Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

They say that the only statistics that matter are the number of wins and losses.
Still, the statistics are filling up for the Coal Grove Hornets and Nelsonville-York Buckeyes who meet at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Jackson for the Division VI Region 23 championship.
Both teams have seen their skilled players put up impressive numbers, but each team knows how well the interior line plays on offense and defense will be the determining factor.
Coal Grove is led by junior quarterback Nate Harmon (6-2, 185) who is 56-of-94 passing for 933 yards and 10 interceptions. He has also rush 119 times for 806 yards.
Junior running back Kyle Sites (5-8, 160) went over 1,000 yards on the season in last week’s 48-26 win over Southeastern. Sites had 160 carries for 1,011 yards on the season and has scored 12 touchdowns.
The Hornets top receivers are senior wide receiver Sam Angelo (6-4, 205) with 19 catches for 329 yards and four touchdowns while tight end Jeb Jones (6-4, 210) had 18 receptions for 292 yards and four scores.
Senior linebacker Kimo Baldwin (6-1, 230) is the teams’ leading tackler on defense. He was named the Southeast District Defensive Player of the Year.
Coal Grove (11-1) is making its 11th playoff appearance and has an 8-10 playoff record all-time.
The Hornets are 0-3 in previous meetings with the Buckeyes. They lost a 14-12 heartbreaker in 1981 in the first round and Nelsonville-York went on to win its only state title.
N-Y won 20-13 in 1997 and 17-14 in overtime in 1998.
The Buckeyes are 12-0 on the season and began last year 1-2. They are currently on a 20-1 run with the lone loss coming in the playoffs last season.
The Buckeyes have three top runners led by sophomore tailback Keegan Wilburn (5-10,170) who had 1,161 yards on 146 carries for an 8.0 yards per carry average. He has scored 12 touchdowns.
Senior fullback Colt Yinger (5-11, 185) has carried 104 times for 949 yards and a 9.1 average. He also has 12 touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Garrett Maiden (5-10,1 65) was a starting wide receiver the past three seasons.
Maiden is 100-of-177 passing for 1,846 yards and 21 touchdowns. He has thrown seven interceptions.
Maiden has also rushed 103 times for 644 yards — a 6.3 average — and he has 12 touchdowns.
Maiden has several targets at his disposal.
Wilburn has 29 catches for 589 yards and nine touchdowns.
Senior Chris Cook (5-10, 160) has 23 receptions for 541 yards and four scores and senior Jonathan Richards (6-2, 170) has 18 catches for 293 yards.
Senior Shakim Williams (6-1, 175) has added 11 receptions for 210 yards and three touchdowns while Yinger has nine grabs for 135 yards and two scores.
Senior linebacker Ronnie Wend (6-0, 170) leads the defense with 207 total tackles including 65 solo stops. Williams has 34 solo tackles and 92 overall while Yinger has 134 stops with 23 solo tackles.
Senior Tyler Speelman (5-11, 180), junior Colton Snyder (5-10, 190) and Yinger have combined for 24 sacks.
Richards leads the secondary with five interceptions and Cook had three picks.