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DAWSON BRYANT — One thing you can be sure to know about Coal Grove is that the Hornets stick to the plan … no matter what.
Coal Grove is going to run the ball as much as possible, control the clock and play defense. Luckily for the Hornets, they have a running back in Kaden Murphy who is proficient in moving the chains and finding the end zone.
The junior back scored on three different occasions while the Hornets’ defense came up with timely stops in the second half, pacing the team to to a 30-16 victory over Valley on Friday.
CREDIT: Tim Gearhart Sports Photos
“We’re young, but our kids battled and fought against a good football team,” Coal Grove coach Jay Lucas said. “[Valley] Coach [Nolan] Crabtree has done a great job with the program and their defensive front is as tough as it is physical. It took us a while, but we really picked things up in the second half. I challenged them and they answered the call.”
It was an offensive struggle throughout the entire first half. Neither team was able to establish a rhythm, leading to a number of turnover on downs or three-and-outs.
However, Coal Grove (1-1) managed to break through and Murphy was the catalyst. He found an opening and gashed the Indians’ defense for a 53-yard touchdown, putting his team ahead 6-0, a score that remained to halftime.
To open the second half, Valley’s Aidan Waughtel showcased his legs and rushed 68 yards to give the Indians their first score of the game and a 7-6 lead.
Coal Grove answered right away, though.
Murphy once again made his presence known, this time with a 49-yard rushing score, to put the Hornets back ahead at 12-7.
The Indians provided an answer of their own on the ensuing kickoff as Gabe McNeil took it 64 yards to the house, putting Valley back in front at 13-12.
However, Murphy wasn’t done yet. He’d take a handoff and sprint 33 yards for his third trip to the house, making it 18-13 heading to the fourth quarter.
“When you’ve got the momentum, it’s like no one can stop you,” Murphy said. “We got ripped at halftime since we didn’t execute very well in the first half and everything changed in the second half. We put up a bunch of points, myself and Caden [Turner] had the hot hand and they couldn’t stop us.”
After pinning the Indians at their own 1-yard line late in the fourth, it was Coal Grove’s defense’s time to shine. CG’s Joey Scarberry intercepted a pass and went 10 yards for a pick-six to create some much-needed cushion for a 24-13 advantage.
Valley tried its best with little time remaining to climb back in the game.
Jaylen Bender drilled a 43-yard field goal to bring Valley within one possession at 24-16. Then, the Indians recovered the onside kick, giving themselves a chance to tie.
But Coal Grove’s defense forced a fumble, and capitalized on the turnover when Turner found a hole and ran 61 yards to the house, putting the finishing touches on a Hornet victory.
“Our defense played fantastic the whole night, and made some huge plays in the second half,” Lucas said. “The pick-six was a gamechanger, creating and recovering a fumble was huge. This was a great win for our kids.”
Coal Grove returns to action on Friday at home against Meigs, while Valley travels to Piketon.
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