The Coal Grove Junior Hornets remained unbeaten by defeating the Verity Patriots of Ashland, Ky., by a score of 28-20 Thursday, Sept. 22.

Jake Murphy's fumble recovery ignited the Hornets first scoring drive as Frank Delawder scored on a 34-yard run. The conversion run made it 8-0.

Verity tied the game at 8-8 on a 36-yard run by quarterback Drew Royalty.

Eli Pennington recovered another fumble for Coal Grove and Aaron Dickess scored from 28 yards out. Wayne Sparks passed to Daniel Haynes for the conversion and it was 16-8.

Royalty's 12-yard run tied the game made it 16-14.

A 60-yard run by Royalty in the third quarter put Verity up 20-16, but Billy Waddell scored on a 13-yard run as Coal Grove went up 22-20.

Verity (4-2) drove to the 14-yard line but fumbled and Coal Grove's Josh Mulkey recovered.

The Hornets then drove for the clinching score on a 4-yard run by Dickess.

On Verity's next possession, Delawder came up with an interception to seal the Hornets fourth win.

Delawder had 147 yards on 19 carries and Dickess 101 yards on 11 carries to lead the Hornets. Waddell added 75 yards on six tries as Coal Grove racked up 327 yards rushing.

Haynes led the defense with six tackles. Pennington, Delawder and Dickess had five stops each.

Coal Grove played at Chesapeake Thursday in a Middle School Ohio Valley Conference game for first place.

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Verity8660=20