Carson Francis, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by Holzer Health System.
SOUTH POINT — For the second week in a row, the continuation of South Point’s dream season looked to be in jeopardy on Friday.
After a double-digit, come-from-behind win over Coal Grove the week prior, the Pointers again trailed Portsmouth by a 29-27 count after a first-half shootout.
The upset-minded Trojans had the first possession of the second half, and a score would all but take the wind out of South Point’s sails. But, staring adversity in the face, the Pointers once again rose to the occasion.
Aided by some defensive adjustments at the break, along with 458 rushing yards on the evening from the offense, South Point (8-1, 5-0 OVC) rallied in the second half to knock off the Trojans by a 42-37 final – clinching at least a share of the OVC title for the first time since 2008.
The win also marks South Point’s second-ever win against Portsmouth – the only other coming in 1981.
“The switch to the 3-4 [defense] was important, but more than anything, it came down to our kids believing in each other, trusting their coaching and executing their assignments. We talk constantly about being process-driven, playing with toughness and responding to adversity,” Pointers head coach Brian Wroten said. “Our kids didn’t panic. They made a decision to play more physical, more disciplined football in the second half. That’s the standard we’re building here at South Point.”
But with their playoff hopes on the line, the Trojans (3-6, 3-3 OVC) certainly turned up the heat from the opening kick.
Portsmouth’s special teams unit recovered its own kickoff at the game’s start, setting the Trojans up in the red zone. Fernando Poxes would then put his team on the board first with a seven-yard score on the second play from scrimmage to go up 7-0.
The high-powered South Point offense would respond quickly, however. Using the ground game, the Pointers quickly marched into the red zone before quarterback Ethan Hunt flipped a screen pass to Robert Napier, who would find the end zone from 14 yards out to tie things at 7-7 with 8:27 left.
Napier’s night was just getting started, though.
After the South Point defense forced Portsmouth to punt, the Pointers went right back to Napier on the ground. This time, the senior blasted through the Portsmouth defense and raced his way to the end zone from 61 yards out, putting the Pointers up 14-7 at the 5:54 mark.
“[South Point’s] linemen were blocking well tonight. It was amazing. We had some good holes, and you’ve just got to make some plays on the secondary and get to the end zone,” Napier said. “Receivers were blocking well and running their guys off, that’s all it’s about.”
That score would hold to the end of the opening frame, but Portsmouth signal caller Camron Williams wasted no time helping the Trojans steal the momentum back.
On a 4th and 6 from the South Point ten-yard line, Williams rolled out to his right before lofting a pass to a wide-open Mekhi Berry for a score with 11:10 left, cutting the deficit to 14-13 after the missed PAT.
Williams again marched the Trojans down on the following possession and converted another 4th and 6 with his legs to set his team up at the one. He then snuck it in from there before taking it himself on the two-point try, putting Portsmouth ahead 21-14 with 6:51 in the half.
South Point’s running attack quickly answered, though, as Landon Vance stormed up the middle on a 4th and 2, going all the way to the end zone at the 4:59 mark to tie the game at 21.
Both teams would then exchange turnovers before Portsmouth took back over at its own three-yard line, where the Camron Williams show put out its first-half encore.
On the drive’s first and only play, the senior kept it and ran to his right before changing direction and following a convoy of Portsmouth blockers down the left side of the field. He then stutter-stepped the last man to beat before walking into the end zone for a 97-yard score.
Williams connected with Trey Pendleton on the two-point try, putting the Trojans up 29-21 with 46.7 left.
South Point would get the final score of the half as Vance notched a five-yard score right before the break to make things 29-27.
But the Pointers made some key adjustments during the halftime break, and it paid off in the second half.
Portsmouth got the opening possession of the second half and drove deep into South Point territory, but the Pointers got a key fourth down stop to keep the deficit where it was.
After both teams exchanged possessions, and a scoreless third quarter, South Point’s offense took care of business from there.
With 9:34 left to play, the Pointers turned to Vance once again, who found pay dirt from two yards out to put his team up 34-29. To add insult to injury, Portsmouth would bobble the ensuing kickoff and commit a penalty in its own end zone, resulting in a South Point safety to extend the lead to 36-29.
Looking for the knockout punch, the Pointers held true to their run game and milked over six minutes of clock. Vance would cap off the drive with his fourth touchdown of the evening, this one coming from a yard out to extend the lead to 42-29 with 3:15 left.
The Trojans weren’t quite dead yet, however. On the second play of the following drive, Williams launched a 63-yard touchdown pass to Berry at the 2:51 mark before the duo connected for a two-point conversion, cutting South Point’s lead to 42-37.
But the effort wouldn’t be enough for Portsmouth as Keondre Garred recovered the onside kick for South Point, sealing a shootout victory on Senior Night for the Pointers, clinching the program a piece of the OVC crown.
Spearheading the rushing attack for South Point was Vance, who ran for 277 yards on 29 carries to go along with his four touchdowns. Napier also added 191 yards on 15 carries with two scores – one through the air and one on the ground.
“Landon and Robert embody the type of football players we want at South Point. They’re physical, tough and willing to do the dirty work,” Wroten said. “Our offensive line is the foundation of everything we do offensively, but those two young men bring a mentality that complements that group. They run with purpose, finish runs and embrace contact.”
South Point will look for its first outright league title since 2006 next Friday night when it travels to Gallia Academy. For the Trojans, they will host Ironton in a Week 10 rivalry showdown as their playoff hopes stand on life support.
“I can’t put into words how much the coaches have changed the culture around here,” Vance said. “We believe because of them. They’ve fed into us ever since February to where we are now is where all the hard work came. People getting their minds right, it’s a big thing mentally, too, and we have to be mentally tough to be where we’re at right now.”
SPONSORS
ATOMIC CREDIT UNION
SCHMIDT FAMILY RESTAURANT GROUP
ARRICK’S PROPANE
