

P Trystan Matney 32 6-02 205 Jr.

 

 

 

2015 Results

Rock Hill 0 River Valley 26

Rock Hill 21 Northwest 14

Rock Hill 17 Oak Hill 14

Rock Hill 27 Chesapeake (OT) 20

Rock Hill 21 Coal Grove 33

Rock Hill 38 Portsmouth 14

Rock Hill 10 Ironton 28

Rock Hill 48 South Point 0

Rock Hill 42 Fairland 16

Record: 6-3 (4-2 OVC)

 

Alexander Spartans Defense

Pos. Player No. Ht. Wt. Gr.

55 Shea Grigsby DE 6-02 225 Sr.

58 Nick Lorubbio DT 6-00 265 Sr.

75 Sean Bobo DT 6-02 370 Sr.

40 Chace Harris DE 6-02 225 Jr.

16 Mason Chapman LB 6-00 200 Sr.

10 Trent Bradbury LB 5-11 185 Sr.

42 Trey Russell LB 5-10 200 Sr.

62 Brandon Wilkinson LB 5-09 195 Sr.

8 Lukas Thompson CB 6-01 180 Sr.

7 Jake Weaver CB 6-04 190 Sr.

9 Jake Iseman FS 5-11 190 Sr.

4 A.J. Marks DB 5-10 160 Jr.

 

 

Alexander Spartans Offense

Pos. Player No. Ht. Wt. Gr.

6 Taylor Kimbrough RB-QB 5-11 155 Sr.

16 Mason Chapman QB-RB 6-00 200 Sr.

10 Trent Bradbury RB 5-11 185 Sr.

42 Trey Russell RB 5-10 200 Sr.

5 Joey Barnes RB 5-09 180 Sr.

8 Lukas Thompson WR 6-01 180 Sr.

58 Nick Lorubbio RT 6-00 265 Sr.

55 Shea Grigsby RG 6-02 225 Sr.

71 Turner Andrews C 6-00 260 Sr.

59 Cory Chapman LG 6-01 220 Sr.

52 J.D. Pollard LT 6-02 280 Sr.

40 Chace Harris TE 6-02 225 Jr.

7 Jake Weaver WR 6-04 190 Sr.

4 A.J. Marks WR 5-10 160 Jr.

 

2015 Results

Alexander 45 Federal Hocking 14

Alexander 3 Chesapeake 9

Alexander 41 Harvest Prep 22

Alexander 31 Athens 14

Alexander 33 Wellston 20

Alexander 21 Vinton County 0

Alexander 22 River Valley 12

Alexander 36 Nelsonville-York 0

Alexander 42 Trimble 13

Alexander 35 Meigs 26

Record: 9-1 (7-0 TVC)