Williams leads Trojans easy win over Redmen

Published 5:57 pm Saturday, October 12, 2024

By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — Maybe the J.T. stands for Just Touchdowns.

Email newsletter signup

Portsmouth quarterback J.T. Williams was doing nothing but scoring touchdowns on Friday as he scored 4 times and ran for 211 yards in the Trojans 42-21 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Rock Hill Redmen.

The Trojans ran for 275 yards with Chase Heiland getting 68 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown while also catching 2 bases for 31 yards.

Rock Hill had 143 yards rushing as Anthony Stamper ran 22 times for 99 yards and a touchdown. His yardage total helped him eclipse 1,000 yards for the season.

After a scoreless first quarter, Rock Hill broke through thanks to a fumbled punt by the Trojans and recovered by the Redmen at the Portsmouth 9-yard line.

Three runs by Anthony Stamper got the ball to the one-yard line and a quarterback sneak by Dallin Cox put the Redmen ahead  6-0 with 10:38 left in the half.

Rylan Barker kicked the conversion.

Portsmouth (6-2, 4-1) answered on the next series with their own scoring drive.

The 63-yard, 9-play drive featured a steady diet of running back Heiland and Williams with Williams going the final 15 yards for the score.

Malachi Loper kicked the tying conversion with 6:35 to go in the half.

A short kickoff by Rock Hill gave Portsmouth the ball at its own 46 to start the second half.

Williams ran for 8 yards and threw to Heiland for 12 more to get to the Rock Hill 34. Williams kept the ball and went the distance for the touchdown and the Trojans had the lead for good at 14-7 with 11:18 on the clock.

Rock Hill (6-2, 2-2) went 3-and-out and the Trojans went 86 yards in just 7 plays as Williams bolted 43 yards for the score with 5:45 on the clock and it was 21-7.

Another 3-and-out gave Portsmouth the ball at its own 45.

A 4-yard loss and 5-yard penalty was negated as Camron Williams ran 24 yards to the Rock Hill 35 and 6 plays later Heiland went one-yard for the touchdown and a 28-7 lead with 2:28 left in the quarter.

But the Trojans’ third quarter wasn’t done yet thanks to the defense.

On the first play after the kickoff, Nick Copley intercepted a pass and returned it 39 yards for the score and it was 35-7 with just 27 seconds on the clock.

Rock Hill pulled itself together and went on a 73-yard, 11-play drive capped by Stamper’s 3-yard touchdown run with 5:56 left in the game.

Barker’s kick made it 35-14.

But the Trojans erased any comeback hopes just 3 plays into the next drive as Williams broke free on a 53-yard scoring run with 4:30 to play and it was 42-14.

The Redmen punched in one more score with just 5 seconds to play on a 1-yard run by Brody Simpkins.

Next Friday, Rock Hill visits Chesapeake and Portsmouth travels to South Point.

Rock Hill    0 7 0 14 = 21

Portsmouth 0 7 28 7 = 42

Second Quarter

RH — Dallin Cox 1 run (Rylan Barker kick) 10:38

Prt — J.T. Williams 15 run (Malachi Loper kick) 6:35

Third Quarter

Prt — J.T. Williams 34 run (Malachi Loper kick) 11:18

Prt — J.T. Williams 43 run (Malachi Loper kick) 5:45

Prt — Chase Heiland 1 run (Malachi Loper kick) 2:28

Prt — Nick Copley 39 interception return (Malachi Loper kick) 0:27

Fourth Quarter

RH — Anthony Stamper 3 run (Rylan Barker kick) 5:56

Prt — J.T. Williams 53 run (Malachi Loper kick) 4:30

RH — Brody Simpkins 1 run (Rylan Barker kick) 0:05

———

RHPrt

First downs 16 18

Rushes-yards 42-143 332-275

Passing yards 58 68

Total yards 201 343

Cmp-Att-Int 8-16-1 4-6-0

Fumbles-lost 2-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 3-10 7-55

Punts-average 4-36.8 2-37.5

———

Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Rock Hill: Anthony Stamper 22-99 TD, Brody Simpkins 11-35 TD, Dallin Cox 5-13 TD, Bryson Kerns 1-3, Yaden Bailey 1-1; Portsmouth: Chase Heiland 16-68 TD, Camron Williams 1-minus 4, J.T. Williams 15-211 4-TD.

PASSING–Rock Hill: Dallin Cox 8-16-1 58; Portsmouth: J.T. Williams 4-6-0 68.

RECEIVING–Rock Hill: Bryson Kerns 3-19, Sam Rusk 1-17, Anthony Stamper 2-15, Aaron Workman 1-4, Brody Simpkins 1-3; Portsmouth: Chase Heiland 2-31, Camron Williams 2-37.

MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.