Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — The late owner of the Oakland Raiders Al Davis used to say, “Just win, baby.”
Well, the Rock Hill Redmen didn’t do anything fancy or flashy on Friday night, they just won.
Rock Hill racked up 360 total yards — all on the ground — as they beat the Coal Grove Hornets 33-20 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
The Redmen (3-7, 3-4) were led by Logan Hankins who had 153 yards on just 10 carries, T.J. McGinnis ran 26 times for 115 yards and Owen Hankins had 71 yards on six carries.
Quarterback Brayden Friend chipped in 21 clutch yards on five attempts.
Coal Grove (2-8, 1-6) had 342 total yards with 128 on the ground — mostly in the first half — and quarterback Cory Borders was 16-of-24 passing for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
Jarren Hicks caught three passes for 78 yards and a score while Justin Hicks got 71 yards on seven catches and a TD.
Malachai Wheeler ran 13 times for 54 yards and had four receptions for 29 yards while Joe Abrams had three grabs for 36 yards.
The Hornets were missing their top two running backs Austin Stapleton and Austin Stormes due to injuries.
Coal Grove fumbled on a fourth down play to start the game and Rock Hill recovered at the 28-yard line.
Hankins scored on the next play and Tristan Delong’s kick made it 7-0 with 9:48 on the clock.
The Redmen forced a punt and then did what they do best with a 79-yard, 12-play drive keyed by another 28-yard Logan Hankins’ run and capped by McGinnis who went the final 11 yards for a 13-0 lead.
The Hornets drove to the Rock Hill 31 only to be held on downs.
Logan Hankins got loose on a 53-yard run to the Hornets’ 15-yard line and Owen Hankins went the final 3 yards in the drive for the touchdown. McGinnis ran for the conversion and a 21-0 lead.
Coal Grove answered with a 70-yard, 10-play drive — all on the ground — with Wheeler running 5 yards for the score. Borders threw to Wheeler for the conversion and it was 21-8 with 5:17 left in the half.
But Rock Hill came right back with a 59-yard, 10-play drive and scored on a 1-yard run by McGinnis and it was 27-8.
Even though the third quarter was scoreless, Coal Grove started a drive at its own 34 and got to the Rock Hill 8-yard line.
Two losses left the Hornets with a fourth-and-goal at the 10, but on the first play of the fourth quarter, but Borders found Jarren Hicks in the end zone for a touchdown and it was 27-14.
Rock Hill fumbled the ball away at the Coal Grove 18 and the Hornets capitalized on the opportunity.
A 50-yard pass to Jarren Hicks got the ball to the Rock Hill 15 and three plays later Borders and Hick clicked on an 18-yard scoring pass and it was 27-20.
But Rock Hill put the game away with a 75-yard, 10-play march fueled by Owen Hankins’ 34-yard run. McGinnis powered his way into the end zone from 8 yards out with 1:25 left and it was 33-20.
Although the Hornets have dominated the series, Rock Hill’s win marked the first time in school history that the Redmen have won back-to-back games against Coal Grove.
Coal Grove 0 8 0 12 = 20
Rock Hill 13 14 0 6 = 33
First Quarter
RH — Logan Hankins 28 run (Tristan Delong kick)
RH — T.J. McGinnis 11 run (run failed)
Second Quarter
RH — Owen Hankins 3 run (T.J. McGinnis run)
CG — Malachai Wheeler 5 run (Malachai Wheeler pass from Cory Borders)
RH — T.J. McGinnis 2 run (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
CG — Jarren Hicks 10 pass from Cory Borders (pass failed)
CG — Jarren Hicks 18 pass from Cory Borders (pass failed)
RH — T.J. McGinnis 8 run (kick failed)
——
CG RH
First downs 14 16
Rushes-yards 30-128 47-360
Passing yards 214 0
Total yards 342 360
Cmp-Att-Int 16-24-0 0-1-0
Fumbles-lost 2-2 2-2
Penalties-yards 7-40 6-36
Punts-average 1-37.0 1-37.0
——
Individual Leaders
RUSHING — Coal Grove: Malachai Wheeler 13-54, Trey Hunt 7-43, Justin Hicks 2-27, Cory Borders 7-5, Austin Stapleton 1-minus 1; Rock Hill: Logan Hankins 10-153, T.J. McGinnis 26-115, Owen Hankins 6-71, Brayden Friend 5-21.
PASSING — Coal Grove: Cory Borders 16-24-0 214; Rock Hill: Brayden Friend 0-1-0.
RECEIVING — Coal Grove: Malachai Wheeler 4-29, Joe Abrams 3-36, Justin Hicks 7-71, Jarren Hicks 3-78; Rock Hill: None.