Hornets, Panthers to match running games
Published 12:04 am Thursday, November 9, 2017

Photo Courtesy of Tim Gearhart
Coal Grove’s Sam Angelo (1) gets a touchdown catch against Shenandoah.
Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com
COAL GROVE — It’ll be a running clock to begin the game.
The Coal Grove Hornets main strength all season has been its ability to run the football. The Southeastern Panthers main strength all season has been its ability to run the football.
The two teams will match running games on Friday when they meet in the Division VI Region 23 semifinals at Lucasville Valley High School.
Coal Grove coach Evan Ferguson said the Panthers running game is of the utmost concern to him and not just their running backs.
“This is the best line I’ve watched all year. They wall people down,” said Ferguson whose team is 10-1 on the season.
The unbeaten Panthers (11-0) are led by senior wingbacks Carson Stauffer (5-11, 195) and Dakota Houser (5-11, 155) but sophomore quarterback Lane Ruby (5-9, 160) freshman fullback Mikey Castle (5-6, 170) are also threats.
Stauffer ran for 1,118 yards and 21 touchdowns while Houser rushed for 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns. Houser also had 425 return yards.
“They do what they do well. Houser is their scat back. Stauffer is their big power back,” said Ferguson. “Ruby worries me at quarterback. He can fly. If he can find a running lane, he can be gone at any time.”
The offensive line is led by junior tackle Isaiah Lafontaine (6-3, 290) was the SVAC Offensive Lineman of the Year.
The other tackle is junior Andrew Moore (6-4, 245), the guards are sophomore Alan Mead (6-0, 215) and junior Brayden Thompson (6-1, 170) and the center is senior Pratt Higley (6-0, 230). The tight ends are senior Trey Brown (6-1,170) and junior John Winfield (6-2, 205).
“They are patient on offense. They get three or four yards at a time and throw when they have to. They are committed to running the football.”
The Panthers’ defense is led by Stauffer with 93 tackles from his inside linebacker spot in the 4-4 alignment. The other linebacker inside is Winfield and the outside backers are Brown and sophomore Izak Diehl (5-10, 145).
The ends are Higley and junior Noah Dresback (6-3, 185) and the tackles Lafontaine and Moore.
The secondary has Houser and senior Dalton Chaffin (5-9, 160) at the corners and senior Clinton Minney (6-1, 165) at the free safety. Ruby also plays in the secondary.
“They give the offense some things on defense and make you execute to beat them,” said Ferguson.
With both teams looking to run the ball, Ferguson expects the tight game.
“We’re committed to the run and they are, too. It’s going to come down to who opens the game up with big runs and is successful. We need to keep them bottled up and make a few big runs ourselves,” said Ferguson.
“It’s going to be an interesting game. It’s going to be cold and be playoff football weather. We have to come out with intensity.”
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
COAL GROVE OFFENSE
No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Gr.
1 Sam Angelo SE 6-04 205 Sr.
53 Reece York LT 5-08 245 So.
55 Evan Friend LG 5-07 205 Sr.
52 Trey Hicks C 6-02 270 Sr.
50 Darin Bloomfield RG 6-00 220 Sr.
58 Ben Compliment RT 6-02 205 Fr.
5 Jeb Jones TE 6-03 210 Sr.
23 Aaron Music WB 6-01 175 Jr.
8 Nathan Harmon QB 6-02 185 Jr.
34 Kimo Baldwin FB 6-01 230 Sr.
12 Kyle Sites TB 5-08 160 Jr.
COAL GROVE DEFENSE
No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Gr.
50 Darin Bloomfield DE 6-00 220 Sr.
77 Josh Waulk NG/DT 5-11 380 Sr.
52 Trey Hicks DT 6-02 270 Sr.
5 Jeb Jones DE 6-03 205 Sr.
34 Kimo Baldwin LB 6-01 230 Sr.
1 Sam Angelo LB 6-04 205 Sr.
2 Evan Holmes LB/CB 5-11 170 Jr.
8 Nathan Harmon CB 6-02 185 Jr.
3 Jordan Case CB 6-01 160 Sr.
15 Joey Workman S 6-00 175 Sr.
23 Aaron Music S 6-01 175 Jr.
SOUTHEASTERN DEFENSE
No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Gr.
69 Pratt Higley DE 6-00 230 Sr
72 Andrew Moore DT 6-04 245 Jr.
55 Isaiah Lafontaine DT 6-03 290 Jr.
23 Noah Dresbach DE 6-03 185 Jr.
13 Trey Brown LB 6-01 170 Sr.
40 John Winfield LB 6-02 205 Jr.
20 Carson Stauffer LB 5-11 195 Sr.
33 Izak Diehl LB 5-10 145 So.
17 Dakota Houser CB 5-11 155 Sr.
3 Dalton Chaffin CB 5-09 160 Sr.
25 Lane Ruby CB 5-09 160 So.
9 Clinton Minney FS 6-01 165 Sr.
SOUTHEASTERN OFFENSE
No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Gr.
13 Trey Brown TE 6-01 170 Sr.
72 Andrew Moore LT 6-04 245 Jr.
70 Brayden Thompson LG 6-01 170 Jr.
69 Pratt Higley C 6-00 230 Sr.
50 Alan Mead RG 6-00 215 So.
55 Isaiah Lafontaine RT 6-03 290 Jr.
40 John Winfield TE 6-02 205 Jr.
20 Carson Stauffer WB 5-11 195 Sr.
17 Dakota Houser WB 5-11 155 Sr.
25 Lane Ruby QB 5-09 160 So
35 Mikey Castle FB 5-06 170 Fr.
Coal Grove Hornets 2017 Results
Coal Grove 51 Buffalo, W.Va. 6
Coal Grove 38 Lucasville Valley 20
Coal Grove 6 Portsmouth West 28
Coal Grove 43 South Point 0
Coal Grove 27 Chesapeake 7
Coal Grove 19 Portsmouth 14
Coal Grove 33 Gallipolis 20
Coal Grove 28 Ironton 7
Coal Grove 29 Fairland 19
Coal Grove 28 Rock Hill 7
Playoffs
Coal Grove 7 Shenandoah 6
Record: 10-1
Southeastern Panthers 2017 Results
Southeastern 35 Northwest 6
Southeastern 40 Southern Local 22
Southeastern 50 Beaver Eastern 6
Southeastern 56 Huntington Ross 14
Southeastern 40 Piketon 27
Southeastern 28 Zane Trace 12
Southeastern 18 Unioto 14
Southeastern 40 Paint Valley 6
Southeastern 28 Adena 21
Southeastern 48 Westfall 12
Playoffs
Southeastern 44 Steubenville Catholic 40
Record: 11-0