Hornets capitalize on late fumble to beat Trojans

PORTSMOUTH — They say big time players make big plays in big games. Well, you can put Kaden Murphy’s name on the big time players list.

Murphy had two big touchdown plays in key situations to combine with a strong second half defensive effort as the Coal Grove Hornets got past the Portsmouth Trojans 20-14 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.

Murphy broke free on a 73-yard run on the first play from scrimmage in the game to give Coal Grove a 6-0 lead.

Murphy finished the game with 26 carries for 199 yards and he scored 3 touchdowns.

“Both (Caden) Turner and (Kaden) Murphy are exceptional backs. If Kaden Murphy gets the ball in the open field he can score at any time. He’s a dynamic back. He’s so strong that he’s able to run through some guys and he’s got good speed,” said Hornets’ coach Jay Lucas.

Portsmouth came back with its own long run for a score when Fernando Poxes raced 86 yards for a touchdown with just 11 seconds left in the first quarter. The conversion kick was blocked and it was 6-6.

Coal Grove (3-2, 2-0) was able to get deep in Portsmouth territory, but the Hornets found themselves facing a third-and-33 at the 34-yard line. Rylan Smith hit Murphy with a swing pass and he turned it into a touchdown pass play with 4:52 left in the half.

Smith passed to Turner for the conversion and a 14-6 lead.

“That’s was a crucial play. That was a third and 33 and it turned into a touchdown. That was a big, big play in the ball game,” said Lucas.

Portsmouth (2-3, 0-2) went on a scoring drive capped by Marquez Locklear’s 1-yard run with 47 seconds left on the clock. Poxes ran for the conversion and the game was tied.

The Hornets’ defense stiffened in the second half and did not allow Portsmouth to score.

“We went in at halftime and I had to make a couple of adjustments and I felt those adjustments were critical in the second half,” said Lucas.

“Our kids came out and played hard. Coach (Red) Burcham calls our defense and he did a fantastic job. Give credit to the kids who went out there and did the job. They did a fantastic job.”

The third quarter was scoreless and the first part of the fourth quarter as well. But a key play happened with 9 minutes left as Portsmouth fumbled and the Hornets recovered at the Trojans 14-yard line.

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It took 5 plays and 2:34 off the clock as Murphy ran the final 3 yards on third down with 6:26 to play and Coal Grove took a 20-14 lead.

“(The fumble) was definitely a big play in the game. That was a momentum shifter for sure,” said Lucas.

Coal Grove finished with 296 total yards and Portsmouth had 265. The Hornets rushed 49 times for 233 yards while Portsmouth ran 27 times for 225 yards.

Lucas said the skill players were in the spotlight but the real game was won on the line of scrimmage.

“Our linemen worked hard in the offseason and they battled today. Both teams had big, tough kids. Portsmouth’s linebackers are big, tough kids,” said Lucas.

“That was a war down in the trenches. We were fortunate to have some big plays. We left a couple out there. We had the fumble at the 5-yard line in the first half, we had the touchdown in the second half we dropped."

Poxes led the Trojans with 112 yards on 9 carries and Locklear finished with 93 yards on 13 attempts.

Coal Grove will play at Gallipolis next Friday.

Coal Grove 6 8 0 6 = 20

Portsmouth 6 8 0 0 = 14

First Quarter

CG — Kaden Murphy 73 run (run failed) 11:44

Prt — Fernando Poxes 86 run (kick blocked) 0:11

Second Quarter

CG — Kaden Murphy 34 pass from Rylan Smith (Caden Turner pass from Rylan Smith) 4:52

Prt — Marquez Locklear 1 run (Fernando Poxes run) 0:47

Fourth Quarter

CG — Kaden Murphy 3 run (pass failed) 6:26

———————

CG Prt

First downs 18 11

Rushes-yards 49-233 27-225

Passing yards 63 40

Total yards 296 265

Cmp-Att-Int 4-8-0 5-13-0

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 10-73 13-125

Punts-average 2-35.5 1-48.0

———————

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Coal Grove: Kaden Murphy 26-199 2-TD, Caden Turner 14-30, Rylan Smith 4-2, Leland McKnight 1-8, Team 4-minus 6; Portsmouth: Marquez Locklear 13-93-TD, Fernando Poxes 9-112 TD, Jemarkus Parker 4-25, Team 1-minus 5.

PASSING—Coal Grove: Rylan Smith 4-8-0 63 TD; Portsmouth: Marquez Locklear 5-13-0 40.

RECEIVING—Coal Grove: Kaden Murphy 2-36 TD, Leland McKnight 2-27; Portsmouth: Camron Williams 3-25, Braxton Carr 1-8, Dalton Horner 1-7.