Hornets grind out win to keep Little Brown Jug

CHESAPEAKE — It was ground and pound.

The Coal Grove Hornets ran 53 plays with 51 running plays as they pounded out a 16-0 win over the Chesapeake Panthers in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Coal Grove's win ensured they would keep the Little Brown Jug traveling trophy for the seventh consecutive season.

The Hornets (1-3, 1-0) had 278 total yards with 235 coming on the ground led by workhorse running back Gauge Craft who ran 46 times for 222 yards and a touchdown.

Coal Grove had only 43 yards passing as Truitt Fields was 2 of 2.

The Panthers (1-3, 0-2) took an opposite approach with their offense, running 18 times for 80 yards while quarterback K.J. McLain was 20 of 38 passing for 197 yards and just one interception.

Jaden Washington had 8 receptions for 110 yards and Peyton Muncy had 4 catches for 50 yards.

The Hornets scored on their first and their last possessions of the game.

Coal Grove took the opening kickoff and drove 54 yards in 9 plays capped by fullback Liam White’s 3-yard run. Craft ran for the conversion and it was 8-0.

Chesapeake’s first possession reach the Hornets’ 28 only to fumble and Max Klaiber recovered for Coal Grove.

The Hornets marched to the Panthers 24 only to fumble the ball away as Uriah Brumfield came up with the football for Chesapeake.

After a Coal Grove punt, Chesapeake had their biggest threat of the game but was facing a “beat the clock” situation.

With time almost out, the Panthers reached the 4-yard line. After a one-yard loss on first down, the Panthers threw three straight incomplete passes including a fourth down pass in the end zone that was batted away by the Hornets’ Braxton Patrick.

Chesapeake went 3-and-out to start the second half and Coal Grove drove to the 17-yard line before being held on downs.

The teams exchanged punts and the Panthers then got to the Hornets’ 19 where their drive ended when Patrick stripped the ball from the receiver.

Coal Grove was moving the ball only to fumble it away at the 48. The Panthers were unable to move the ball and the ball went back to the Hornets at their own 49.

Aided by a late hit penalty on the Panthers, Coal Grove used 7 plays to reach the 4-yard line where Craft scored. Fields ran for the conversion and it was 16-0.

The Panthers ran one more play but it was intercepted by Easton Mader and the Hornets took a knee to end the game.

This Friday, Coal Grove will host Portsmouth and Chesapeake entertains Portsmouth Notre Dame.

Coal Grove 8 0 0 8 = 16

Chesapeake 0 0 0 0 = 0

First Quarter

CG — Liam White 3 run (Gauge Craft run)

Fourth Quarter

CG — Gauge Craft 4 run (Truitt Fields run)

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CG CH

First downs 17 13

Rushes-yards 51-235 18-80

Passing yards 43 197

Total yards 278 277

Cmp-Att-Int 2-2-0 20-38-1

Fumbles-lost 3-3 2-2

Penalties-yards 6-53 5-47

Punts-average 2-45.0 3-36.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING — Coal Grove: Gauge Craft 46-222 TD, Liam White 3-8 TD, Truitt Fields 4-2; Chesapeake: Colten Huffman 7-26, Jaden Washington 1-2, Marquis Branch  5-31, K.J. McLain 5-21.

PASSING — Coal Grove: Truitt Fields 2-2-0 43; Chesapeake: K.J. McLain 20-38-1 197.

RECEIVING — Coal Grove: Bryson Easthom 1-24, Colin Spears 1-19; Chesapeake: Jaden Washington 8-110, Peyton Muncy 4-50, Aden Nester-Howard 2-34, Boogie Burdine 1-10, Marquis Branch 2-minus 2, Colten Huffman 1-minus 6, Aden Parrott 2-minus 1.

MISSED FIELD GOALS — None.