SOUTH HILL
Execution was the name of the game Friday night as the Southampton High School Indians defeated the Park View High School Dragons 46-8 in a VHSL Conference 25 football match.

“The guys were really focused,” said Head Coach Willie Gillus after the game. “They were really dialed in to what we wanted to do. We pretty much outlined what we had to do on offense, defense and special teams, and they carried it out to a T.”

A point of emphasis was wiping out penalties, and the Indians did a better job of that than they had in recent weeks. And that helped the Indians move the ball, and also get off the field on defense quicker.

“We knew offensively we could move the ball,” Gillus said. “The guys have been doing a great job on offense and defense. But jumping offsides and things like that we have been doing the last 2 to 3 weeks — that has hurt us.”

Defensively, he said he thought they had a chance of shutting Park View down.

“I thought they did a great job of putting the pressure on that quarterback,” Gillus said. “I thought we tackled well at times, and then sometimes we didn’t, but overall, I thought we did an excellent job.”

Southampton started out with their foot on the gas, and didn’t let off. From 15 yards out with 7:53 to go in the first, Coby Williams broke away from 15 yards out for the score. After the successful conversion, the score was 8-0 Southampton.

With 12.4 seconds left in the quarter, Indians quarterback Russell Ballance connected with Jameson Long, who took it 80 yards for the score. The conversion was good.

Williams wasn’t done, though. He’d find the endzone twice in the second quarter. The first time from 15 yards out at the 4:09 mark, and the second from 25 yards out at 2:55. Both conversions succeeded and the score was 32-0 going into the half.

After Southampton’s defense quickly forced Park View to punt, Williams started off the third quarter right for Southampton. He broke free from 85 yards out for a touchdown with 9:08 to go. The conversion was no good and the score was 38-0.

Williams found paydirt again with 3:28 to go in the third quarter, and it was another 85-yard rush. The conversion succeeded and it was 46-0.

Finally, with 1:03 left to go in the third, Park View answered. Hughie Chavis got in from 15 yards out, and the conversion was successful.

The fourth quarter would pass with fresh jerseys and no scoring, making the final 46-8.

Williams had 16 rushes for 271 yards and 5 touchdowns. Ballance was 3-for-9 passing for 105 yards. Delontae Boone had 6 rushes for 71 yards.

Southampton, now 3-6, has Franklin at home next week, and each team will be looking for a win and a chance to keep potential playoff hopes alive.

“We just want to win,” said Gillus. “We just want to win one at a time, and whatever the numbers are, that’s what the numbers are.

“We have a big rivalry game against a very good Franklin football team, and we are looking forward to that.”