COAL GROVE - With nearly 1,000 yards of combined offense and 102 total points, the biggest play of the game may have come from the defense.

With Coal Grove leading 44-42, an interception by B.J. Harbolt led to a 48-yard scoring drive that put the Hornets up 52-42 and they held on for 52-50 win Friday over the Fairland Dragons in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

&#8221As much offense as there was in the game, the key play was an interception by B.J. Harbolt and his 40-yard kickoff return,“ Hornets coach Dave Lucas said.

Coal Grove's offense produced 503 rushing yards with tailback Justin Hyland rushing a whopping 50 times for 400 yards and he scored six touchdowns.

Lucas gave credit not only to Hyland but to his offensive line of Tyler Allen at center, Nick Bazell and Adam Bare at the guards, Jared Dever and Shayne Willis, and ends Tyler Branch on one side and Mark Robinson and B.J. Harbolt on the other. Andy Knipp also plays guard in certain sets.

&#8221Our kids blocked well and Justin got in rhythm with them. (Fairland) gave them multiple fronts and we were still able to move the ball,“ Lucas said. &#8221

Fairland (1-6, 0-2) generated 465 total yards with 309 coming through the air and 156 on the ground.

&#8221I felt confident coming into the game that we could score and we could have scored three more, but we couldn't stop Hyland,“ Fairland coach Brent Wilcoxon said.

&#8221And we didn't have (defensive back) Nolan Love. He makes a difference in our defense. He's a hitter.“

Quarterback Rich Staggs was 20 of 37 for 309 yards and one interception. Sam Huff caught six passes for 124 yards and also had 182 yards in kickoff returns, one for

a touchdown. Adam Fuller rushed 18 times for 145 yards.

Huff also had 15 tackles on defense.

&#8221We knew they had good skilled kids. They did a nice job,“ Lucas said.

Fairland went 55 yards in nine plays to start the game. Staggs scored on a 1-yard run and John Sicarada kicked the extra point and it was 7-0.

The lead went to 14-0 on a 50-yard pass from Staggs to Huff with two minutes left in the first quarter.

Coal Grove (6-1, 2-0) came back with a 53-yard drive in just three plays as Hyland ran 45 yards for the touchdown and conversion to make it 14-8.

Fuller had a 23-yard run that led to a 14-yard pass from Staggs to Michael Lamb and it was 20-8.

Chris Chaffin bolted 71 yards for a touchdown to start the second quarter and Coal Grove trailed 20-16 as Hyland ran for the extra points.

Fuller's one-yard run capped a 76-yard, nine-play drive as Fairland went up 27-16, but Hyland's 4-yard run capped a 74-yard, 11-play march that got the Hornets within 27-22 at the half.

Huff returned the second half kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown and it was 34-22.

Coal Grove then put together back-to-back nine-play drives covering 66 and 80 yards. Hyland scored twice on runs of 1 and 40 yards and carried all 18 times.

Trailing 36-34, Fairland used a 58-yard kickoff return by Huff to reach the Hornets 25. Huff then scored on an 8-yard pass from Staggs to put the Dragons ahead 42-36.

Harbolt return the kickoff to the Fairland 23-yard line and four plays later Hyland score from 28 yards out. He ran for the conversion and Coal Grove led 44-42.

Harbolt's interception set up a 48-yard, five-play drive that culminated on Hyland's 27-yard run.

Fairland then went 58 yards in 12 plays to score on a 1-yard run by Staggs. Fuller caught the conversion pass and it was 52-50.

But Coal Grove recovered the onside kickoff and ran out the clock.

&#8221Our kids never quit. They played hard,“ Wilcoxon said.

Fairland207158=50

Coal Grove8141614=52

First Quarter

Fa – Rich Staggs 1 run (John Sicarada kick) 6:48

Fa – Sam Huff 50 pass from Rich Staggs (John Sicarada kick) 2:00

CG – Justin Hyland 45 run (Justin Hyland run) :46 3-53

Fa – Michael Lamb 14 pass from Rich Staggs (kick failed) 0:03

Second Quarter

CG – Chris Chaffin 71 run (Hyland run) 11:15 2-75

Fa – Adam Fuller 1 run (John Sicarada kick) 8:53

9-76

CG – Justin Hyland 5 run (run failed) 2:58

11-74

Third Quarter

Fa – Sam Huff 77 kickoff return (John Sicarada kick) 11:45

CG – Justin Hyland 1 run (Hyland run) 8:21

9-66 all nine carries by Hyland

CG – Justin Hyland 40 run (run failed) 1:55

9-80 all nine carries by Hyland

Fa – Sam Huff 8 pass from Rich Staggs (Huff pass from Staggs) 0:27

Fourth Quarter

CG – Justin Hyland 28 run (Hyland run) 10:57

CG – Justin Hyland 27 run (Hyland run) 5:47

Fa – Rich Staggs 1 run (Adam Fuller pass from Staggs) 2:43

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FaCG

First downs1915

Rushes-yards24-15659-503

Passing yards309-6

Total yards465497

Cmp-Att-Int20-37-11-6-0

Fumbles-lost2-10-0

Penalties-yards11-8310-57

Punts-average0-00.02-34.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Fairland: Adam Fuller 18-145, Michael Meachem 1-13, Rich Staggs 5-minus 2; Coal Grove: Justin Hyland 50-400, Chris Chaffin 2-77, Gary Moore 4-21, Eric Davidson 3-5.

PASSING – Fairland: Rich Staggs 20-37-1 309; Coal Grove: Eric Davidson 1-6-0 minus-6

RECEIVING – Fairland: Sam Huff 6-124, Michael Lamb 4-77, Adam Fuller 6-72, Josh Johnson 4-36; Coal Grove: Gary Moore 1-minus 6.