GALLIPOLIS — Looking to pull off an upset, Gallia Academy seemed as if they might do so midway through the fourth quarter.

But then senior Anthony Stamper and Redmen turned on the afterburners and blew away those chances as Rock Hill rattled off 21-straight points in the final 6 minutes of play for a 37-12 win over the Blue Devils in Ohio Valley Conference action on Friday night at Memorial Field.

Stamper turned in his third-straight game of going over the century mark, amassing 269 yards rushing on 20 carries, including two long touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to break the backs of the Blue Devils and help dash away any hopes of an upset.

The win gives the Redmen an overall record of 6-1 and 2-1 in OVC play. Galla Academy fell to 0-7 and 0-4 on the season.

The Blue Devils threatened to take an early lead on their opening drive, moving 68 yards to the Redmen 2. But the interior of Rock Hill’s defense held back the scoring chance. Gallia’s Max Canaday tried to stretch the ball across on the fourth down attempt, but came up about half a yard short, giving the ball back to the Redmen.

Rock Hill capitalized on the momentum swing with a long touchdown drive. They got some breathing room on first down when quarterback Dallin Cox scrambled for a 29-yard gain. Then later in the drive, Cox tossed a middle screen to Brody Simpkins to move the Redmen deep into Blue Devils territory.

Stamper capped off the drive on the first play of the second quarter, with a 3-yard touchdown run off the left side. Rylan Barker added the extra point to make it 7-0.

The Redmen defense came up with a turnover on Gallia’s ensuing possession, as Stamper picked off a Braylon Rathburn pass to set the Rock Hill offense up at the Blue Devils 39.

Two plays later Cox dropped back and hit a streaking Bryson Kerns on a post down the middle of the field to extend the lead to 13-0 with 10:58 remaining in the second quarter.

Cox completed 7 of 10 passes for 126 yards and ran for 44 yards.

Stamper would pick off another pass deep in Rock Hill’s own territory to keep the score the same at halftime.

Barker added a field goal on the opening drive of the third to make the lead 16-0.

But the Blue Devils would try to mount their rally, as they scored in 5 plays on their following possession to cut the deficit. Connor Nichols caught an outlet pass from Rathburn and barreled his way into the end zone with tacklers hanging on him. The conversion pass was battled away by Simpkins and the Redmen still led 16-6.

Gallia came up with a turnover in the fourth quarter and turned it into points, as Enoch Patterson took a screen pass 13 yards to pay dirt and finish off a 12-play drive. The extra point was blocked by Daniel Medinger, leaving the score at 16-13 with just 6:11 remaining in the game.

But the Redmen needed just one play to erase the momentum, as Stamper took a handoff on the first play from scrimmage, made a man miss as he made a cut and raced between defenders untouched for a 68 yard touchdown run. Barker split the sticks and Rock Hill led 23-12.

The defense would come up with its third interception of the night on Gallia’s following possession and Stamper would go the distance two plays later, this time from 69-yards out and extend the lead to 30-12.

The final score of the night came on a 13-yard run by Yaden Bailey to put an exclamation point on the win.

Rathburn led the Blue Devils on offense completing 18 of 34 passes for 239 yards. Patterson led all receivers with game-highs in receiving with 9 catches for 108 yards.

Rock Hill will be on the road again next Friday against the Portsmouth Trojans. Gallia Academy will travel to Chesapeake. 

Rock Hill 0 13 3 21 = 37

Gallipolis 0 0 6 6 = 12

Second Quarter

RH — Anthony Stamper 3 run (Rylan Barker kick), 11:55.

RH — Bryson Kerns 48 pass from Dallin Cox (kick blocked), 10:58.

Third Quarter

RH — Rylan Barker 21 field goal, 7:35.

GA — Connor Nichols 29 pass from Braylon Rathburn (pass failed), 4:24.

Fourth Quarter

GA — Enoch Patterson 13 pass from Braylon Rathburn (kick no good), 6:11.

RH — Anthony Stamper 68 run (Rylan Barker kick), 5:55.

RH — Anthony Stamper 68 run (Rylan Barker kick), 4:29.

RH — Yaden Bailey 13 run (Rylan Barker kick), 0:53.

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RH GA

First downs 22 12

Rushes-yards 35-374 18-21

Passing yards 126 252

Total yards 500 273

Cmp-Att-Int 7-10-2 19-35-3

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 1-5 2-20

Punts-average 1-28.0 1-32.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Rock Hill: Anthony Stamper 20-269 3TD, Brody Simpkins 10-55, Dallin Cox 3-44 Logan Hopper 2-6; Gallia Academy: Braylon Rathburn 6-5, Max Canaday 4-5, Connor Nichols 8-15.

PASSING–Rock Hill: Dallin Cox 7-10-2 126 TD; Gallia Academy: Braylon Rathburn 19-35-3 239 2TD.

RECEIVING–Rock Hill: Bryson Kerns 2-50 TD, Sam Rusk 1-13, Anthony Stamper 2-47, Brody Simpkins 2-16; Gallia Academy: Max Canaday 2-52, Connor Nichols 5-45 TD, Enoch Patterson 9-108 TD, Parker Burris 3-33.