4th quarter rally lifts Pointers past Trojans, clinches 1st OVC title share since 2008

SOUTH POINT — It had been nearly 20 years since the South Point Pointers last won an Ohio Valley conference football championship.

The Pointers made this one memorable in many ways.

The Pointers had more than 400 yards rushing, nearly 500 yards of offense, some crazy plays and some in opportune penalties as they outscored the Portsmouth Trojans 42-37 on Friday night.

The Pointers’ Dynamic Duo ran well all night. Landon “Batman” Vance ran 28 times for 256 yards and scored 4 touchdowns while Robert “Robin” Napier had 16 carries for 181 yards and a score as the Pointers gained 434 rushing yards on 51 carries for an 8.5 yards per attempt average.

The opening kickoff was an indication of what was about to follow when the Pointers failed to cover the ball and the Trojans jumped on the ball at the 14-yard line.

Three plays later, Fernando Poxes ran 8 yards for the score and Eli Roth’s kick made it 7-0 at the 11:16 mark.

But the Pointers (8-1, 5-0) regrouped quickly and drove for the tying score as quarterback Ethan Hunt hit Napier on a 13-yard pass play with 8:27 left in the opening quarter.

Ezra Young kicked the conversion.

It didn’t take the Pointers long to get another score as Napier got free on a 61-yard touchdown run with 5:44 left in the quarter and it was 14-7.

Early in the second quarter, Mekhi Berry had a nice 10-yard catch of a Camron Williams pass and cut the deficit to 14-14 at the 11:10 mark.

Portsmouth (3-6, 3-3-3) got the ball back and marched for the score with Williams going the final yard. Williams also ran for the conversion and the Trojans led 31-14 with 6:51 on the clock.

This time it was Vance’s turn for the long touchdown run as he went 44 yards into the end zone and Young’s kick tied the game at 21-all with 5 minutes left in the half.

Speaking of long, memorable runs, with the Trojans backed up at their own 3-yard line, Williams bolted out of the backfield and went the distance with just 47 seconds left in the half.

Williams threw to Trey Pendleton for the conversion and a 29-21 lead.

And let’s add another memory. There was still time on the clock.

The Pointers got down the field quickly using a 50-yard kickoff return and a 44-yard run by Vance to set up his own 5-yard scoring run with 6 seconds left on the clock.

The conversion run failed and the Pointers trailed 29-27 at the break.

Oddly, neither team scored in the third quarter, but South Point was able to take the lead for good on a 2-yard run by Vance with 9:18 to play. Young’s kick made it 34-29.

On the kickoff, the Trojans fumbled the ball around the 10-yard line and it went back toward the goal line. In order to keep the Pointers from recovering the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, they batted the ball out of bounds for a safety.

Leading 36-29 with 9:16 on the clock, the Pointers took the short free kick and scored again as Vance got his fourth touchdown on a 1-yard run with 3:15 left.

The insurance scores were needed as Williams and Berry hooked up on a 63-yard scoring strike with 2:51 left. The duo clicked again on the conversion and it was 42-37.

But the Pointers recovered the onside kick-off and ran out the clock.

This Friday, South Point goes to Gallia Academy needing a win to claim the OVC title outright. The game will be the final contest played on Memorial Stadium Field.

Portsmouth will be at home against rival Ironton.

Portsmouth  7    22    0      8  =  37

South Point 14   13    0    15  =  42

First Quarter

Prt — Fernando Poxes 8 run (Eli Roth kick), 11:16.

SP — Robert Napier 13 pass from Ethan Hunt (Ezra Young kick), 8:27.

SP — Robert Napier 61 run (Ezra Young kick), 5:44.

Second Quarter

Prt —Mekhi Berry 10 pass from Camron Williams (kick failed), 11:10.

Prt — Camron Williams 1 run (Camron Williams run), 6:51.

SP — Landon Vance 44 run (Ezra Young kick), 5:00.

Prt —Camron Williams 97 run (Trey Pendleton pass from Camron Williams), 0:47.

SP— Landon Vance 5 run (run failed), 0:06.

Fourth Quarter

SP — Landon Vance 2 run (Ezra Young kick), 9:18.

Prt —Safety (illegal forward pass in end zone), 9:16.

SP —Landon Vance 1 run (pass failed), 3:15.

Prt —Mekhi Berry 63 from Camron Williams (Mekhi Berry pass from Camron Williams), 2:51.

———————

   P    SP

First Downs 16  25

Scrimmage Plays 55  61

Rushes & Yards  31-199 51-434

Passing Yards      175  61

Total Yards        374  495

Cmp-Att-Int        10-24-1 5-10-1

Fumbles & Lost 0-0  3-1

Penalties & Yards 9-63  14-98

Punts & Average 3-34.3 1-43

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING — Portsmouth: Camron Williams 10-147 2-TD, Jemarkus Parker 14-43, Nick Poxes 3-6, Fernando Poxes 3-3 TD, Team 1-0; South Point: Landon Vance 28-256 4-TD, Robert Napier 16-181 TD, Ethan Hunt 2-8, Dom Pegram 1-1, Ezra Young 1-0, Team 3-minus 12.

PASSING — Portsmouth: Camron Williams 10-24-1-175 2-TD; South Point: Ethan Hunt 5-10-1-61 TD.

RECEIVING —  Portsmouth: Mekhi Berry 5-97 2-TD, Da'Monie Wood 3-45, Nick Poxes 2-15, J.J. Henderson 1-19, Fernando Poxes 1-minus 1; South Point: Robert Napier 2-28 TD, Davon Lewis 2-19, Elyjah Patterson 1-14.