Red Raiders Pull Away From Ashbrook In Emotional Game

                This is one of those games that had a lot of twists to it. Ashbrook head coach Brian Andrews returns to play a team he has helped coach for many years. His son, Zane, still plays for South Point. On staff is John Devine, who was the head coach of two of the Red Raiders last three state titles (2003 and 2009). South Point head coach Adam Hodge faces two of his former head coach.

                All those emotions would have to be put to the side as the two teams kicked off. The Red Raiders won the toss and deferred. A holding penalty on the kickoff pushed Ashbrook deeper into their own territory. Forcing the Green Wave to punt, the Red Raiders were set up in great field position. Jake Alexander put South Point on the board with a two-yard touchdown run. Cade Ratliff’s extra point made it 7-0.

                Ashbrook would counter punch that with a touchdown drive of their own. British Brooks would put Ashbrook on the board with a four-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good however so South Point maintained a 7-6 lead. Each team would be stopped on their ensuing drives.

                Midway through the second quarter, the Red Raiders broke that stalemate with a 14-yard touchdown run by Scottie Lee. The extra point kick by Ratliff made it 14-6. Ashbrook would manage to put a drive together before halftime. But with less than a minute to go, the Green Wave had to go to the air but South Point shut it down.

                South Point got the ball back in the second half and went right back to work. Lee extended the Red Raiders’ lead with a 29-yard touchdown run. Ashbrook was down but not out. A two-yard run by Antwon McClee and the extra point by Korbin Proctor cut the Red Raiders’s lead to 21-13. But that would be as close as the Green Wave would get. Jake Alexander added another touchdown for South Point late in the third quarter (37 yards out).

                The Green Wave appeared to have some hope in the fourth quarter when the Red Raiders muffed a punt and were flagged for defensive pass interference. But they were unable to capitalize. Alexander’s 25-yard touchdown run put the nail in the coffin. Cade Ratliff was 5-for-5 on extra point kicks.

                Jake Alexander led South Point’s rushing attack with 268 yards and three touchdowns. British Brooks led Ashbrook with 135 yards rushing and a touchdown.

                Ashbrook resumes conference play next week as they host Crest, a 40-13 winner over Stuart Cramer. South Point will begin conference play at home against East Gaston. The Warriors lost 56-31 to Blacksburg, SC.