Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — If you control the clock, you can control the game.

The Coal Grove Hornets were in control.

Coal Grove ran 62 plays to 33 for South Point as the Hornets blanked the Pointers 21-0 Friday in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams.

The win was not only the first for the Hornets this season but the first in the coaching career of Brian Kidd.

The Hornets (1-4, 1-0) ran the ball 59 times for 316 yards led by Jacob Clark and Tanner Henry. Clark had 111 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns while Henry carried 15 times for 101 yards and a score.

South Point (1-4, 0-1) was limited to 72 total yards including 27 rushes for 67 net yards. Hunter Starr carried nine times for 60 yards.

Coal Grove took the opening kickoff and drove from its own 31 to the Pointers’ 20 only to fumble the ball away.

After forcing a punt, the Hornets went 42 yards in nine plays capped by Clark’s 3-yard run and it was 6-0 with 1:21 left in the first quarter.

After a scoreless second quarter, Coal Grove used a long drive to set up a short one.

The Hornets moved from their own 26 to the Pointers’ 1-yard line keyed by Clark’s 60-yard run.

But a fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line was stopped and the Pointers took over.

However, South Point was unable to move the from that spot and punted from its end zone.

Coal Grove then went 27yards in four plays culminating with Clark’s 8-yard scoring run.

Henry added the conversion and it was 14-0 with 2:03 on the clock.

The Hornets then put together an 88-yard, 18-play drive that ate 8:40 off the clock and ended with Henry going 5 yards for the touchdown with 2:54 to play.

Jeb Jones’ conversion kick made it 21-0.

Coal Grove 6 0 8 7 = 21

South Point 0 0 0 0 = 0

First Quarter

CG — Jacob Clark 3 run (kick failed) 1:21

Third Quarter

CG — Jacob Clark 8 run (Tanner Henry run) 2:03

Fourth Quarter

CG — Tanner Henry 5 run (Jeb Jones kick) 2:54

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CG SP

First downs 18 4

Rushes-yards 59-316 27-67

Passing yards 23 5

Total yards 339 72

Cmp-Att-Int 2-3-0 1-8-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-1

Penalties-yards 9-88 8-52

Punts-average 1-35.0 5-34.6

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING —Coal Grove: Jacob Clark 12-111, 2 TDs, Tanner Henry 15-101, 1 TD, Kimo Baldwin 13-51, Daniel Rutherford 11-27, Tanner Dolen 5-16, Isaac Howard 3-10; South Point: Hunter Starr 9-60, Davon Leonard 5-30, Matt Keeney 5-5, Reed Murnahan 1-2, Joel Morrison 1-minus 3, Brandin Jackson 6-minus 27.

PASSING — Coal Grove: Daniel Rutherford 2-3-0, 23 yards; South Point: Brandin Jackson 1-7-0, 5 yards, Joel Morrison 0-1-0.

RECEIVING — Coal Grove: Sam Angelo 1-15, Jacob Clark 1-8; South Point: Elijah Adams 1-5.