Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Don’t expect a rerun.

When the Coal Grove Hornets and Lucasville Valley Indians met in week three, the Indians won 34-18.

However, the Indians scored twice on interception returns and only managed one score in the second half.

So both Coal Grove coach Dave Lucas and Valley coach Darren Crabtree expect a tough game when the teams meet again at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Region 19 Division V quarterfinals at Valley High School.

Coal Grove comes into the game 6-3 and on a five-game winning streak. Lucasville Valley completed a 10-0 campaign and was first in the region.

“We were a very inexperienced team early in the season. Our line has come along and hopefully we’ll play well (Saturday),” said Lucas.

Crabtree is very much aware that Coal Grove is a better team now than in the previous meeting and he hopes his team has improved as well.

“It’ll be a good game. (Quarterback Alex) Bare is a pretty good player, but they have some good backs,” said Crabtree. “They’re running the ball more and using a lot of big linemen. They like to put together long, time-consuming drives.”

Coal Grove relies on fullback Brandon Hogsten and tailback Kyle Estep, but fullback Tanner Murphy and wingback Isaiah Gunther have added more punch to the running game.

The offensive line holds the key to the running game. The Hornets not only have great size, but they rotate several players that takes a physical toll on opposing defenses.

Lucasville has its own quality backfield that features tailback Nate Arnett (6-1, 205). The fullback is Brandon Jordan (5-10, 190) and the quarterback is Will Howard (6-2, 205).

“The key will be our ability to stop their quarterback and tailback. Both are really good football players,” said Lucas.

Lucasville will counter Coal Grove’s size with 6-foot-2, 333-pound tackle J.J. Hettinger along with Arnett and Jordan at linebacker.

Both teams are used to playoff pressures. Coal Grove is making its 10th playoff appearance. Lucasville Valley qualified for the seventh time.

 

Coal Grove Hornets

Coal Grove 24 Meigs 8

Coal Grove 22 Wheelersburg 28

Coal Grove 18 Lucasville Valley 34

Coal Grove 20 Bishop Ready 72

Coal Grove 62 Rock Hill 7

Coal Grove 56 River Valley 14

Coal Grove 28 Fairland 8

Coal Grove 46 Chesapeake 14

Coal Grove 54 South Point 10

Record: 6-3

 

Lucasville Valley Indians

Lucasville 36 Portsmouth 24

Lucasville 40 Rock Hill 13

Lucasville 34 Coal Grove 18

Lucasville 46 Chesapeake 13

Lucasville 61 South Point 19

Lucasville 35 Waverly 7

Lucasville 30 Portsmouth West 0

Lucasville 49 Northwest 12

Lucasville 9 Wheelersburg 7

Lucasville 7 Minford 0

Record: 10-0

 

Coal Grove Hornets

OFFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Gr.

TE 30 Joe Akers 6-01 165 So.

99 Josh Pierce 6-01 150 So.

LT 61 Ike Pennington 5-11 270 So.

LG 64 Trevor Barrett 6-03 190 Sr.

C 75 Andrew Henry 6-03 250 Sr.

74 Dakota Willis 6-00 210 Jr.

RG 70 Austen Pleasants6-05 280 So.

73 Logan Berry 6-03 290 Jr.

RT 68 Tyler Henry 6-03 250 Sr.

TE 32 Conor Markins 6-02 155 Jr.

WB 8 Isaiah Gunther 5-07 155 So.

QB 4 Alex Bare 5-09 150 Sr.

FB 42 Brandon Hogsten 5-11 197 Sr.

40 Tanner Murphy 5-10 210 So.

TB 34 Kyle Estep 6-03 180 Sr.

PK 8 Isaiah Gunther 5-07 155 So.

 

DEFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Gr.

DE 56 David Abrams 6-00 180 So.

DT 74 Dakota Willis 6-00 200 Jr.

NG 50 Austen Pleasants6-05 280 So.

DT 73 Logan Berry 6-03 290 Jr.

DE 54 Jeff Smith 5-10 190 So.

OLB 34 Kyle Estep 6-03 180 Sr.

MLB 40 Tanner Murphy 5-10 210 So.

OLB 21 Sid Tucker 5-08 190 So.

CB 8 Isaiah Gunther 5-07 155 So.

CB 3 Mason Nance 6-00 140 Jr.

SS 4 Alex Bare 5-09 150 Sr.

FS 9 Jesse Rigsby 6-01 170 So.

P 32 Conor Markins 6-02 155 Jr.

 

Lucasville Valley Indians

DEFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Gr.

DE 40 Hayden Dunn 6-03 230 Jr.

DT 56 Alex Loop 5-10 190 So.

DT 51 J.J. Hettinger 6-02 333 Sr.

DE 41 Cole Delotell 6-01 210 Fr.

OLB 16 Dakota Baker 6-00 175 Jr.

ILB 17 Nate Arnett 6-01 205 Jr.

ILB 25 Brandon Jordan 5-10 190 Sr.

OLB 21 Matt Rawlins 5-10 185 Sr.

CB 7 Zach Shope 5-09 160 Jr.

CB 12 Will Howard 6-02 205 Sr.

FS 15 Brice Jordan 5-11 175 Jr.

P 11 Bryan Rolfe 6-02 155 Fr.

 

OFFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Gr.

SE 1 Ethan Holbrook 6-01 178 Jr.

LT 67 Celeb Miller 6-0 250 Jr.

LG 62 Cory Bradley 5-11 195 Jr.

C 64 Brandon Zimmer 6-00 265 Sr.

RG 68 Kyle Miller 6-04 250 Jr.

RT 51 J.J. Hettinger 6-02 333 Sr.

TE 40 Hayden Dunn 6-03 230 Jr.

FL 7 Zach Shope 5-09 160 Jr.

QB 12 Will Howard 6-02 205 Sr.

FB 25 Brandon Jordan 5-10 190 Sr.

TB 17 Nate Arnett 6-01 205 Jr.

PK 87 Brice Romanello 6-02 190 Fr.