Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — Like old man river, the Coal Grove Hornets just keep rolling along.
Coal Grove remained unbeaten in the Ohio Valley Conference as the Hornets used a strong ground game to whip the Gallipolis Blue Devils 33-20 on Friday.
Coal Grove is now 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the OVC, tied for first place with Fairland.
The Hornets rolled up 425 total yards with 342 on the ground. Kyle Sites had 23 rushed for 158 yards while Nate Harmon ran 15 ties for 101 yards and was 4-of-9 passing for 83 yards.
Gallipolis (3-4, 2-2) had 309 total yards with quarterback Justin McClelland hitting 13-of-14 passes for 204 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
Gallipolis took a 6-0 as James Armstrong returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for the touchdown.
Coal Grove answered on its first series with a scoring drive capped by Harmon’s 29-yard scoring pass to Sam Angelo. Evan Holmes kicked the conversion for a 7-6 lead.
The Hornets then took a 13-6 lead with 3:38 left in the first quarter on a 7-yard run by Aaron Music.
Coal Grove extended its lead to 21-6 with 5:35 left in the half on a 1-yard run by Harmon.
The Blue Devils were able to score just before the end of the half on a 3-yard run by Boo Pullins and McCelland threw to Caleb Henry for the conversion and it was 21-14 at the break.
The Hornets got some breathing room when Sites ran 4 yards for a touchdown with just three seconds left on the third quarter clock and it was 27-14.
Fullback Kimo Baldwin ran for 25 of his 41 yards with 9:26 to play as the Hornets got another touchdown and it was 33-14.
Gallipolis came back to cut the deficit to 33-20 on a 65-yard scoring pass from McClelland to Cory Call with 4:17 to play, but the Hornets were able to run out the clock and hold on for the win.
Next Friday, Coal Grove hosts Ironton and Gallipolis entertains Rock Hill.
Coal Grove    13    8    6    6    =    33
Gallipolis    6    8    0    6    =    20
First Quarter
Ga – James Armstrong 85 kickoff return (run failed) 11:48
CG – Sam Angelo 29 pass from Nate Harmon (Evan Holmes kick) 9:06
CG – Aaron Music 7 run (kick blocked) 3:38
Second Quarter
CG — Nate Harmon 1 run (Aaron Music run) 5:35
Ga – Boo Pullins 3 run (Caleb Henry pass from Justin McClelland) 1:22
Third Quarter
CG – Kyle Sites 4 run (run failed) 0:03
Fourth Quarter
CG – Kimo Baldwin 25 run (kick failed) 9:26
Ga – Cory Call 65 pass from Justin McClelland (pass failed) 4:17
——
CG    Gal
First downs    18    17
Rushes-yards    52-342    32-105
Passing yards    83    204
Total yards    425    309
Cmp-Att-Int    4-9-0    13-14-1
Fumbles-lost    1-0    0-0
Penalties-yards    3-25    1-15
Punts-average    1-33.0    1-25.0
——
Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Coal Grove: Nate Harmon 15-101, Kyle Sites 23-158, Aaron Music 6-35, Kimo Baldwin 7-41, Joey Workman 1-7; Gallipolis: Boo Pullins 17-43, Justin McClelland 10-38, Garrett Burns 2-13, Matt Moreaux 2-4, John Stout 1-7.
PASSING — Coal Grove: Nate Harmon 4-9-0 83; Gallipolis: Justin McClelland 13-14-1 204.
RECEIVING — Coal Grove: Sam Angelo 2-38, Jeb Jones 2-45; Gallipolis: Caleb Henry 1-23, John Stout 5-62, Cory Call 4-97, Garrett Burns 3-22.