SOUTH POINT — Both teams came in the game in search of at least a share of the conference title, and both battling the muddy field, the South Point Pointers rallied from an early deficit to beat the Rock Hill Redmen 7-6 to win the Ohio Valley Conference championship outright because of a Chesapeake loss to Fairland.

“It is a huge win. These kids played hard all year, and it is a validation of the hard work and persistence,” Pointers coach Dan McDavid said.

“Rock Hill played excellent and are well-coached, (but) our kids bowed their necks and kept plugging and plugging away and got the job done. Our defense played awesome after the first quarter.”

After both teams traded punts on their opening possessions, the Redmen (6-4, 3-2) got the ball at the Pointer 30.

It took Rock Hill only four plays to reach the end zone when quarterback Jarrod Casey took it in from 9 yards out. The extra point was no good, and it the Redmen led 6-0 with 7:24 to go in the first.

Neither team could muster any offense until late in the first half when South Point got the ball at their own 25.

On third down, South Point quarterback Chris Smith found a leaping Heath Bridges for a 41-yard gain.

The Pointers would move it down to the Rock Hill four, but turned it over on downs, when Smith’s pass fell incomplete on fourth down, and the half ended with the Redmen leading 6-0.

The Pointers (5-5, 4-1) opened the second half going on a 9-play, 64-yard scoring drive, which would prove to be the game winner, when Chris Smith scrambled in from 10 yards out. The extra point was good, and the Pointers led for good with 7:37 remaining in the third.

“I just dropped back, and saw an opening in the middle, beat a couple of guys at the line, and just dove over,” Smith said.

Smith finished 3-of-9 for 67 yards.

He also ran 15 times for minus-29 yards in his final game as a Pointer.

Rock Hill used six straight runs to open the final period, and moved it to the South Point eight, but could not convert on fourth down.

Both teams traded punts, and the Pointers got the ball at their own four. Faced with a third down, Todd Mayo appeared to be bottled up, but broke free down the sideline for a 66-yard gain down to the Rock Hill 26. Mayo finished with 11 carries for 91 yards.

The Redmen would get one more chance when the Pointers fumbled on fourth down, and the Redmen recovered at the 15. Casey connected on a third down, but an interception by Kyle Hughes two plays later and the Pointers knelt to end the game.

Casey finished 4-10 for 22 yards, and ran 10 times for 55 yards and a score.

“Both teams played extremely well through adverse conditions, and unfortunately they were able to make on more play than we were,” Rock Hill coach Todd Knipp said.

“We battled all year, and we have had a great last two seasons. Hopefully, that will lay the foundation for seasons to come,” Knipp said.

Josh Moore finished with 13 carries for 46 yards, and caught 2 passes for 7 yards for the Redmen.

South Point’s Beau Weed caught one pass for 16 yards, and had one interception, which set a new school record with 8 for the season.

This was the last game at Pointer Stadium, as the Pointers are scheduled to move to the new athletic complex and schools next year. It was also senior night for 15 Pointers.

“I think this is a very, very special group of kids; from the freshman all the way up to the seniors,” McDavid said.

Rock Hill6000=6

South Point0070=7

First Quarter

RH - Jarrod Casey 9 run (kick failed) 7:24

Third Quarter

SP - Chris Smith 10 run (Lance Miller kick) 7:37

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RHSP

First downs76

Rushes-yards37-10439-99

Passing yards2267

Total yards126166

Com-Att-Int4-10-23-9-1

Punts-average3-38.35-30.0

Penatlies-yards3-153-25

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING-Rock Hill: Jarraod Casey 16-55, Josh Moore 13-46, Wes Pierson 4-minus 5, Josh Guy 4-8; South Point: Jacob Orlando 7-11, Justin Thacker 2-7, Jude Crabtree 4-19, Chris Smith 15-minus 29, Todd Mayo 11-91.

PASSING-Rock Hill: Jarrod Casey 4-10-2 22; South Point: Chris Smith 3-9-1 67.

RECEIVING-Rock Hill: Josh Moore 2-7, Kyle Evans 2-15; South Point: Heath Bridges 1-41, Beau Weed 1-16, Jerrell Dean 1-10.