Aaron Crumbley not only broke the county record for career touchdowns but he tallied up five touchdowns and 124 yards in the Red Raiders’ 42-28 victory over South Johnston for the 3AA State Title. Crumbley scored on runs of 4, 5, 11 and two from the one-yard line. Josh Justice scored the Red Raiders last touchdown run and amassed 109 yards rushing and 98 yards passing. Scott McWhirter contributed to the Raider offense with 83 yards. The Red Raiders trailed 28-14 at half-time, but rallied to score 28 unanswered points in the second half. They also overcame five turnovers (four fumbles and an interception). Two of those turnovers were deep in Trojan territory. If not for those two turnovers, the score could have been even more lopsided.

 

            Crumbley put South Point on the board on their second drive of the game with his four-yard touchdown plunge into the end-zone. Things appeared to be headed south for South Point after that. South Johnston answered that South Point score with a Patrick Dunigan 29-yard pass connection to Dee Williams to tie the game up.

 

            South Johnston recovered an onside kick on the following drive. Anthony Crumity gave South Johnston the lead with a 40-yard dash into the end-zone. Things got worse before they got better for South Point as Dunigan connected with Williams for a 33-yard reception for a touchdown to make the score 21-7 South Johnston.

 

            South Point went back to work late in the second quarter as Aaron Crumbley punched in a touchdown from the five-yard line to cut the lead to 21-14. South Point’s special teams looked anything but special on the ensuing drive as Dee Williams took the ensuing kickoff all the way for an 80-yard run into the end-zone. The score was 28-14 at half-time.

 

            Things started to ‘Crumble’ for the Trojans in the second half and it happened quick. The Red Raiders marched down the field on their opening drive in the second half. Aaron Crumbley cut South Johnston’s lead to 28-21. South Point then caught the Trojans off guard with a quick onside kick. Crumbley then punched another one in from the one-yard line and the game was tied at 28. In the fourth quarter, Crumbley put one more up for South Point from the eleven and Josh Justice put the icing on the cake with a 43-yard burst into the end-zone with just less than two minutes left.

 

            The Red Raiders have won their fourth state title in their 40-year history and their second one in six years.