South Pointe Stallions stave off Rock Hill comeback

South Pointe beat Rock Hill for the sixth straight time Friday night, quarterback Greg Ruff piloting the Stallions to a 33-21 win.

South Pointe scored on its first offensive possession, Ruff launching a 75-yard touchdown pass to Josh Wilkes for a 7-0 lead.

“We set it up like that. We knew it was gonna work,” said the senior. “It’s a rivalry game, lot of stuff coming into this game, junk-talking and all that, so it was good to shut them up on the first play.”

Rock Hill answered, Brandon Banks bulling in from three yards out. Ruff then fired another scoring pass to Wilkes, before South Pointe took a 20-7 lead after Nick McCloud’s interception. The Stallions scored several plays later on an 11-yard TD catch and run by Tony Cherry to make it 20-7.

Rock Hill pulled back within six points (20-14) with a nice drive, culminating in a 6-yard TD pass to John McCullough. But a 65-yard kickoff return by Chris Smith set up a 1-yard touchdown lob from Ruff to Quay Brown for a 27-14 lead. B.T. Potter’s 33-yard field goal sent the Stallions to the intermission with a 30-14 advantage.

The Bearcats fought back in a penalty-riddled game, but couldn’t produce points on a crucial fourth quarter drive that would have really made the defending 3A state champs sweat.

"They’re a bunch of fighters. We battled to the end as much as we can; ball just didn’t bounce our way tonight," said Rock Hill coach Bubba Pittman.

Turning point

Trailing 30-21 in the third quarter, Rock Hill had the chance to cut the Stallions lead to two points. The Bearcats methodically moved the ball down to the South Pointe 14-yard line, but a holding call backed the Bearcats up 16 yards. On third and 21 a pass interference call on the Stallions gave the Bearcats another chance, but a fourth down run by Banks came up short. Rock Hill then missed a 31-yard field goal, and momentum lurched in the hosts’ direction. They got a 22-yard field from B.T. Potter on the ensuing drive to reestablish a comfortable lead.

“It was the same as last year,” said South Pointe coach Strait Herron, annoyed with his team for the third quarter let-down. “They promised me down there that they weren’t gonna do that, and came out complacent. But we hung in. That’s what you’ve got to do, keep playing.”

Critical

For the second year in a row in this matchup, South Pointe got out to a fast start. The Stallions led 21-0 at halftime last season before staving off a Rock Hill comeback, and this year’s game followed a similar tack. The early exchanges of the first quarter were close, but South Pointe grabbed the lead thanks to the first of two Rock Hill interceptions. The Stallions kept at least a one-score lead the rest of the contest.

Star contributions

South Pointe QB Greg Ruff was incredibly efficient, completing 25-of-31 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half. Ruff connected on his first 12 pass attempts, and his ability to prolong broken plays, and his unspoken connection with fellow seniors Quay Brown and Josh Wilkes - the Eastern Michigan commit who caught six passes for 114 yards - helped the Stallions overcome a game Rock Hill squad. It was a good end to the day for Ruff, who earlier on Friday received his first scholarship offer from Division II Union College in Kentucky.

Overhead

“He does a great job of keeping it alive, and they do a good job of finding open grass,” said Herron, talking about the connection between Ruff and senior receivers Josh Wilkes and Quay Brown. “I know from a defensive standpoint that’s hard to defend.”

On deck

South Pointe faces York at home, no doubt remembering last season’s 48-7 Cougars’ win. Rock Hill hosts Chester looking to make it 10 straight wins over the Cyclones. Chester last beat Rock Hill in 1991.

Box score

South Pointe 33, Rock Hill 21

South Pointe;20;10;0;3- 33

Rock Hill;7;7;7;0- 21

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

SPHS - Josh Wilkes 75 pass from Greg Ruff (B.T. Potter kick), 10:41

RHHS - Brandon Banks 3 run (Hudson Gray kick), 6:54

SPHS - Wilkes 18 pass from Ruff (kick failed), 1:32

SPHS - Tony Cherry 11 pass from Ruff (Potter kick), 0:00

Second quarter

RHHS - John McCullough 6 pass from Banks (Gray kick), 7:15

SPHS - Quay Brown 1 pass from Ruff (Potter kick), 5:33

SPHS - Potter 33-yard field goal, 1:25

Third quarter

RHHS - Banks 1 run (Gray kick), 5:00

Fourth quarter

SPHS - Potter 22-yard field goal, 5:21

TEAM STATISTICS

SP;RH

First downs;15;18

Rushes-yards;26-96;31-145

Passing;25-31-0;24-42-2

Passing yards;275;164

Fumbles-lost;1-0;1-1

Penalties-yards;13-129;8-93

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING Rock Hill: Kadarius Baxter 3-13, Brandon Banks 16-44, Tim Sherer 11-82, Jo Jo Robinson 1-6. South Pointe: Voshon St. Hill 4-18, Greg Ruff 11-26, DaNeil Adams 2-6, Josh Wilkes 1-13, Geomni Mayfield 7-31, Tay Davis 1-2.

PASSING Rock Hill: Banks 24-42-2-1. South Pointe: Ruff 25-31-0-4.

RECEIVING Rock Hill: Thailand Adams 3-17, John McCullough 3-36, Baxter 3-25, Trevor Pearson 5-40. South Pointe: Tony Cherry 3-30, Josh Wilkes 6-114, Quay Brown 5-67, St. Hill 2-31, Lorenzo Wells 2-11, Paul-Michael Potter 1-5, Geomni Mayfield 5-14.

RECORDS Rock Hill 0-2; South Pointe 2-0

This story was originally published August 28, 2015 at 10:58 PM with the headline "South Pointe Stallions stave off Rock Hill comeback."