SOUTH POINT -- Sometimes 9 yards can seem closer to 9 miles.

That was the way it went for the South Point Pointers as they dropped to 0-3 after an 18-0 loss to the Wayne (W.Va.) Pioneers Friday in what was a close game until the final period.

Trailing by six in the third, the Pointers had their chance to take the lead when Tyler Staton recovered a fumble on the Wayne 9-yard line.

But, the Pointers were only able to gain 2 yards and turned the ball over on downs.

"It was a still a 6-0 football game when we got the ball on the nine," coach Dan McDavid said. "The key to the game was we couldn't move 9 yards."

On Wayne's first possession of the game, the Pointers defense gave up less than 20 yards and forced a punt.

It looked like the South Point offensive unit that has not scored a touchdown in three games was going to start clicking after Tommy Hayner hit Chris Chapman for a 36-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage.

South Point dodged a bullet on its next play when Hayner's pass was intercepted, but Wayne lost the fumble on the return.

The offense still couldn't get going. Zane Joy's 45-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Josh Powers. Coach McDavid says it was within his range if Joy gets the protection.

On Wayne's second possession they got on the board with a 15 play, 64-yard drive that was capped by Gary Roland's 20-yard touchdown run at the beginning of the second quarter giving Wayne a 6-0 lead.

Neither team could sustain any drives the rest of the half. Each team had four more possessions before halftime but failed to put any points on the board.

So Wayne held onto its slim 6-0 lead.

"Obviously we played better on defense this week," McDavid said. "We played a little better on offense but we just was not able to push the ball across the goal. Wayne is a pretty good football team, and they have got a pretty good defense."

South Point got the ball to start the second half but was forced to punt. The Wayne Pioneers fumbled on their first play of the period setting up the Pointers chance to score from the nine.

After failing to take advantage of the great field position, the South Point defense held and forced the Pioneers to punt.

After switching to Chris Smith at quarterback, the Pointers still struggled and turned the ball over on a fumble.

Wayne put together an eight-play, 70-yard drive that ended with an 8-yard Jason Sanders touchdown run. After forcing a quick three and out, Daniel Runyon broke away for a 31-yard touchdown sprint making the score 18-0.

South Point turned the ball over on two of its next three possessions and never managed to put an offensive drive together

After the game, McDavid talked to his team about the things it will take to get better on offense including executing plays properly, finishing blocks and making the right play calls, something that he blames himself for.

"I am not at all disappointed with the defense. The got tired because they were on the field for too many plays," he said. "We will work on our offensive execution and come out next week and try to light the score board up."

Wayne06012-- 18

South Point 0000--0

Second Quarter

Wa – Gary Roland 13 run (kick failed) 11:20

Fourth Quarter

Wa -- Jason Sanders 8 run (run failed) 11:56

Wa -- Daniel Runyon 31 run (run failed) 8:48

First downs:Way 16,SP1

Rushes-yards:Way 54-257,SP20-20

Passing yards:Way 39,SP46

Total yards:Way 296,SP66

Cmp-Att-Int:Way 4-9-0,SP3-17-3

Punts-average:Way 4-30,SP7-27

Fumbles-lost:Way 4-3,SP3-2

Penalties-yards:Way 5-49,SP4-20

Individual Leaders

RUSHING- Wayne:

Gary Roland 10-82, Jason Sanders 13-63, Daniel Runyon 9-56, Josh Powers 13-38, Jake Gilliam 3-18, Michael Hill 1-7, Adam Tygart 1-2, Nick Newell 4-minus 9. South Point: Chris Smith 3-10, Caleb Copley 6-9, Wes Patterson 1-4, Chris Chapman 5-4, Justin Workman 1-1, Tommy Hayner 4-minus 8.

PASSING- Wayne:

Nick Newell 4-9-0 39. South Point: Tommy Hayner 3-13-2 46, Chris Smith 0-4-1 0.

RECEIVING- Wayne: Jake Gilliam 1-19, Trevor Marcum 2-16, Kyle Wellman 1-4. South Point: Chris Chapman 1-36, Caleb Copley 1-8, Caleb Lawson 1-2.

MISSED FIELD GOALS: South Point 45 (blocked by Josh Powers)