Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — The Rock Hill Redmen are way too generous.

The Redmen had two costly fumbles that led to a pair of Portsmouth touchdowns and the Trojans escaped with a 31-28 Ohio Valley Conference win on Friday.

Portsmouth drove to the Rock Hill 10-yard line before the drive stalled and the Trojans settled for a 27-yard field goal by Joel Bowling.

Rock Hill answered two plays later as Zak Adkins bolted 63 yards for the score and Brady Floyd’s kick made it 7-3.

Portsmouth then got its first gift as Rock Hill fumbled and Daniel Jordan had a scoop-and-score from 22 yards out and it was 10-7.

Rock Hill came back with a 65-yard, 11-play drive capped by Adkins’ 9-yard run. The conversion kick failed and the Redmen led 13-10 with 3:51 left in the half.

Kelly completed three passes covering 59 yards as Portsmouth went 72 yards in just five plays. Kelly scrambled 22 yards for the touchdown and it was 17-13 with 1:46 left in the half.

The Trojans extended their lead to 24-13 on a 7-yard pass from Kelly to Logan Carter at the 9:20 mark of the third quarter. A 52-yard run by D.J. Pearsall was the key play in the drive.

But Rock Hill wouldn’t quit.

The Redmen went 56 yards in six plays highlight by Cameron Barnette’s 38-yard run to the 5-yard line. Barnette went the final 3 yards for the score and Floyd’s kick made it 24-20.

Rock Hill came up with an interception on the ensuing play after the kickoff and had the ball at the Trojans’ 35.

Eight plays later Adkins ran 12 yards for the touchdown and it was 26-24. There was a bad snap on the conversion but holder Brayden Friend alertly ran the ball for a two-point conversion.

Portsmouth drove to the Rock Hill 13 but the defense held and took over the ball at the 11.

But another gift for the Trojans came five plays later as Rock Hill fumbled and Portsmouth recovered at the Redmen 36.

It took nine plays for the Trojans to score as Kelly kept the ball and ran 6 yards for the touchdown with 3:44 to play.

Rock Hill ran four plays and was unable to get a first down. Portsmouth then ran out the clock.

Rock Hill finished with 291 yards on the ground as Adkins ran 13 times for 125 yards and Barnette had 22 carries for 100 yards. Friend added 64 yards on six attempts.

Kelly led Portsmouth as he ran 15 times for 90 yards and was 6-of-9 passing for 95 yards with an interception.

Pearsall ran 11 times for 77 yards and Reese Johnson had 11 carries for 61 yards as Portsmouth finished with 238 rushing yards and 333 total yards.

Next Friday Rock Hill visits Fairland and Portsmouth goes to Gallipolis.

Portsmouth      3          14        7          7          =          31

Rock Hill         7          6          15        0          =          27

First Quarter

Prt — Joel Bowling 27 field goal

RH — Zak Adkins 63 run (Brady Floyd kick) 3:13

Second Quarter

Prt — Daniel Jordan 22 fumble return (Joel Bowling kick)

RH — Zak Adkins 9 run (kick failed) 3:51

Prt — Isaac Kelly 22 run (Joel Bowling kick) 1:46

Third Quarter

Prt — Logan Carter 7 pass from Isaac Kelly (Joel Bowling kick) 9:20

RH — Cameron Barnette 3 run (Brady Floyd kick)

RH — Zak Adkins 12 run (Brayden Friend run)

Fourth Quarter

Prt — Isaac Kelly 6 run (Joel Bowling kick) 3:44

——

Prt       RH

First downs     17        16

Rushes-yards  48-238 43-291

Passing yards  95        -4

Total yards      333      287

Cmp-Att-Int    6-9-1   3-4-0

Fumbles-lost   0-0       3-2

Penalties-yards            6-66     1-4

Punts-average  1-23.0  1-27.0

——

Individual Leaders

RUSHING —Portsmouth: Isaac Kelly 15-90, D.J. Pearsall 11-77, Reese Johnson 16-61, Deante Parker 3-17, Eric Purdy 1-0, team 2-minus 7; Rock Hill: Zak Adkins 13-125, Cameron Barnette 22-100, Brayden Friend 6-64, J.D. Hackworth 1-2.

PASSING — Portsmouth: Isaac Kelley 6-9-1 95; Rock Hill: Bryden Friend 3-4-0 minus 4.

RECEIVING — Portsmouth: Logan Carter 3-50, Deanta Parker 3-55; Rock Hill: Jaret Bacorn 1-9, Cameron Barnette 1-minus 2, Zak Adkins 1-minus 11.