Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Murphy’s Law was in effect on Friday.

Anything that could go wrong for the Coal Grove Hornets did just that in an 8-6 loss to the Portsmouth West Senators in a defensive battle.

The Hornets began the game without running back Jacob Clark due to an injury. Ranze Large injured his collarbone on the first play. Tanner Dolen was unable to play offense due to an ankle injury and was limited to defense.

Add that to a couple of missed scoring opportunities and it equaled the Hornets falling for the third time to start the season.

Coal Grove took a 6-0 lead with 15 seconds left in the first quarter following a West punt. On second-and-9, Daniel Rutherford hit Chase McKnight on a 50-yard scoring pass.

The conversion kick was blocked.

West (1-2) also had a two-play drive to score its touchdown when Brady Douthat threw 40 yards to Job Swords on first down and the two hooked up on a 27-yard scoring pass the next play to tie the game with 42 seconds left in the half.

Douthat threw to Wesley Bailey on the conversion and it was 8-6.

The Hornets had a scoring opportunity on their second possession of the game but a drive to the West 12-yard line stalled and a field goal attempt failed due in part to a high snap.

With 7:24 left in the first half, Coal Grove marched from its own 42 to the Senators’ 16 only to fumble the ball away.

The biggest missed scoring chance came on the top defensive play of the game.

Rutherford broke loose at the Hornets’ 33 and was heading into the end zone with 3:05 to play, but Swords knocked the ball out of Rutherford’s hand near the goal line.

The ball bounced out of the end zone for a touchback.

Coal Grove had 266 total yards with 179 on the ground. Rutherford ran 13 times for 85 yards and was 2-of-8 passing for 87 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once.

The Hornets’ Tanner Henry ran 18 times for 64 yards.

Swords ran 30 times for 95 yards as West had 112 yards rushing. West had 95 yards passing with Douthat 4-of-9 for 88 yards and a score. He also threw an interception.

Dolen had an interception for the Hornets who open Ohio Valley Conference play at South Point next Friday.

Ports. West 0 8 0 0 = 8

Coal Grove 6 0 0 0 = 6

First Quarter

CG — Chase McKnight 50 pass from Daniel Rutherford (kick blocked) 0:15

Second Quarter

PW — Job Swords 27 pass from Brady Douthat (Wesley Bailey pass from Brady Douthat) 0:42

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PW CG

First downs 10 10

Rushes-yards 44-112 46-179

Passing yards 95 87

Total yards 207 266

Cmp-Att-Int 6-15-1 2-8-1

Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-2

Penalties-yards 8-70 1-13

Punts-average 6-34.3 5-31.4

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING —Portsmouth West: Job Swords 30-95, John Berry 6-19, Cody Staggs 1-5, Derek Carver 1-3, Sam Kegley 3-2, Brady Douthat 3-minus 12; Coal Grove: Daniel Rutherford 13-85, Tanner Henry 18-64, Chase McKnight 4-19, Kim Baldwin 9-17, Ranze Large 1-1, Evan Holmes 1-minus 17.

PASSING — Portsmouth West: Brady Douthat 4-9-0 88 TD, John Berry 2-5-1 7, Job Sworts 0-1-0; Coal Grove: Daniel Rutherford 2-8-1 87 TD.

RECEIVING — Portsmouth West: Job Swords 4-67 TD, Braedon Oliver 2-28; Coal Grove: Chase McKnight 1-50 TD, Sam Angelo 1-37.

INTERCEPTION RETURNS — Portsmouth West: Job Swords 1-0; Coal Grove: Tanner Dolen 1-5.