Gazette offensive player of the year: Josh Justice, South Point

All South Point needed was a first down to run out the clock, but as Josh Justice headed toward the orange marker, he saw an opening.

The senior quarterback darted down the left sideline 42 yards for a touchdown with 38 seconds remaining, putting an exclamation point on the Red Raiders’ state championship win — and Justice’s breakout season.

“I was thinking about diving into the end zone, but I didn’t want to get in trouble,” Justice said.

The touchdown capped South Point’s 42-28 defeat of South Johnston for the 3AA state title and made Justice an easy selection as the Red Raiders’ offensive MVP for the game.

Before South Point traveled to Chapel Hill, though, Justice had practically sealed the deal as area offensive player of the year, an honor he receives today as part of the All-Gazette team.

In his first full year as a varsity starting quarterback, Justice rushed for 1,910 yards and 22 touchdowns while passing for another 911 yards and nine touchdowns.

In a season that started with lots of question marks for South Point, quarterback was near the top of the list because Justice wasn’t proven at the varsity level. The past two seasons, he had started at wingback for the varsity team. As a freshman, he started at quarterback for the JV team but was promoted to the varsity squad midway through the season.

As his senior season progressed, the 6-foot, 190-pound Justice improved his ability to read defenses and make the right call out of South Point’s triple-option offense. His athleticism and passing accuracy made him a dual threat, but he did most of his damage on the ground, where he piled up the fifth-highest single-season rushing total in Gaston County history.

And on a team that started six sophomores and eight juniors alongside eight seniors, Justice was the biggest leader, offering encouragement and advice to the underclassmen.

“That stuff goes a long way,” South Point coach John Devine said. “He was far and away the guy that they looked to.”

Among the lasting memories of Justice’s season will be his 226-yard, four-touchdown rushing performance in the 3A West final against Anson County. Justice scored on runs of 37, 19, 30 and 40 yards and also passed for a touchdown in the 35-21 win. On his third TD that night, Justice weaved through the middle of the defense and forced seven would-be tacklers miss with an array of spin moves and jukes.

“If it hadn’t been for him, I don’t know if we make it,” Devine said. “He’s that kind of kid and he was a difference-maker, especially when (fullback) Aaron (Crumbley) was hurt.”

Justice finished his career with 2,860 rushing yards, which ranks seventh in school history. Justice credited quarterback coach Mike Patton, a strong offseason in the weight room and his faith in Jesus for his individual success.

Justice is a late-bloomer when it comes to college recruiting, but coaches are starting to take notice. He’s received offers from Lenoir-Rhyne, Methodist and Mars Hill, and he recently began to hear from Georgia Southern.

“I do know I’m not ready to hang up my helmet just yet,” Justice said. “I’m at least going to try it another season.”

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.