By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

THE PLAINS — The Athens Bulldogs know how to celebrate the opening of their newly remodeled stadium.

After a tornado wrecked Rutter Field last year, the stadium was rebuilt and field turf installed. The Bulldogs played their first game in the stadium on Friday and came away with a 48-14 win over the Coal Grove Hornets.

DeVon Sharp led Athens with 159 yards on 21 carries and he scored three first-half touchdowns. He also caught a pass for 50 yards.

The Bulldogs (2-0) finished with 315 yards on the ground and quarterback Josh Skinner was 6 of 13 for 143 yards and a score.

After struggling early, the Hornets got on track in the second half and finished with 196 yards rushing. Greg Bender did most of the damage as he ran 18 times for 100 yards. Bandon Hogsten added 40 yards on seven carries and a touchdown.

Sharp scored on runs of 6 and 16 yards in the first quarter to make it 12-0.

Chris Russell had a 6-yard scoring run with 3:46 left in the half and Sharp’s 1-yard run with just 20 seconds on the clock pushed the lead to 26-0 at the half.

Skinner hit Nick Stanley with a 29-yard scoring strike late in the third quarter to make it 33-0.

Coal Grove (1-1) came right back to score on the first play of the fourth quarter as Hogsten scored on a 1-yard run.

But Athens answered with a 24-yard TD run by Russell and it was 40-6 with 9:41 to go.

Jordan Beals had a 5-yard scoring run with 1:41 to play as Coal Grove made it 40-14.

Coal Grove 0 0 0 14 = 14

Athens 12 14 7 15 = 48

First Quarter

Ath – DeVon Sharp 6 run (kick failed) 4:49

Ath – DeVon Sharp 16 run (run failed) 2:31

Second Quarter

Ath – Chris Russell 6 run (Josh Skinner run) 3:46

Ath – DeVon Sharp 1 run (pass failed) 0:20

Third Quarter

Ath – Nick Stanley 29 pass from Josh Skinner (DeVon Sharp kick) 2:25

Fourth Quarter

CG – Brandon Hogsten 1 run (run failed) 11:57

Ath – Chris Russell 24 run (DeVon Sharp kick) 9:41

CG – Jordan Beals 5 run (Greg Bender run) 1:41

Ath – Michael Germano 40 run (Germano run) 0:21

CG Ath

First downs 14 18

Rushes-yards 44-196 35-315

Passing yards 33 143

Total yards 229 458

Cmp-Att-Int 2-10-1 6-13-1

Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-1

Penalties-yards 10-60 15-105

Punts-average 5-35.2 2-39.0

––

Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Coal Grove: Greg Bender 18-100, Brandon Hogsten 7-40, Jordan Beals 8-29, Alex Bare 3-20, Bryan Steele 1-9, Kyle Estep 2-minus 4; Athens: DeVon Sharp 21-159, Chris Russell 7-56, Josh Skinner 4-27, Michael Gemano 1-40, Kelton Barrows 2-33.

PASSING–Coal Grove: Alex Bare 1-8-1 9, T.J. Barrett 1-2-0 24; Athens: Josh Skinne 6-13-1 143.

RECEIVING–Coal Grove: Bryan Steele 2-33; Athens: DeVon Sharp 1-50, Nick Stanley 1-29, Skylar Schwarzel 4-64.