LUCASVILLE — Execution was the key, or the lack of.

Lucasville Valley was able to execute and the Coal Grove Hornets didn’t in the first half of their matchup Friday night.

The result had the Indians with a 42-7 halftime lead and they went on to beat the Hornets 49-21 in a battle of unbeaten teams.

“We just didn’t execute on offense or defense. We just didn’t play well the first half,” said Hornets’ coach Dave Lucas. “They did pretty much what they wanted first half. Before you know it, the game’s out of control.”

The game was close in the first quarter before taking a quick turn in the second quarter.

Valley (3-0) took a 7-0 lead on a 26-yard scoring pass from Blake Yates to Rob Dwyer with 8:57 left in the first quarter.

Coal Grove answered with a scoring drive capped by Greg Bender’s 3-yard run. Bubba Wood kicked the tying conversion point.

The Indians went on a scoring drive after the ensuing kickoff and David Shultz capped the march with a 1-yard run and it was 14-7.

Yates then made a big play as he raced 40 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter and it was 21-7.

Alex Holcomb had a 3-yard touchdown run midway through the quarter and then Yates and Holcomb hooked up on a 69-yard scoring pass that opened up a 35-7 lead.

Yates came up with a key defensive play as he picked off a pass and ran it back 34 yards for a touchdown and a comfortable halftime lead.

“Their quarterback took control of the game. He made some nice runs and threw the ball exceptionally well. They executed as well as any team we’ve played the past few years, and we didn’t execute. Put those two things together and you see what happened,” said Lucas.

Neither team scored in the third quarter and then Bender ran 5 yards for a touchdown with 8:19 left and it was 42-14.

But as quick as the Hornets built some momentum, Holcomb returned the kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and it was 49-14.

Coal Grove didn’t quit and got another score with Bender breaking loose on a 55-yard TD gallop.

Valley ended the game with 335 total yards with Yates running for 44 yards and connecting on 8-of-13 passes for 166 yards.

Coal Grove (2-1) racked up 323 yards including 257 on the ground. Boo Woods rushed 15 times for 125 yards and caught three passes for 48 yards. Greg Bender added 71 yards on just six carries and scored all three Coal Grove touchdowns.

“I was proud of the way our kids came back the second half and played like we were capable. I don’t know that we would have won, but if we would have played the same way the first half it would have been a heck of a game. It was just one of those nights,” said Lucas.

Valley is 3-0 for the first time in five years.

Coal Grove 7 0 0 14 = 21

Lucasville Valley 14 28 0 7 = 49

First Quarter

LV — Rob Dwyer 26 pass from Blake Yates (Yates kick) 8:57

CG — Greg Bender 3 run (Bubba Wood kick) 5:29

LV — David Shultz 1 run (Blake Yates kick) 2:31

Second Quarter

LV — Blake Yates 40 run (Yates kick) 11:51

LV — Alex Holcomb 3 run (Blake Yates kick) 6:55

LV — Alex Holcomb 69 pass from Blake Yates (Yates kick) 3:05

LV — Blake Yates 34 interception return (Yates kick) 1:42

Fourth Quarter

CG — Greg Bender 5 run (run failed) 8:19

LV — Alex Holcomb 85 kickoff return (Blake Yates kick) 8:05

CG — Greg Bender 55 run (Bubba Wood run) 7:17

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Coal Grove: (43-257) Boo Woods 15-125, Greg Bender 6-71, Bubba Wood 10-41, Alex Bare 8-11, Jake Murphy 3-7, Dion Cunningham 1-2. Lucasville Valley: (27-169) Blake Yates 3-44, Alex Holcomb 8-70, Luke Keller 4-5, David Shultz 7-28, Brice Crabtree 4-23, Tyler Rowe 1-minus 1.

PASSING—Coal Grove: Alex Bare 4-9-1 66. Lucasville Valley: Blake Yates 8-13-0 166.

RECEIVING—Coal Grove: Boo Woods 3-48, Dion Cunningham 1-18. Lucasville Valley: Rob Dwyer 2-31, Alex Hartley 2-26, Alex Holcomb 3-105, Luke Keller 1-4.