Hornets overcome 24-point deficit to win in OT

ROCKSPRINGS — Trailing by four scores at halftime, Coal Grove's offense came to life and put together a huge second half comeback, as the Hornets defeated the Meigs Marauders 48-42 in overtime at Holzer Field/Farmers Bank Stadium on Friday

Things couldn't have gone more wrong for the Hornets, as Meigs quarterback Griffin Cleland and Dillon Howard connected for scores of 18, 81, and 64 yards and the Marauders jumped out to a 24-0 lead after one quarter of play.

Coal Grove would finally find pay dirt as Kaden Murphy scored from two yards out to cut the score to 24-6 with 3:47 left in the first half.

However Cleland would hit Connor Burnem for a 76-yard strike on the final play of the half and give the Marauders a 30-6 lead at the break.

But what had been going wrong, began to go right for Coal Grove.

Wyatt Mannon would hit Gavin Gipson for 24-yard touchdown pass for the opening score of the second half. Then Kaden Murphy would run in the two-point conversion try to cut the deficit to 30-14.

Caden Turner would later plunge in from 2 yards out with 1:43 left in the quarter to get the Hornets closer.

Then just moments later, Joe Scarberry would recover a Meigs’ fumble in the end zone for a touchdown with just 17 seconds left in the quarter. After Murphy ran in for the two points, it was 30-26 as the squads headed into the final quarter.

Mannon would nose his way in from 1-yard to give the Hornets their first lead at 34-30 at the 10:57 mark of the fourth quarter.

The Marauders would quickly answer with a 52-yard pass from Cleland to Howard to regain the lead at 36-34.

Coal Grove would answer as Murphy broke free on a 33-yard run for the score and Gipson added the conversion run to give the Hornets a 42-36 lead with 2:50 remaining in the game.

But a 5-yard touchdown run by Cleland on the last play of regulation would tie the game at 42.

The Hornets would stop Cleland short of the end zone on the conversion run and forced overtime.

Meigs would get first possession in overtime, but fumble the ball away and Coal Grove would recover.

Murphy would slice his way through the middle of the Meigs defense for the 11-yard score and win for the Hornets.

Next Friday, Coal Grove hosts South Point in Ohio Valley Conference action.

Coal Grove 0 6 22 14 6 = 48

Meigs 24 6 0 12 0 = 42

First Quarter

Mg — Dillon Howard 18 pass from Griffin Cleland (Griffin Cleland run), 5:42.

Mg — Dillon Howard 81 pass from Griffin Cleland ((Griffin Cleland run), 2:35.

Mg — Dillon Howard 64 pass from Griffin Cleland (Conlee Burnem run), 0:17.

Second Quarter

CG — Kaden Murphy 2 run (run failed), 3:47.

Mg — Conlee Burnem 76 pass from Griffin Cleland (run failed), 0:00.

Third Quarter

CG — Gavin Gipson 24 pass from Whyatt Mannon (Kaden Murphy run).

CG — Caden Turner 2 run (run failed), 1:43.

CG — Joe Scarberry fumble recovery in the end zone (Kaden Murphy run), 0:17.

Fourth Quarter

CG — Whyatt Mannon 1 run (run failed), 10:57.

Mg — Dillon Howard 52 pass from Griffin Cleland (run failed), 6:41.

CG — Kaden Murphy 33 run (Gavin Gipson run), 2:50.

Mg — Griffin Cleland 5 run (run failed), 0:00.

Overtime

CG — Kaden Murphy 11 run (no attempt).

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CG Mgs

First downs 12 20

Rushes-yards 49-228 13-169

Passing yards 140 369

Total yards 368 538

Cmp-Att-Int 7-9-0 13-27-1

Fumbles-lost 2-2 4-3

Penalties-yards 2-20 12-105

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Coal Grove: Kaden Murphy 30-187 3-TD, Landon Roberts 3-22, Caden Turner 5-6 TD, Whyatt Mannon 10-16 TD, Gavin Gipson 1-5; Meigs: Conlee Burnem 14-116, Griffin Cleland 10-43 TD, Dillon Howard 2-15, Demetrius Tackett 2-minus 3.

PASSING–Coal Grove: Whyatt Mannon 7-9-0 140 TD; Meigs: Griffin Murphy 13-27-1 369 4-TD.

RECEIVING–Coal Grove: Gavin Gipson 4-111-TD, Kaden Murphy 2-6, Wesley Runyon 1-21; Meigs: Dillon Hoard 6-234 4-TD, Conlee Burnem 4-121 TD, Dustin Vance 2-10, Joe Metzger 1-4.