Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — They say the Coal Grove Hornets are the surprise team this season. Well, they threw another surprise party on Friday.
Coal Grove remained unbeaten in the Ohio Valley Conference with a stunning 19-14 win over the Portsmouth Trojans.
The Hornets forced two key turnovers to help them improved to 5-1 on the season and 3-0 in the OVC.
Evan Holmes recovered a fumble and returned it 50 yards to the Trojans’ 14-yard and set up the Hornets’ first score.
Kyle Sites did the honors with a 2-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Holmes kicked the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
Portsmouth (2-4, 1-2) came back with a 92-yard, 7-play drive that was aided by two Coal Grove penalties.
Talyn Parker had runs of 25, 11 and 14 yards and quarterback Isaac Kelly a 13-yarder to set up Parker’s 4-yard scoring run and get within 7-6 with 1:50 left in the half.
The Trojans came out the second half and put together an 8-play scoring drive. Parker had a pair of 26-yard runs with the second taking him into the end zone. Kelly ran for the conversion and a 14-7 lead.
Coal Grove came right back thanks to a 37-yard pass from Nate Harmon to Sam Angelo that set up Harmon’s 26-yard scoring strike to Jeb Jones.
The conversion failed and Coal Grove trailed 14-13 with 50 seconds left in the third quarter.
The tandem of Harmon to Angelo clicked again for a 37-yard touchdown pass and took a 19-14 lead with 10:26 to play.
Portsmouth was driving late in the game and got to the Hornets’ 39, but Joey Workman intercepted a pass with 1:32 to play and sealed the win.
Coal Grove had 242 total yards with 129 coming on the ground. Harmon ran 14 times for 59 yards and Sites had 13 carries for 59. Harmon was also 4-of-6 passing for 106 yards.
Angelo caught three pass from 80 yards and a score.
Parker and Kelly did all of Portsmouth’s running. Parker ran 22 times for 83 yards and Kelly had 13 carries for 54 yards.
Kelly was 5-of-15 passing for 61 yards but three interceptions.
Next Friday, Coal Grove visits Gallipolis and Portsmouth hosts Chesapeake.
Coal Grove    0    7    6    6    =    19
Portsmouth    0    6    8    0    =    14
Second Quarter
CG — Kyle Sites 2 run (Evan Holmes kick) 11:56
Prt —Talyn Parker 4 run (kick failed) 1:50
Third Quarter
Prt — Talyn Parker 26 run (Isaac Kelly run) 2:42
CG — Jeb Jones 26 pass from Nate Harmon (kick failed) 0:50
Fourth Quarter
CG — Sam Angelo 37 pass from Nate Harmon (run failed) 10:26
——
CG    Prt
First downs    8    7
Rushes-yards    37-129    35-127
Passing yards    113    61
Total yards    242    188
Cmp-Att-Int    5-11-0    5-15-3
Fumbles-lost    2-1    2-2
Penalties-yards    12-95    3-25
Punts-average    3-34.7    2-26.5
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Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Coal Grove: Nate Harmon 14-59, Kyle Sites 13-49, Kimo Baldwin 7-9, Joey Workman 1-4, Cory Borders 1-7, Evan Holmes 1-minus 1; Portsmouth: Talyn Parker 22-83, Isaac Kelly 13-54.
PASSING — Coal Grove: Cory Borders 1-5-0 7, Nate Harmon 4-6-0 106; Portsmouth: Isaac Kelly 5-15-3 61.
RECEIVING — Coal Grove: Sam Angelo 3-80, Nate Harmon 2-7, Jeb Jones 1-26; Portsmouth: Deante Parker 3-18, Parker Johnson 1-21, Talyn Parker 1-22.