Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

They do the same thing, they just use a different plan.

Both the Coal Grove Hornets and Raceland Rams know how to put points on the scoreboard. The difference is Coal Grove does it by land and Raceland does it by air.

Coal Grove uses a big, strong offensive line and several running backs to control the clock and score points. In three games this season, the Hornets have scored 110 points.

Even in their only loss, the Hornets scored 22 points but Lucasville Valley managed 42.

The Hornets rely on the running tandem of Isaiah Gunther and Austin Ruggles. Both backs have good speed and they combined for 192 yards last week in a 42-6 rout of Cincinnati Finneytown.

On the season Gunthers had 39 carries for 307 yards and five touchdowns while Ruggles has 23 attempts for 200 yards and a score.

Fullback Tanner Murphy has 20 tries for 134 yards and Daniel Rutherford six rushes for 87 yards.

Quarterback Jesse Rigsby is 11 of 29 passing for 185 yards and five interceptions. He has rushed nine times for 96 yards.

Coal Grove has six difference receivers with Joe Akers three catches for 91 yards atop the list.

Raceland (3-1) is coming off a 25-0 win over rival Greenup County last week, their lowest offensive output of the season. The Rams have scored 157 points this season. Their only loss was 41-35 at Ashland.

The Rams are led by senior wide receiver Conner Messer (6-4, 175) who is considered by many as the best all-around athlete on any area football field this season.

Messer — who won the national decathlete championship in his age group this past summer — has 20 receptions for 242 yards and seven touchdowns.

Quarterback Josh Young (6-1, 190) is 65 of 118 for 793 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has just three interceptions.

Kane Snyder (5-11, 200) leads the running game with 45 carries for 220 yards and two scores. Bailey Walker (5-8, 184) has 24 attempts for 142 yards.

Last season the Rams held on for a 42-33 win.