Raiders Rumble - Silence Storm 44-7
September 22, 2024
Of the eight billion, one hundred seventy-eight million, thirty-five thousand, four hundred eighty-three (8,178,035,483) people in the world prior to the River Rumble last Friday night...make that 8,178,035,484 as just ahead of the contest with Stuart Cramer the newest Red Raider was born, each and every one has something in common. Not one has EVER seen South Point lose a River Rumble! Entering its eleventh season, dating to 2014, the Red Raiders had reeled off ten consecutive victories in the series and were poised to add another this season. The Big Red delivered! South Point continued their domination behind a quick strike offense and hard-hitting defense en route to a convincing 44-7 victory.
The Storm won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. A false start put Cramer behind the chains out of the gate. And SP DB Peyton McCarn made sure they stayed there with a QB sack on 3rd and long. The possession took 1:34 off the clock, ending with a punt. South Point's offense took the field and needed a similar amount of time to reach the endzone. Return Specialist Kham Crawford fielded the Storm punt at the Raiders 40-yardline. The speedy ball carrier hit the sideline and raced to the endzone. Flags on the play nullified the score and the illegal blocks on the Raiders backed them up to their 35-yardline. South Point quickly overcame the mistakes and in four plays opened the scoring. A seventeen-yard run by QB Patrick Blee put six on the board for the Raiders. His toss to FB Chaynce Ford completed the conversion for the early 8-0 advantage. On the ensuing drive, Cramer ran a reverse that gained them yardage to near midfield. Then on the first downplay, a fumbled handoff was recovered by the Red 'D', giving their offense another crack at points. The Red 'O' responded. From the WB position, Crawford took a pitch and covered twenty-four yards to the Storm 25-yardline. Two plays later FB Eric Forston barreled to the four. From there, Blee carried over for the touchdown. His handoff to RB Chris Stowe completed the conversion and South Point led 16-0 with 5:30 remaining in the opening quarter. The Raiders kept their foot on the gas! Three plays and another Cramer punt brought the South Point offense out for a third drive. In two plays the Red 'O' added to the advantage. A fifty-four-yard Blee scamper, and conversion pass to Stowe, moved South Point out to the 24-0 lead. The Storm went to the air to try to turn momentum. The effort was unsuccessful. From the safety position, Gavin Smith picked off a Cramer pass and weaved his way to the endzone for the Raiders fourth touchdown of the opening stanza. The quarter ended with another Storm punt and South Point carried their fifth possession into the second quarter, leading 30-0.
Driving from the Cramer 40-yardline, the Raiders moved to the fifteen. From there, Blee hit Garrett Tidd in the endzone for the score. K Tommy Choa drilled the PAT to move South Point in front, 37-0. Everything was going right for the Red Raiders and they continued to pressure the Storm. Yet another 3-and-out forced a Cramer punt nearly midway into the quarter. The ball bounced and rolled inside the South Point 15-yardline. In a bold and risky move, Crawford scooped up the ball for the return. He reversed his field, breaking tackles to move the ball out to midfield. The Raiders took advantage of the field position. Cayden Rumph took over under center and engineered a drive for more points. His fourth and eight pass to Crawford kept the drive alive and South Point was able to advance to the Cramer 8-yardline. From there, Forston bulled through the middle for six more. Choa added his second PAT of the contest to complete the scoring. Later asked about the South Point effort, Crawford stated, "Momentum came early; we started moving the ball and we never stopped." "We played as a team", he added. His words rang true as the Raiders were able get several backups into the contest for game experience. The Raiders carried the 44-0 advantage into the half.
The clock was live to begin the third stanza. Substitutions took to the field for both sides and each battled back-and-forth with neither mounting a scoring threat in the quarter. The final twelve minutes amounted to much the same although the Storm was able to find the endzone on a 27-yard pass to put points on the board. The clock continued to run, and the Raiders were able to kneel out the game to claim their eleventh consecutive victory in the River Rumble.
Over eight billion people in the world, with a number that is constantly changing. And not one could ever describe a South Point loss in the River Rumble. The Big Red continued their domination in the series in front of a RaiderNation that totals somewhere less than eight billion...but has one more today than they had last week!
Go Get 'Em, Red!
Notable Facts and Thoughts
South Point hosts the Hunter Huss Huskies next Friday night at Lineberger Stadium. The game will mark South Point's homecoming. The Raiders will look to remain undefeated on the season.
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