By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

KINGSTON — For the Rock Hill Redmen, this looked like a typical first game.

The Redmen had four turnovers and other breakdowns in a 17-14 loss to the Zane Trace Pioneers on Friday.

“We had some first game jitters and we had some first game mistakes that we weren’t able to overcome,” said Redmen coach Todd Knipp. “We played hard. The mistakes weren’t the same person or same thing.”

Nat Mavis kicked a field goal with 3:18 left in the half to put Zane Trace up 3-0 only to have Trey Wilds electrify the crowd with a 90-yard kickoff return that gave Rock Hill a 6-3 halftime lead.

Ian Carle hit Colton Whitehouse with a 15-yard scoring pass midway through the third quarter that enabled the Pioneers to regain the lead at 10-6.

However, quarterback Will McCollister answered with a 56-yard run to put the Redmen back on top. Jesse Lane caught the conversion pass and it was 14-10.

Then came a bizarre play that proved to be the difference in the game.

After the ensuing kickoff, Carle ran 7 yards on an option and was hit, but while falling down he pitched the ball underhand to Bobby Cowman who raced the remaining 55 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

“The play happened right in front of me. They made a play. It wasn’t textbook, but their kid made a play for them,” said Knipp.

Shane Harper led the Redmen with 98 yards on 21 carries.

McCollister ran for 41 net yards and hit 8 of 15 passes for 75 yards as the Redmen had 240 total yards for the game.

Jared Bruce caught four passes for 53 yads.

Carle had 108 yards on 11 carries to pace the Pioneers whose defense came up with four interceptions including two off tipped passes.

Rock Hill 0 6 8 0 = 14

Zane Trace 0 3 14 0 = 17

Second Quarter

ZT — Nat Mavis 29 FG

RH — Trey Wilds 90 kickoff return (kick failed)

Third Quarter

ZT — Colton Whitehouse 15 pass from Ian Carle (Nat Mavis kick)

RH — Will McCollister 56 run (Jesse Lane pass from Will McCollister)

ZT — Bobby Cowman 55 run (Nat Mavis kick)

RH ZT

First downs 14 8

Rushes-yards 44-165 33-228

Passing yards 75 45

Total yards 240 273

Cmp-Att-Int 8-15-4 4-8-1

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1

Punts-average 4-16.5 4-32.5

Penalties-yards 6-45 6-40

Individual Leaders

RUSHING— Rock Hill: Shane Harper 21-98, Will McCollister 10-41, Jesse Lane 4-21, Jared Bruce 8-16, team 1-minus 10 ; Zane Trace: Jacobe Graves 7-10, Matt Marnell 13-48, Camden Everidge 1-3, Bobby Cowman 1-55, Ian Carle 11-112.

PASSING— Rock Hill: Will McCollister 8-15-4 75; Zane Trace: Ian Carle 4-8-1 45.

RECEVING— Rock Hill: Trey Wilds 4-22, Jared Bruce 4-53; Zane Trace: Matt Marnell 2-7, Brandon Cox 1-23, Colton Whitehouse 1-15.