Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — The late Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra once said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.”
The Rock Hill Redmen understand perfectly what Berra meant after losing 27-20 to the Minford Falcons in the season opener on Friday.
Crucial turnovers were costly last season as the Redmen lost four games by seven or less points. A fumble late in the game along with an interception and a big kickoff return by Minford were critical mistakes for Rock Hill.
For the game, Rock Hill had good balance in its rushing game.
T.J. McGinnis carried 21 times for 83 yards. Logan Hankins had 62 yards on 13 attempts, while Zak Adkins had 49 yards on 17 tries.
Adkins also had two receptions for 32 yards and Hankins had one catch for five yards.
Minford ran the ball 30 times for 214 yards led by Ty Wiget with 137 yards on 19 carries. Quarterback Kelton Kelley rushed nine times for 79 yards and was 5-of-12 passing for 73 yards.
Minford dominated the first quarter with 92 yards rushing and 145 total yards with nine first downs.
During the first quarter, Minford took a 14-0 lead on a 15-yard scoring run by Wiget and a 16-yard scoring strike from Kelton Kelly to Drew Skaggs.
Rock Hill finally got going after a 35-yard kickoff return by Adkins got the ball to the Minford 42.
A 32-yard pass from Friend to Adkins got the ball to the 3-yard line from where McGinnis scored on the next play and it was 14-6.
Rock Hill was backed up to its on 10-yard line and had to punt. Minford took advantage of the tight punt to get the ball at the Rock Hill 27 and scored five plays later on a 12-yard pass from Kelley to Matthew Risner. Caleb Yumas kicked the conversion and it was 20-6 at the half.
The Redmen came out and got two third quarter scores to tie the game at 20-20.
A 53-yard, 7-play drive culminated with Friend keeping the ball for a 7-yard scoring run. Brady Floyd added the conversion and it was 20-13 at the 3:37 mark.
Rock Hill tied the game with a key defensive play as Hayden Harper picked up a fumble by Kelley at the 38-yard line and returned it for a touchdown. Floyd kicked the score-tying conversion.
However, Elijah Voglesong returned the Rock Hill kickoff 63 yards to the Redmen 25 where Wiget scored on the very first play. Yuhas kicked the conversion for a 27-20 lead.
Rock Hill did manage a deep drive to the Minford 11-yard line only to fumble and the Falcons recovered at the 9.
Voglesong had an interception to stop a drive at the Minford 26 late in the game.
Minford 14 6 7 0 = 27
Rock Hill 0 6 14 0 = 20
First Quarter
Min — Ty Wiget 15 run (Caleb Yuhas kick)
Min — Drew Skaggs 16 pass from Kelton Kelley (Caleb Yuhas kick)
Second Quarter
RH — T.J. McGinnis 3 run (kick failed)
Min — Matthew Risner 12 pass from Kelton Kelley (kick failed)
Third Quarter
RH — Brayden Friend 7 run (Brady Floyd kick) 3:37
RH — Hayden Harper 38 fumble return (Brady Floyd kick)
Min — Ty Wiget 25 run (Caleb Wiget kick)
——
Min RH
First downs 16 15
Rushes-yards 30-214 55-211
Passing yards 73 37
Total yards 287 248
Cmp-Att-Int 5-12-0 3-6-1
Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-1
Penalties-yards 5-40 3-20
Punts-average 4-42.0 4-30.0
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Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Minford: Ty Wiget 19-137, Kelton Kelley 9-79, Elijah Voglesong 1-minus 1, Andy Crank 1-minus 1; Rock Hill: T.J. McGinnis 21-83, Logan Hankins 14-62, Zak Adkins 17-49, Brayden Friend 3-17.
PASSING — Minford: Kelton Kelley 5-12-0 73; Rock Hill: Brayden Friend 3-6-0 37.
RECEIVING — Minford: Tyler Miller 1-15, Ty Wiget 1-18, Elijah Voglesong 2-28, Matthew Risner 1-7; Rock Hill: Zak Adkins 2-32, Logan Hankins 1-5.