POINT PLEASANT- Man hung tough for three quarters with Class AA No. 3 Point Pleasant, but in the end the Big Blacks were too much.
Evan Roach rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns and Gavin Jeffers ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns as the third-ranked Big Black scored 20 unanswered points to pull away for a 41-14 victory Friday night at Ohio Valley Bank Track and Field.
Man trailed 21-7 at halftime but took the second half kickoff and marched 76-yards in 15 plays that chewed up 7:25 off the clock. Justin Grimmett hauled in his second touchdown reception of the night as he caught 34-yard pass from Israel Canterbury to bring Man within 21-14 following Jaxon Tipton’s extra point kick with 4:35 remaining in the third quarter.
Man would get no closer as Point scored the final six points of the third quarter and 14 more in the fourth to hand the Hillbillies their third straight defeat.
Point led 7-0 after one quarter of play on Roach’s 6-yard run with 6:40 remaining in the opening quarter. Elicia Wood converted the first of her five PAT kicks to give Point the early lead.
Man answered with a 27-yard pass from Canterbury to Grimmett to tie the score at 7-7 after Tipton’s successful PAT boot with 7:45 remaining.
Roach added a 16-yard run with 6:42 remaining in the first half and Jeffers tacked on an 11-yard scamper to paydirt with 1:04 remaining as Point Pleasant led 21-7 at halftime.
Point Pleasant outgained Man 434-220 in total offense. The Big Blacks rushed for 406 yards while holding the Hillbillies to 39 rushing yards. The Hillbillies accounted for 181 yards through the air while the Big Blacks only attempted six passes, completing four of them 28 yards.
Grimmett hauled in seven receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for a team-high 22 yards on five attempts. Canterbury was 15-of-22 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns to go along with one interception.
Point Pleasant, winners of seven straight, improved to 7-1 and will return to action Friday night against Class AAA Ripley.
Man dropped to 3-5 following its third straight loss, all to ranked opponents, and will return home Friday night to host rival Tug Valley for senior night. It will also be Hall of Fame night as the Hillbillies eight new members to the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.
Point Pleasant 41, Man 14
Man 0 7 7 0- 14
Point 7 14 6 14-41
First Quarter
P- Roach 6 run (Wood kick), 6:40
Second Quarter
M- Grimmett 27 pass from Canterbury (Tipton kick), 7:45
P- Roach 16 run (Wood kick), 6:42
P- Jeffers 11 run (Wood kick), 1:04
Third Quarter
M- Grimmett 34 pass from Canterbury (Tipton kick), 4:35
P- Jeffers 43 run (kick failed), 5:24
Fourth Quarter
P- Peck 18 pass from Roach (Wood kick), 10:26
P- Watson 6 run (Wood kick), 5:24
