Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WAVERLY — Sid Tucker made the most of his first start in the Coal Grove backfield.

Tucker and teammate D.J. Miller both ran for more than 100 yards and combined for four touchdowns as the Hornets ran past the Waverly Tigers 35-27 Friday for their first win of the season.

Tucker had 135 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown while Miller had 110 yards on 17 carries and scored three touchdowns. Coal Grove racked up 412 total yards including 307 on the ground.

Quarterback Jesse Rigsby was 5 of 12 passing for 105 yards. Conor Markins had three catches for 83 yards.

Waverly had 302 total yards of offense with 187 coming on the ground. Amin Gilbert had 68 yards on 15 carries and Devon Rigsby ran 15 times for 66 yards.

Coal Grove (1-4) took the opening kickoff and marched 63 yards in just five plays capped by Miller’s 8-yard scoring run. Tucker had a 34-yard gain to start the drive.

Jonathan Joseph kicked the first of five extra points and it was 7-0 at the 9:45 mark.

The Hornets put together a 14-play, 54-yard drive that chewed up seven minutes and ended with Miller going one yard for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 31 seconds on the clock.

Tucker also gave the second drive a boost with a 28-yard run on the first play of the series.

Waverly (2-3) put together a 78-yard, 14-play drive that ended with Gilbert running 4 yards for the touchdown. Hudson Diener’s kick made it 14-7 with 4:04 left in the half.

Coal Grove had another drive going when they fumbled and Gilbert returned the ball 69 yards for a touchdown. The conversion failed and the Hornets led 14-13 with 2:21 on the clock.

But the Hornets responded with another scoring drive. Tucker went 4 yards with just 44 seconds left in the half to culminate a 73-yard, 8-play march.

Rigsby hit Markins with a pair of key passes in the drive covering 32 and 19 yards.

Miller had a 24-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to cap an 85-yard, 13-play march and make it 28-13.

Waverly’s Brian Cydrus got loose on a 57-yard run and the Tigers got within 28-19 with 7:08 to play in the game.

However, Isaiah Gunther came up with the clutch play of the game for Coal Grove as he returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a score and it was 25-19 with 6:53 left.

Jake Henderson hit Mason Chapman with a 31-yard scoring pass as Waverly went 80 yards in nine plays. Gilbert ran the conversion and the lead was 35-27 with 3:53 to play.

Coal Grove was able to run out the clock and secure its first win of the season.

Coal Grove 14 7 7 7 = 35

Waverly 0 13 0 14 = 27

First Quarter

CG — D.J. Miller 8 run (Jonathan Joseph kick) 9:45

CG — D.J. Miller 1 run (Jonathan Joseph kick) 0:31

Second Quarter

Wa — Amin Gilbert 4 run (Hudson Diener kick) 4:04

Wa — Amin Gilbert 69 fumble recovery (run failed) 2:21

CG — Sid Tucker 4 run (Jonathan Joseph kick) 0:44

Third Quarter

CG — D.J. Miller 24 run (Jonathan Joseph kick) 2:09

Fourth Quarter

Wa — Brian Cydrus 57 run (pass failed) 7:08

CG — Isaiah Gunther 95 kickoff return (Jonathan Joseph kick) 6:53

Wa — Mason Chapman 31 pass from Jake Henderson (Amin Gilbert run) 3:53

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CG Wa

First downs 19 14

Rushes-yards 52-307 31-187

Passing yards 105 115

Total yards 412 302

Cmp-Att-Int 5-12-0 5-14-2

Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties-yards 3-35 4-35

Punts-average 0-00.0 2-38.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Coal Grove: Sid Tucker 19-135, D.J. Miller 17-110, Isaiah Gunther 9-28, Jesse Rigsby 6-26, Sean Paulus 1-8; Waverly: Amin Gilbert 15-68, Devon Rigsby 5-66, Brian Cydrus 1-57, Tyler Dray 5-14, Jake Henderson 5-minus 18.

PASSING—Coal Grove: Jesse Rigsby 5-12-0 105; Waverly: Jake Henderson 5-14-2 115.

RECEIVING—Coal Grove: Conor Markins 3-83, Joe Akers 1-11, Sean Paulus 1-11; Waverly: Amin Gilbert 3-62, Jason Chapman 2-53.