Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — It’ll be a running clock to begin the game.
The Coal Grove Hornets main strength all season has been its ability to run the football. The Southeastern Panthers main strength all season has been its ability to run the football.
The two teams will match running games on Friday when they meet in the Division VI Region 23 semifinals at Lucasville Valley High School.
Coal Grove coach Evan Ferguson said the Panthers running game is of the utmost concern to him and not just their running backs.
“This is the best line I’ve watched all year. They wall people down,” said Ferguson whose team is 10-1 on the season.
The unbeaten Panthers (11-0) are led by senior wingbacks Carson Stauffer (5-11, 195) and Dakota Houser (5-11, 155) but sophomore quarterback Lane Ruby (5-9, 160) freshman fullback Mikey Castle (5-6, 170) are also threats.
Stauffer ran for 1,118 yards and 21 touchdowns while Houser rushed for 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns. Houser also had 425 return yards.
“They do what they do well. Houser is their scat back. Stauffer is their big power back,” said Ferguson. “Ruby worries me at quarterback. He can fly. If he can find a running lane, he can be gone at any time.”
The offensive line is led by junior tackle Isaiah Lafontaine (6-3, 290) was the SVAC Offensive Lineman of the Year.
The other tackle is junior Andrew Moore (6-4, 245), the guards are sophomore Alan Mead (6-0, 215) and junior Brayden Thompson (6-1, 170) and the center is senior Pratt Higley (6-0, 230). The tight ends are senior Trey Brown (6-1,170) and junior John Winfield (6-2, 205).
“They are patient on offense. They get three or four yards at a time and throw when they have to. They are committed to running the football.”
The Panthers’ defense is led by Stauffer with 93 tackles from his inside linebacker spot in the 4-4 alignment. The other linebacker inside is Winfield and the outside backers are Brown and sophomore Izak Diehl (5-10, 145).
The ends are Higley and junior Noah Dresback (6-3, 185) and the tackles Lafontaine and Moore.
The secondary has Houser and senior Dalton Chaffin (5-9, 160) at the corners and senior Clinton Minney (6-1, 165) at the free safety. Ruby also plays in the secondary.
“They give the offense some things on defense and make you execute to beat them,” said Ferguson.
With both teams looking to run the ball, Ferguson expects the tight game.
“We’re committed to the run and they are, too. It’s going to come down to who opens the game up with big runs and is successful. We need to keep them bottled up and make a few big runs ourselves,” said Ferguson.
“It’s going to be an interesting game. It’s going to be cold and be playoff football weather. We have to come out with intensity.”
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

COAL GROVE OFFENSE
No.    Player    Pos.    Ht.    Wt.    Gr.
1    Sam Angelo    SE    6-04    205    Sr.
53    Reece York    LT    5-08    245    So.
55    Evan Friend    LG    5-07    205    Sr.
52    Trey Hicks    C    6-02    270    Sr.
50    Darin Bloomfield    RG    6-00    220    Sr.
58    Ben Compliment    RT    6-02    205    Fr.
5    Jeb Jones    TE    6-03    210    Sr.
23    Aaron Music    WB    6-01    175    Jr.
8    Nathan Harmon    QB    6-02    185    Jr.
34    Kimo Baldwin    FB    6-01    230    Sr.
12    Kyle Sites    TB    5-08    160    Jr.

COAL GROVE DEFENSE
No.    Player    Pos.    Ht.    Wt.    Gr.
50    Darin Bloomfield    DE    6-00    220    Sr.
77    Josh Waulk    NG/DT    5-11    380    Sr.
52    Trey  Hicks    DT    6-02    270    Sr.
5    Jeb Jones    DE    6-03    205    Sr.
34    Kimo Baldwin    LB    6-01    230    Sr.
1    Sam Angelo    LB    6-04    205    Sr.
2    Evan Holmes    LB/CB    5-11    170    Jr.
8    Nathan Harmon    CB    6-02    185    Jr.
3    Jordan Case    CB    6-01    160    Sr.
15    Joey Workman    S    6-00    175    Sr.
23    Aaron Music    S    6-01    175    Jr.
SOUTHEASTERN DEFENSE
No.    Player    Pos.    Ht.    Wt.    Gr.
69    Pratt Higley    DE    6-00    230    Sr
72    Andrew Moore    DT    6-04    245    Jr.
55    Isaiah Lafontaine    DT    6-03    290    Jr.
23    Noah Dresbach    DE    6-03    185    Jr.
13    Trey Brown    LB    6-01    170    Sr.
40    John Winfield    LB    6-02    205    Jr.
20    Carson Stauffer    LB    5-11    195    Sr.
33    Izak Diehl    LB    5-10    145    So.
17    Dakota Houser    CB    5-11    155    Sr.
3    Dalton Chaffin    CB    5-09    160    Sr.
25    Lane Ruby    CB    5-09    160    So.
9    Clinton Minney    FS    6-01    165    Sr.
SOUTHEASTERN OFFENSE
No.    Player    Pos.    Ht.    Wt.    Gr.
13    Trey Brown    TE    6-01    170    Sr.
72    Andrew Moore    LT    6-04    245    Jr.
70    Brayden Thompson    LG    6-01    170    Jr.
69    Pratt Higley    C    6-00    230    Sr.
50    Alan Mead    RG    6-00    215    So.
55    Isaiah Lafontaine    RT    6-03    290    Jr.
40    John Winfield    TE    6-02    205    Jr.
20    Carson Stauffer    WB    5-11    195    Sr.
17    Dakota Houser    WB    5-11    155    Sr.
25    Lane Ruby    QB    5-09    160    So
35    Mikey Castle    FB    5-06    170    Fr.

 

Coal Grove Hornets 2017 Results
Coal Grove     51    Buffalo, W.Va.      6
Coal Grove    38    Lucasville Valley    20
Coal Grove       6    Portsmouth West    28
Coal Grove     43    South Point     0
Coal Grove     27    Chesapeake     7
Coal Grove     19    Portsmouth     14
Coal Grove     33    Gallipolis     20
Coal Grove     28    Ironton     7
Coal Grove     29    Fairland     19
Coal Grove     28    Rock Hill     7
Playoffs
Coal Grove    7    Shenandoah    6
Record: 10-1

 

Southeastern Panthers 2017 Results
Southeastern    35    Northwest    6
Southeastern    40    Southern Local    22
Southeastern    50    Beaver Eastern    6
Southeastern    56    Huntington Ross    14
Southeastern    40    Piketon    27
Southeastern    28    Zane Trace    12
Southeastern    18    Unioto    14
Southeastern    40    Paint Valley    6
Southeastern    28    Adena    21
Southeastern    48    Westfall    12
Playoffs
Southeastern    44    Steubenville Catholic    40
Record: 11-0