South Pointe’s balance -- key stops, timely scores -- pushes team to win over Northwestern
South Pointe opened the season with a show of force -- evidence why the Stallions are South Carolina’s top ranked Class 4A football team.
Give this one to the defensive and offensive lines. On offense they opened holes, on defense the big guys closed them.
After battling to 10-7 midway the second quarter, South Pointe ran off 29 unanswered points, while Northwestern faced a series of stalled drives. The final: 39-7 South Pointe, the most lopsided result in the two schools’ rivalry.
“I think we wore them down and that’s a tribute to our offensive line working their butts off in the offseason,” said South Pointe coach Strait Herron.
South Pointe’s offense looked unstoppable in the second half. The Stallions piled up 356 yards on the ground and 543 total, much of it coming from the trident rushing attack of Whitlock, Joe Ervin and QB Derion Kendrick.
South Pointe overcame an early turnover to take a 10-0 lead. Savion White intercepted a Northwestern pass in the Stallions’ red zone, which led to Marice Whitlock’s first of two TDs, before B.T. Potter added a field goal after another Trojan turnover. Steven Gilmore Jr.’s 27-yard TD catch and run just before the half gave the Stallions some breathing room before they blew the game open in the second half with touchdowns from Whitlock, B.J. Davis and Donavon McClinton.
The previous three games between South Pointe and Northwestern were decided by nine total points and they’ve split the last six contests. Both schools are five-time football state champions.
But Whitlock said he wasn’t surprised by the result based on his team’s preparation.
“The intensity we had at practice I knew when we came out here on game day it was gonna be exciting,” he said.
Turning point
The hosts took control of the game early in the third quarter. Trailing 16-7, Northwestern had possession first in the third quarter. The Stallions forced a punt, then scored on their next offensive drive, Whitlock’s 19-yard scramble ending in the end zone for a 23-7 lead.
“Once we got the ball back, I told our guys ‘this is huge right here, this is so important.’ They stepped up and they got it done,” Herron said.
Critical
Herron was concerned his team was rudderless, saying the Stallions had “absolutely no leadership” earlier in the week. But the team held a devotional before Friday’s game about humility, a discussion that seemed to help sharpen the Stallions’ focus against Northwestern.
“Quit thinking about yourself so much and do what the team needs you to do, and they did exactly that,” Herron said. “They played as a team and that’s the reason why we had the success that we did.”
Star contributors
South Pointe’s defensive and offensive lines won the game up front. Stallion ball-carriers benefited on offense, Ervin leading the way with 110 yards on nine carries, Kendrick adding 97 and Whitlock 60 and a pair of touchdowns.
Kendrick was also 20-of-27 passing for 200 yards and a TD.
Jordan Starkes had seven catches for 61 yards for the Trojans, while Jamario Holley added 64 yards and a touchdown on five grabs.
On deck
South Pointe heads over to Nation Ford to face the Falcons, who fell to Irmo Friday night in their season opener.
Box score
South Pointe 39, Northwestern 7
Northwestern 0; 7; 0; 0 - 7
South Pointe 10; 6; 13; 10 - 39
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
SP -- Marice Whitlock, 2 yd run, (BT Potter kick).
SP -- B.T. Potter 22 yd field goal.
Second quarter
NW -- Jamario Holley 2 yd pass from Dustin Noller (Thomas Gettys kick).
SP -- Steven Gilmore 27 yd pass from Derion Kendrick (BT Potter kick blocked).
Third quarter
SP -- Marice Whitlock 19 yd run (BT Potter kick).
SP -- BJ Davis 1 yd pass from Tyleek Steele (Marice Whitlock rush failed).
Fourth quarter
SP -- Donov McClinton 7 yd run (BT Potter kick).
SP -- BT Potter 31 yd field goal.
TEAM STATISTICS
NHS;SPHS
First downs;14;25
Rushes-yards;26-108;37-356
Passing;23-37-1;21-29-0
Passing yards;177;201
Fumbles-lost;1-1;1-1
Penalties-yards;11-103;10-99
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING NHS: Dequez Harris 18-71; Dustin Noller 8-16. SPHS: Joe Ervin 11-110; Derion Kendrick 9-97; James McKinney 1-67; Marice Whitlock 8-59; Donovan McClinton 2-10; Kinari Mobley 2-6; Keith Currence 2-1; Tahleek Steele 2-(-8).
PASSING NHS: Noller 23-37-1, 177 yards, 1 TD. SPHS: Kendrick 20-27-0, 200 yards, 1 TD; Steele 1-2-0, 1 yard, 1 TD.
RECEIVING NHS: Jordan Starkes 7-61; Harris 6-29; Jamario Holley 5-64; Jaelan Harfield 2-8; Ger-Cari Caldwell 1-13; Gregory Bivens 1-4; Jamaar Moore 1-(-2). SPHS: Scott Robinson Jr. 6-77; Ty Good 4-37; Steven Gilmore Jr. 3-45; Isaac Ross 3-14; Whitlock 2-16; Ervin 2-11; B.J. Davis 1-1.
RECORDS Northwestern 0-1; South Pointe 1-0.
This story was originally published August 18, 2017 at 10:19 PM with the headline "South Pointe’s balance -- key stops, timely scores -- pushes team to win over Northwestern."