In the old days, in boxing terms, they called it a 1-2 punch.
South Point hit host Crest with a pair of haymakers in the first six minutes of the game and it was pretty much lights out after that for the Chargers in a 35-16 opening decision at Sid Bryson Stadium Friday night.
Against a veteran option football team like the Red Raiders, it was paramount that Crest not let South Point find its rhythm. But on the opening series, after the Charger defense had held, Crest was penalized for having too many players on the field on a punt.
That gave the Red Raiders the football back and they stuck it in for an early lead with Tyler Bray doing the honors from the three. Then on the second play after the kickoff, a snap went off the fingers of Crest quarterback P.J.Brooks and South Point’s Deion Jones picked it up and dashed 13 yards to make it 14-0 with 6:02 left in the first quarter.
“We made mistakes early,” said Crest’s Mark Barnes. “We got them stopped and with the penalty, they wound up scoring. Against a (running) team that shortens the game, you can’t do those things.”
South Point’s offense then got in high gear with the inside-outside combination of Bray and quarterback Jaquan Brooks producing two more touchdowns in building a 28-3 edge. Alex Trejo’s 40-yard field goal accounted for Crest’s only first-half points.
“On the first series, we blew an assignment which caused us to give it up (kick),” said South Point coach Mickey Lineberger. “But then we were able to score, and our defense stepped up big for us (with the touchdown).
“I thought in the first half we looked like we were playing Red Raider football. But in the second half we didn’t have the same fire and intensity. And you have to give Crest credit for that, their coaching staff does a good job and we respect their program.”
In the second half, the Raiders hit a 42-yard pass from Brooks to Jeffrey Pearsall to set up its only score of the final two quarters. Crest then got its running game engaged with Tre Harbison and Jalin Moore doing the damage, with each providing a touchdown.
“We have a veteran offense so we’re pretty far along with it like we should be,” said Lineberger. “Our quarterback is a junior who played all season as a sophomore. We’ve got some newer people up front.
“But I think our passing game is further along than it has been. We’ve worked hard on it. If we can do that, it makes people have to play you honest. On that (long pass), we just took what the defense gave us.”
For Crest, the frustrating start was too much to overcome.
“At halftime, I told our guys to make something positive out of this,” said Barnes. “We weren’t very good tonight, but I think we’ll be a great team down the road. We’ll figure it out.”
Brooks (149 yards) and Bray (113) produced big on the ground for the Red Raiders and scored two touchdowns each.
Harbison, a sophomore, paced the Crest offense with 132 yards rushing.
South Point travels to Lincolnton next week while Crest journeys to take on Ashbrook.
Bizarre play of night
There was no question what was the oddest play of the night in South Point’s 35-16 opening win over Crest at Sid Bryson Stadium Friday night.
The Chargers, down 21-3 in the early moments of the second quarter, made a defensive stand to force a punt. Crest broke through to block Tyler Bray’s kick, only to have madness ensue.
South Point’s Diontrea King picked up the bouncing football and somehow weaved his way to the outside on the left. He found clear sailing for 30-plus yards all the way to the Charger 34 to keep the football and move the chains.
The Red Raiders then moved in for another score to make it 28-3 before halftime.
“It was one of those things that just happened,” said Crest coach Mark Barnes afterwards. “We had a return on so we weren’t even supposed to be blocking it. That’s why we didn’t have anyone back when he (King) got it.”