Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — The Coal Grove Hornets controlled the clock. They just couldn’t control some other things.

Coal Grove ran the ball 66 times for 340 yards but two stalled drives and two turnovers were too much for the Hornets to overcome in a 35-12 season-opening loss to the Marion Pleasant Spartans on Friday night.

The loss spoiled the coaching debut of Coal Grove’s Brian Kidd.

Marion Pleasant used the passing and running of quarterback Joe Craycraft to pull away in the fourth quarter to get the win.

The Spartans had just 61 yards rushing on 21 attempts, but Joe Craycraft was 21 of 36 passing for 299 yards. He also ran 19 times for 68 yards and three scores.

The Spartans scored first after a Coal Grove drive stalled at the Marion Pleasant 32. On second and 18, Joe Craycraft hit Hayden Craycraft with a 76-yard pass for the touchdown at the 3:23 mark.

Brady Thompson kicked the first of five conversions.

Coal Grove fumbled at its own 20 on the next series and Joe Craycraft scored on a 1-yard run five plays later and it was 14-0 with 1:37 on the clock.

The Spartans then drove 72 yards in seven plays capped by Joe Craycraft’s second 1-yard run with 9:49 left in the half.

Coal Grove then got on track and mounted a 65-yard, six-play drive that culminated on a 27-yard run by Jacob Clark with 5:14 on the clock to make it 21-6.

The Hornets forced a punt to begin the second half and then marched 67 yards in eight plays capped by Clark’s 14-yard run and it was 21-12 with 2:41 to go in the third quarter.

Marion Pleasant took the kickoff and went 57 yards in 13 plays with Joe Craycraft scoring his third TD on a 2-yard run and it was 28-12.

Coal Grove drove to the Spartans’ 27 before the drive stalled on downs.

Marion Pleasant then put together a nine-play drive for an insurance score as Joe Craycraft hit Nico Sansotta with an 11-yard toss and only 3:10 to play.

Coal Grove added 46 yards passing for 386 total yards.

Clark ran nine times for 122 yards while Tanner Henry rushed 21 times for 97 yards. Daniel Rutherford added 61 yards on 11 tries and Kimo Baldwin got 53 yards on 13 attempts.

Hayden Craycraft caught five passes for 122 yards and a TD. Sansotta had 103 yards on eight catches.

Marion Pleasant 14 7 0 14 = 35

Coal Grove 0 6 6 0 = 12

First Quarter

MP — Hayden Craycraft 76-yard pass from Joe Craycraft (Brady Thompson kick), 3:23

MP — Joe Craycraft 1-yard run (Brady Thompson kick), 1:37

Second Quarter

MP — Joe Craycraft 1-yard run (Brady Thompson kick), 9:49

CG — Jacob Clark 27-yard run (2-pt. conversion failed), 5:14

Third Quarter

CG — Jacob Clark 14-yard run (run conversion failed), 2:41

Fourth Quarter

MP — Joe Craycraft 2-yard run (Brady Thompson kick), 11:24

MP — Nico Sansotta 11-yard pass from Joe Craycraft (Brady Thompson kick), 3:10

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MP CG

First downs 15 18

Rushes-yards 21-61 66-340

Passing yards 299 46

Total yards 363 386

Cmp-Att-Int 21-36-1 3-5-1

Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-2

Punts-avg. 6-34.5 4-40.0

Penalties-yards 7-65 2-20

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING — MP: Joe Craycraft 19-68, 3TDs, Zach Pytlarz 2-(-5); CG: Jacob Clark 9-122, 2 TDs, Tanner Henry 21-97, Daniel Rutherford 11-61, Kimo Baldwin 13-53, Tanner Dolen 7-8, Ranze Large 5-(-1).

PASSING—MP: Joe Craycraft 21-36-1, 299 2 TDs; CG: Daniel Rutherford 3-4-0, Mattie Cordle 0-1-1

RECEIVING—MP: Hayden Craycraft 5-122 1 TD, Nico Sansotta 8-103, Clay Chaney 2-36, Zach Pytlarz 4-20, Bobby Husted 2-18. CG: Ranze Large 2-32, Greg Carter 1-14.

KICK RETURNS­ – MP: Zach Pytlarz 3-43. CG: Chase McKnight 5-86, Tanner Dolen 1-11.

PUNT RETURNS – MP: Zach Pytlarz 1-3. CG: Chase McKnight 1-16.

INTERCEPTION RETURNS – MP: Matt Chase 1-6. CG: Daniel Rutherford 1-17.