SOUTH POINT - There is a reason why the South Point Pointers had a running game to go along with their passing game.

"We worked on it this week," Pointers coach Dan McDavid said.

The Pointers, 1-4, rushed for a season-high 320 yards and quarterback Chris Smith hit 7 of 14 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns.

Smith also ran 10 times for 88 yards while John Crager had 85 yards on 12 attempts.

"The backs carried out their assignment well," McDavid said.

McDavid praised the offensive line of Jude Crabtree, Rusty Gillispie, Jeremiah Taylor, Justin Thacker, Josh Rickard, Adam Stewart and Josh Hunt for the balanced offense.

"The offensive line played really well. They grew up a little bit tonight. In fact, they all grew up a little bit tonight," McDavid said.

Tyler Mitchell's 1-yard touchdown run put Northwest on top 7-0, but Smith hooked up with Jerrell Dean on a 70-yard scoring pass that cut the deficit to 7-6.

Mitchell had a 3-yard scoring run that pushed the lead to 14-6 before the end of the first quarter.

South Point came back to tie the game on a 29-yard pass from Smith to Aaron Patterson for the touchdown and a Smith to Tommy Hayner pass on the conversion.

But Northwest went up 21-14 with 47 seconds left in the half when Dean Fairchild ran 5 yards for a touchdown.

The Pointers Anthony Ross returned the kickoff 53 yards to the 32. Five plays later the Pointers scored on a 3-yard run by Patterson and it was 21-20.

Fairchild answered with a 7-yard scoring run and it was 28-20.

Now it was time for South Point to take over.

Smith clicked on a 43-yard scoring strike to Patterson and Kyle Hughes conversion kick got the Pointers within 28-27.

South Point won the game on 14-yard run by Crager on the first play of the fourth quarter. Smith ran for the conversion and it was 35-28.

Besides the offensive effort, the Pointers had a goal line stand at the end of the third quarter following a

first and goal. Jacob Orlando batted down a pass

in the end zone on fourth down.

"We played better defensively, especially in certain spots," McDavid said.

Northwest14770-28

South Point68138-35

First Quarter

NW - Tyler Mitchell 1 run (Andrew Ralstin kick)

SP - Jerrell Dean 70 pass from Chris Smith (kick failed)

NW - Tyler Mitchell 3 run (Andrew Ralstin kick)

Second Quarter

SP - Aaron Patterson 29 pass from Chris Smith (Tommy Hayner pass from Chris Smith)

NW - Dean Fairchild 5 run (Andrew Ralstin)

Third Quarter

SP - Aaron Patterson 3 run (kick failed)

NW - Dean Fairchild 7 run (Andrew Ralstin kick)

SP - Aaron Patterson 43 pass from Chris Smith (Kyle Hughes kick)

Fourth Quarter

SP - John Crager 14 run (Chris Smith run) first play

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NWSP

First downs1820

Rushes-yards332320

Passing yards21176

Total yards353496

Cmp-Att-Int1-3-07-15-0

Fumbles-lost0-00-0

Punts-average3-29.30-00.0

Penalties-yards5-502-20

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Northwest: Not available; South Point: John Crager 12-85, Aaron Patterson 8-43, Tommy Hayner 4-40, Chris Smith 10-88.

PASSING – Northwest: Brian Glenn 1-3-0 21; South Point: Chris Smith 7-14-0 176, Tommy Hayner 0-1-0.

RECEIVING – Northwest: Jacob Cooper 1-21; South Point: Aaron Patterson 2-72, Jerrell 1-70, Anthony Ross 1-21, Tommy Hayner 2-8, John Crager 1-5.