PEDRO —As a former Fairland standout and assistant coach, Jordan Michael knows all about facing the Rock Hill Redmen.
But, whatever knowledge of an opponent can’t account for is turnovers in a football game.
Combined with killed first-half drives, and four total turnovers, Michael and his Minford Falcons fell to the host Redmen on Friday night —losing 28-12 in the annual season opener between the two redclads.
The 24-year-old first-year Falcons head coach played for former Fairland coach Melvin Cunningham, and replaced veteran Minford mentor Jesse Ruby, who resigned following last season.
Fairland and Rock Hill are members of the Ohio Valley Conference, as the rebuilding Falcons feature only 27 players — and just four seniors.
Against Rock Hill, and first-year head coach Tony Love, the Falcons fumbled twice deep in their territory in the opening period—and the Redmen recovered each time with excellent field position.
Anthony Stamper scored a pair of 10-yard touchdown runs, and a pair of Rylan Barker extra points made it 14-0 Rock Hill at the end of the opening quarter.
In the second stanza, the Falcons played keep-away from the Redmen and limited them to only three offensive plays, but Mason Hanners had an early-quarter interception of Minford quarterback Curtis Glenn —deep in Rock Hill territory as well.
Hanners returned that interception at the goal line to the Redmen 31, and on the first play following, quarterback Dallin Cox connected with Braylon McClellan for a pitch-and-catch curl pass that resulted in a 69-yard touchdown — only a minute and 49 seconds gone by in the second quarter.
With seven-and-a-half minutes to play, Cox combined with McClellan again for a touchdown —making it 28-6 on a 19-yard score.
After both Cox connections for TDs to McClellan, Barker booted both extra points.
Both of Cox’s completions on four attempts were those two touchdowns, as McClellan made all three Redmen receptions for 99 yards.
Stamper was the leading Redmen rusher —with 47 yards on six attempts, as Minford actually outgained Rock Hill by almost 100 yards and ran 40 more plays from scrimmage.
But the turnovers, and 10 penalties for 80 yards, were the downfall for the Falcons —especially in the opening 13-plus minutes.
They did rush for 138 yards on 46 tries, including 72 yards by Bryce McLaughlin on 20 carries.
Glenn added 38 yards on a dozen rushes, but he was picked off twice —completing eight of 19 passes for 136.
Minford averted the shutout by twice scoring on Glenn passes in the fourth —first on a five-yarder to Colt Donahoe with 8:52 to go, and finally on a 16-yarder to Izaiha Robinson on the game’s final play.
Donahoe had five receptions for 92 yards for the Falcons.
Minford faces another OVC opponent for week 2 —hosting the Chesapeake Panthers (1-0) on Friday night (Aug. 30).
* * *
Minford 0 0 0 12 —12
Rock Hill 14 7 0 7 — 28
RH —Anthony Stamper, 10-yard run (Rylan Barker kick), 3:21, 1st (7-0 RH)
RH — Anthony Stamper, 10-yard run (Rylan Barker kick), :50, 1st (14-0 RH)
RH — Braylon McClellan, 69-yard pass from Dallin Cox (Rylan Barker kick), 10:11, 2nd (21-0 RH)
M — Colt Donahoe, 5-yard pass from Curtis Green (run failed), 8:52, 4th (21-6 RH)
RH — Braylon McClellan, 19-yard pass from Dallin Cox (Rylan Barker kick), 7:30, 4th (28-6 RH)
RH — Izaiha Robinson, 16-yard pass from Curtis Glenn (no PAT attempt), :00, 4th (28-12 RH)
Team Statistics
M RH
First Downs 10 9
Scrimmage plays 65 25
Rushes-yards 46-138 19-80
Passing yards 136 99
Total yards 274 179
Cmp-Att-Int. 8-19-2 3-6-0
Fumbles-lost 3-2 2-1
Penalties-yards 10-80 9-65
Punts-Ave. 2-26.5 4-31
——
Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Minford: Bryce McLaughlin 20-72, Curtis Glenn 12-38, Mason Bradley 9-36, Jordon Schott 3-11, Colt Donahoe 1-(-1), Team 1-(-18); Rock Hill: Anthony Stamper 6-47 2TD, Brody Simpkins 6-30, Dallin Cox 2-0, Braylon McClellan 1-10, Sam Rusk 2-(-3), Team 2-(-4)
PASSING — Minford: Curtis Glenn 8-19-2-136 2TD; Rock Hill: Dallin Cox 2-4-0-85 2TD, unavailable 1-2-0-14
RECEIVING— Minford: Colt Donahoe 5-92 TD, Mason Bradley 2-28, Izaiha Robinson 1-16 TD; Rock Hill: Braylon McClellan 3-99 2TD
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