Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — It was the first big Ohio Valley Conference test for the Coal Grove Hornets and they aced it.
Coal Grove jumped out early and never looked back in a 27-7 win over the Chesapeake Panthers on Friday.
With the win, Coal Grove is now 4-1 and remains unbeaten in the OVC at 2-0. Chesapeake falls to 3-2 and 0-2.
Nate Harmon ran nine times for 108 yards and two touchdowns and also returned a punt for a score to lead the Hornets.
Coal Grove had 208 yards rushing and 17 passing for 225 total yards. Kimo Baldwin ran 14 times for 73 yards and a touchdown.
The Hornets’ defense held the Panthers to 182 yards — all on the ground.
Quarterback Austin Browning ran 22 times for 122 yards.
Chesapeake was hampered by two costly turnovers.
After a scoreless first quarter, Coal Grove broke the tie on a 64-yard punt return by Harmon. Evan Holmes kicked the conversion and it was 7-0 at the 11:30 mark.
The second touchdown came 11 minutes later when Harmon ran 23 yards for a touchdown and it was 14-0 at the half.
Neither team scored in the third quarter but Baldwin powered his way into the end zone with 7:49 left on a 3-yard run and it was 20-0.
Chesapeake answered as Trey Wescavage ran 9 yards for a touchdown with 5:33 to play and cut the deficit to 20-7.
But Harmon broke loose on a 42-yard run with 1:49 to go and sealed the win.
Next Friday, Chesapeake hosts Ironton and Coal Grove visits Portsmouth.
Chesapeake    0    0    0    7    =    7
Coal Grove    0    14    0    13    =    27
Second Quarter
CG — Nate Harmon 64 punt return (Evan Holmes kick) 11:30
CG — Nate Harmon 23 run (Evan Holmes kick) 0:30
Fourth Quarter
CG — Kimo Baldwin 3 run (kick failed) 7:49
Ch — Trey Wescavage 9 run (Dalton Nida kick) 5:33
CG — Nate Harmon 42 run (Evan Holmes kick) 1:49
——
Ch    CG
First downs    9    9
Rushes-yards    40-182    40-208
Passing yards    0    17
Total yards    182    225
Cmp-Att-Int    0-7-1    3-7-1
Fumbles-lost    2-1    4-0
Penalties-yards    5-35    5-40
Punts-average    4-33.0    5-35.6
——
Individual Leaders
RUSHING — Chesapeake: Kamren Harless 9-32, Austin Browning 22-122, Tyler Eddy 3-10, Josh Ramey 1-12, Donald Richendollar 1-0, Jeremy Pasley 1-1, Kelton Jones 2-minus 4, Trey Wescavage 1-9; Coal Grove: Nate Harmon 9-108, Kyle Sites 8-28, Kimo Baldwin 14-73, Cory Borders 5-minus 7, Evan Holmes 1-minus 1, Austin Stormes 2-5, Austin Stapleton 1-2.
PASSING — Chesapeake: Austin Browning 0-7-1; Coal Grove: Cory Borders 3-7-1 17.
RECEIVING — Chesapeake: None; Coal Grove: Aaron Music 1-minus 1, Kyle Sites 1-1, Jeb Jones 1-17.