COAL GROVE — If offense sells tickets, look for a capacity crowd.

When Coal Grove Hornets and Oak Hill Oaks meet in the Region 19 Division V quarterfinals Friday at Oak Hill, the most impressive thing about both teams will be their offenses.

Coal Grove has scored 383 points on the season and allowed 187. Oak Hill has put up 389 points and given up just 63.

Coal Grove coach Dave Lucas knows about the offensive capabilities of both teams, but he said that will not be the key.

“The team that plays the best defense will win the game,” said Lucas.

While the Oaks have given up fewer points, the Hornets have played a more difficult schedule with six of their 10 opponents Division IV in size or larger. The other four are all Division V.

Oak Hill has played two Div. IV teams, two Div. V and six Div. VI size schools.

Despite the differences in schedule, Lucas said that doesn’t take anything away from what the Oaks accomplished.

“They have our respect. Oak Hill is 10-0 and that’s not easy to do,” said Lucas. “They beat four teams we played.”

Both teams beat Chesapeake, Rock Hill and River Valley. The Hornets lost a 31-28 heartbreaker to Minford while the Oaks beat the Falcons 20-14.

Lucas said it is not an accident that the Oaks posted the second unbeaten season in school history at 10-0 — their first was in 1987 — and qualified for their first-ever playoff appearance just four years removed from a winless season.

“They’re defensive line is good. They have two nice tackles (Luke Stapleton and Drew Cannon) and a good defense overall. We just hope we can move the ball on them,” said Lucas.

Coal Grove went 9-1 and reached the playoffs for the eighth time in school history and first since 1996. The Hornets won their third straight Ohio Valley Conference title while the Oaks under fourth-year coach Greg Phillips claimed their first Southern Ohio Conference Division I championship.

And both teams did it with offense.

Coal Grove quarterback Evan Ferguson had one of the best seasons in school history. The senior completed 43 of 73 passes for 782 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Hornets’ biggest weapon is tailback Oakie Haynes who ran 141 times for 955 yards and 18 touchdowns.

But Haynes got plenty of help from Boo Woods who averaged more than 13 yards a carry as he ran 52 times for 688 yards. Fullback Frank Delawder rushed 115 times for 608 yards — a 5.3 average — and scored seven TDs.

Aaron Dickess was the top receiver with 221 yards on eight catches. Haynes had nine grabs for 159 yards, Shawn Morrison had eight receptions for 117 yards and two scores.

Oak Hill’s numbers were just as lofty.

Triggerman Jesse Slone is one of the area’s top quarterbacks. The Oaks’ junior was 127 of 176 for 2,019 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was intercepted 11 times.

Joey Maynard is the top receiver with 49 catches for 754 yards and 13 TDs. Tailback Westen Hale had more than 1,100 yards rushing.

“They’re similar to Meigs,” said Lucas whose team beat Meigs 44-42. “They have those real good receivers and a real nice running back and nice quarterback who can run and throw.”

While the Oaks earned a home playoff game, Lucas doesn’t see any advantage.

“Were playing on turf and we have a turf field. It’s close, so I’m not looking at it as any disadvantage. It’s a nice facility,” said Lucas.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

Coal Grove Hornets

2009 Results

Coal Grove 44 Meigs 42

Coal Grove 58 Paint Valley 6

Coal Grove 36 Lucasville Valley 28

Coal Grove 28 Minford 31

Coal Grove 36 Greenup Co., Ky. 22

Coal Grove 50 Chesapeake 27

Coal Grove 30 South Point 12

Coal Grove 37 Rock Hill 12

Coal Grove 44 River Valley 7

Coal Grove 20 Fairland 0

Record: 9-1

Coach: Dave Lucas (217-96-1, 29th year)

Oak Hill Oaks

2009 Results

Oak Hill 37 Chesapeake 14

Oak Hill 38 River Valley 0

Oak Hill 42 Rock Hill 8

Oak Hill 33 Trimble 0

Oak Hill 20 Minford 14

Oak Hill 34 Sciotoville East 6

Oak Hill 48 Prts. Notre Dame 0

Oak Hill 47 Symmes Valley 0

Oak Hill 41 South Gallia 14

Oak Hill 49 Green 7

Record: 10-0

Coach: Greg Phillips (25-15, 4th year)

Coal Grove Hornets Offense

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Gr.

11 Shawn Morrison LE 5-09 170 So.

8 Cody Gool LE 6-00 160 Jr.

74 Brandon Pratt LT 6-00 230 Jr.

53 Eric Fields LG 5-10 180 So.

77 Travis Jackson C 6-01 240 Sr.

61 Eli Pennington RG 5-10 170 Jr.

75 Corey Willis RT 6-05 270 Sr.

35 Aaron Dickess RE 5-10 180 Sr.

5 Jake Murphy WB 6-00 160 Jr.

32 Dion Cunningham WB 5-09 165 Jr.

12 Evan Ferguson QB 6-01 185 Sr.

20 Frank Delawder FB 6-01 230 Sr.

34 Oakie Haynes TB 6-01 170 Sr.

2 Boo Woods TB 5-07 140 Jr.

Coal Grove Hornets Defense

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Gr.

35 Aaron Dickess RE 5-10 180 Sr.

70 Steven Boyd LT 6-02 210 Jr.

58 Brandon Hildreth NG 5-10 160 Jr.

40 Bubba Wood RT 5-10 225 Jr.

22 Greg Bender RE 6-02 175 So.

20 Frank Delawder LB 6-01 230 Sr.

61 Eli Pennington LB 5-10 170 Jr.

5 Jake Murphy CB 6-00 160 Jr.

34 Oakie Haynes CB 6-01 170 Sr.

12 Evan Ferguson QB 6-01 185 Sr.

2 Boo Woods TB 5-07 140 Jr.

Oak Hill Oaks Defense

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Gr.

47 Corey Kuhn DE 5-09 175 Jr.

78 Drew Cannon DT 6-02 255 Jr.

24 Cody Walters NG 5-10 170 Jr.

56 Chris Fairchild DT 6-02 240 So.

48 Andrew Kreais DE 5-10 190 Sr.

33 Travis Bailey LB 5-06 165 Sr.

34 Devon Davis LB 6-00 185 Fr.

10 Jesse Slone CB 6-04 195 Jr.

85 Kyle Ondera CB 6-01 185 Sr.

32 Westen Hale S 6-00 200 Jr.

2 Joey Maynard S 6-01 180 Jr.

Oak Hill Oaks Offense

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Gr.

21 Daniel Woods TE 5-11 200 So.

79 Luke Stapleton LT 6-04 245 Sr.

56 Chris Fairchild LG 6-02 240 So.

59 Kurtis Dunaway C 6-00 225 Jr.

47 Corey Kuhn RG 5-09 175 Jr.

78 Drew Cannon RT 6-02 255 Jr.

85 Kyle Ondera SE 6-01 185 Sr.

2 Joey Maynard WB 6-01 180 Jr.

34 Devon Davis FB 6-0 185 Fr.

32 Westen Hale TB 6-00 200 Jr.

10 Jesse Slone QB 6-04 195 Jr.