Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WEST PORTSMOUTH — Turnovers are killers.
The Coal Grove Hornets lost two fumbles and an interception as the Portsmouth West Senators rallied for a 21-14 win on Friday in a battle of 2-0 teams.
After a 0-0 first half tie, both teams scored in the third quarter and it was 7-7.
Coal Grove went 66 yards in 10 plays to start the second half as Nate Harmon ran 13 yards for the touchdown. Evan Holmes’ conversion kick made it 7-0 at the 6:42 mark.
It took West just one play to tie the game as Dylan Bradford hit Josh Berry on a 65-yard catch-and-run play. Luke Howard kick the conversion and it was 7-7 with 6:32 on the clock.
Coal Grove drove to the West 20-yard line only to fumble and the Senators recovered at the 25.
Eight plays later, Garrett Hurd ran 21 yards for a touchdown with eight minutes left to make it 13-7 West.
This time Coal Grove answered in just one play as Austin Stapleton bolted 51 yards for a touchdown with 7:46 left and Holmes’ conversion kick put the Hornets up 14-13.
West (3-0) came back with a 50-yard, nine-play drive capped by Hurd’s 8-yard scoring run and it was 19-14 with 2:47 left. Bradford ran for the conversion and a 21-14 lead.
The Hornets (2-1) had one final possession but Bradford intercepted a long pass at the Senators’ 41 to seal the win.
Stapleton ended the game with 112 yards on nine carries while Harmon ran 20 times for 66 yards and was 12-of-18 passing for 101 yards and an interception.
Coal Grove had 311 total yards to 251 for West.
Hurd finished with 149 yards on 22 carries after gaining only 31 yards on six carries in the first half.
The Hornets host South Point on Friday for their first home game.
Coal Grove 0 0 7 7 = 14
Ports. West 0 0 7 14 = 21
Third Quarter
CG — Nate Harmon 13 run (Evan Holmes kick) 6:42
PW — Josh Berry 65 pass from Dylan Bradford (Luke Howard kick) 6:32
Fourth Quarter
PW — Garrett Hurd 21 run (kick failed) 8:00
CG — Austin Stapleton 59 run (Evan Holmes kick) 7:46
PW — Garrett Hurd 8 run (Dylan Bradford run) 2:47
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CG PW
First downs 14 11
Rushes-yards 44-210 33-165
Passing yards 101 86
Total yards 311 251
Cmp-Att-Int 12-18-1 4-8-1
Fumbles-lost 3-2 0-0
Penalties-yards 5-42 4-42
Punts-average 2-42.5 4-36.3
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Individual Leaders
RUSHING — Coal Grove: Kyle Sites 11-36, Austin Stapleton 9-112, Nate Harmon 20-66, Evan Holmes 3-3, team 1-minus 7; Portsmouth West: Garrett Hurd 22-149, Dylan Bradford 7-minus 1, Josh Berry 2-14, Gabe Staggs 1-4, team 1-minus 1.
PASSING — Coal Grove: Nate Harmon 12-18-1 101; Portsmouth West: Dylan Bradford 4-8-1 86.
RECEIVING — Coal Grove: Aaron Music 5-56, Kyle Sites 3-17, Evan Holmes 3-19, Jalen McKenzie 1-9; Portsmouth West: Josh Berry 2-71, Garrett Hurd 1-1, Cole Staggs 1-13.