CHESHIRE — The Coal Grove Hornets had to get their work done and then prepare for a season-ending showdown with the Fairland Dragons.

The Hornets did what was expected as they easily beat the River Valley Raiders 44-7 Friday, but they got a surprise as Fairland was upset by Chesapeake and thus clinched at least a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title.

Coal Grove (8-1, 4-0) has now won the conference title three straight years, but a win at home against Fairland next Friday would give the Hornets the title outright for the first time.

The Hornets shared the title with South Point two years ago and with South Point and Fairland last season.

The Hornets ran 43 times for 360 yards and quarterback Evan Ferguson was 4-of-5 passing for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Coal Grove finished the game with 443 total yards.

Oakie Haynes had 94 yards on eight attempts and scored three touchdowns while Boo Woods added 64 yards on just three carries. Dion Cunningham had two catches for 74 yards including a 69-yard scoring strike.

Coal Grove built a 38-0 halftime lead and the first team did not play in the second half.

Haynes scored on a 3-yard run midway through the first quarter and added the conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Haynes ran 1-yard on the first play of the second quarter for a touchdown and Frank Delawder’s conversion run extended the lead to 16-0.

After an interception, Haynes bolted 41 yards for his third touchdown less than two minutes later and Ferguson’s conversion run made it 24-0.

Ferguson took care of the rest of the scoring in the first half as he threw a 7-yard TD pass to Woods and hooked up with Cunningham on a 69-yard pass with 4:17 on the clock.

The Raiders (1-8, 0-4) avoided a shutout when Eli Kimble ran 27 yards for a touchdown with 3:51 left in the third quarter.

Coal Grove completed the scoring on Jordan Beals’ 1-yard run with just 32 seconds to play.

River Valley was led by quarterback Jacob Hefner who was 8-of-17 for 137 yards and two interceptions.

Brandon Hogsten had two punts for a 46.0 average for the Hornets.

Coal Grove 8 30 0 6 = 44

River Valley 0 0 7 0 = 7

First Quarter

CG — Oakie Haynes 2 run (Haynes run) 6:34

Second Quarter

CG — Oakie Haynes 1 run (Frank Delawder run) 11:51

CG — Oakie Haynes 41 run (Evan Ferguson run) 9:59

CG — Boo Woods 7 pass from Evan Ferguson (Dion Cunningham pass from Evan Ferguson) 6:27

CG — Dion Cunningham 69 pass from Evan Ferguson (pass failed) 4:17

Third Quarter

RV — Eli Kimble 27 run (Tyler Smith kick) 3:51

Fourth Quarter

CG — Jordan Beals 1 run (pass failed) 0:32

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CG RV

First downs 17 11

Rushes-yards 44-360 35-34

Passing yards 83 104

Total yards 443 138

Cmp-Att-Int 4-5-0 10-19-2

Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-0

Penatlies-yards 11-120 7-43

Punts-average 2-46.0 2-36.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Coal Grove: Oakie Haynes 8-94, Boo Woods 3-64, Brandon Hogsten 5-73, Frank Delawder 5-34, Evan Ferguson 1-27, Joe Colley 7-24, Dion Cunningham 6-20, Jordan Beals 3-16, Rye Goodwin 2-minus 8, Alex Bare 1-2, Kyle Estep 1-5, Roger Forest 1-8. River Valley: Tyler Smith 13-26, Jacob Hefner 11-minus 61, David Kitchen 1-0, Eli Kimble 4-33, Chad Smith 1-16, Cody McAvena 5-20.

PASSING—Coal Grove: Evan Ferguson 4-5-0 83. River Valley: Jacob Hefner 9-18-2 124, Harry Smathers 1-1-0 minus-20.

RECEIVING—Coal Grove: Dion Cunningham 2-74, Oakie Haynes 1-2, Boo Woods 1-7. River Valley: Austin Dahls 3-50, Tyler Smith 2-66, Chad Smith 1-0, Trey Noble 2-32, Austin Davies 1-minus 20.