COAL GROVE - It may be cliche, but the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins football games. The Coal Grove Hornets found that out the hard way Friday.

Two crucial fumbles and costly penalties hurt the Hornets as they squandered a 14-7 halftime lead and lost to the Northwest Mohawks 28-14.

"Our kids are going to have to learn how to quit self destructing if they are going to be a good football team," Coal Grove coach Steve Cook said. "We have good, young athletes who play hard, but don't always play intelligently. We're working to correct that."

The Hornets (0-5) dominated the first half of play, outgaining the Mohawks (3-2) 222-64. Penalties late in the second quarter, though, set the tone for what the second half had in store for the Hornets.

After a scoreless first quarter, Coal Grove got on the board on the first play from scrimmage when Justin Hyland hit paydirt from four yards out. Nick Bazell's extra point kick was good, giving the Hornets a 7-0 lead. Hyland's run capped off a 10-play, 56-yard drive that began at the 4:13 mark of the first quarter.

Northwest answered quickly, though, as Stephen Cable broke loose for a 41-yard touchdown run on the Mohawks' next posession. Carston Wack's kick tied the game at 7-7 with 8:58 showing on the second-quarter clock.

Coal Grove got the lead back on a long run of its own as junior wingback Tyler Sexton scored on a 47-yard counter play. Bazell's kick gave the Hornets a 14-7 lead with 5:39 left in the first half.

After forcing the Mohawks to go three-and-out, the Hornets embarked on their most impressive drive of the game. Unfortunately, it was all for naught.

Starting at its own 23-yard line, the Hornets moved the ball all the way down to the Mohawk 7 when the wheels fell off.

On first-and-goal from the 7, Bryan Massie appeared to have scored what would put the Hornets up by two touchdowns, but a holding penalty negated the score. After an incomplete pass and a delay of game penalty, Coal Grove faced second-and-goal from the 15. Quarterback Ryan Turvey was sacked for a 7-yard loss, and with the clock ticking away, the Hornets attempted to ground the ball.

Coal Grove was hit with a double-whammy, though, as they were flagged for illegal motion and, at the same time, illegal touching as Turvey's attempt to ground the ball hit one of his linemen. On third and goal from the 32, and the first half clock winding down, Turvey's desperation pass toward the end zone was intercepted by Cable.

"Every time we started to get momentum, it seems we lost it because of a penalty," Cook said.

The third quarter belonged to the Mohawks as they controlled the ball for all but 2:34 of the quarter. Northwest's first posession resulted in turning the ball over on downs, but six minutes ran off the clock on the drive which stalled at the Coal Grove 11. But the Hornets fumbled on second down on the ensuing possession and Northwest recovered at the Coal Grove 23.

Five plays later, quarterback Brian Glenn found tight end Joe Schackart near the end zone on a third-and-goal play from the five, and after a brief discussion amongst the officials, the Mohawks were awarded the touchdown. Wack's kick tied the game.

Northwest got what would prove to be the winning score after recovering another Coal Grove fumble. After barrelling ahead for 14 yards, Hyland lost the football and the Mohawks recovered on their own 31. On the next play, Darren Sandler took a pitch and ran 69 yards for a touchdown. Wack's kick made it 21-14.

"We haven't had many fumbles all year, but tonight we had two crucial fumbles," Cook said. "We were working hard to get that extra yardage, but we have to keep both hands on the football."

After the Hornets' next possession ended with an interception, the Mohawks put the nail in the coffin with a 1-yard run by Cable, set up by a 34-yard scamper by Sandler.

"I felt like we were a better football team than they were, but the score indicates differently," Cook said. "We let Northwest off the hook three or four times. We have to learn how to finish a game."

In a losing effort, Hyland had an impressive showing, gaining 131 yards on 26 carries. Fullback Bryan Massie added 58 yards on 12 tries. Sandler led Northwest with 110 yards rushing on just six attempts.

Northwest07714-28

Coal Grove01400-14

Second Quarter

CG - Justin Hyland 4 run (Nick Bazell kick) 11:55

NW - Stephen Cable 41 run (Carston Wack kick) 8:58

CG

- Tyler Sexton 47 run (Nick Bazell kick) 5:39

Third Quarter

NW - Joe Schackart 5 pass from Brian Glenn (Carston Wack kick) 2:32

Fourth Quarter

NW - Darren Sandlin 69 run (Carston Wack kick) 6:09

NW - Stephen Cable 1 run (Carston Wack kick) 1:50

First downs:NW 8, CG16

Rushes-yards:NW 38-273, CG50-280

Passing yards:NW 5, CG46

Total yards:NW 278, CG326

Cmp-Att-Int:NW 1-2-1, CG3-11-2

Fumbles-lost:NW 1-1, CG3-2

Punts-average:NW 4-36.8, CG3-24.3

Penalties-yards:NW 6-44, CG7-73

Individual Leaders

RUSHING - Northwest: Darren Sandlin 6-110, Nick Pertuset 16-67, Stephen Cable 6-60, Gary Hughes 4-26, Joe McGuire 4-12, Cody Penn 1-0, Brian Glenn 1-minus 2. Coal Grove: Justin Hyland 26-131, Bryan Massie 12-58, Tyler Sexton 2-49, Gary Moore 4-39, Ryan Turvey 6-3.

PASSING - Northwest: Brian Glenn 1-2-0 5, Gary Hughes 0-1-1 0. Coal Grove: Ryan Turvey 3-11-2 46.

RECEIVING - Northwest: Joe Schwackart 1-5. Coal Grove: Patrick Roush 2-37, Jimmy Lemon 1-9.