By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

Coal Grove 20, Chesapeake 15

COAL GROVE — Greg Bender ran one-yard for a touchdown with 43 seconds to play as the Coal Grove Hornets rallied to beat the Chesapeake Panthers 20-15 on Friday and claim the Ohio Valley Conference championship.

Chesapeake (7-3, 4-1) took a 15-14 lead with 2:33 left on a 5-yard run by Nate Jones and Jacob Wells’ conversion kick.

But the Hornets (7-3, 5-0) used a big third down conversion to keep their final drive alive — a 21-yard pass from Alex Bare to Isaiah Gunther — and also got a 14-yard run by Bare and a 21-yard scamper by Kyle Estep to highlight the drive.

Coal Grove controlled the clock in the first half by running 43 plays to just eight for the Panthers. The Hornets to a 14-8 halftime lead as Bender had a 2-yard scoring run and Bryan Steele caught a 13-yard TD pass just before the end of the half.

Bender ran 28 times for 91 yards and Bare had 24 carries for 74 yards as the Hornets ran the ball 55 times for 186 yards. Bare was 7 of 12 passing for 93 yards.

Chesapeake had 129 total yards with 118 coming on the ground. Patrick Hintz ran 14 times for 76 yards and Brandon Noble added 58 yards on nine tries including a 14-yard scoring run in the second quarter when the Panthers tied the game at 8-8.

The Panthers are expected to play at St. Clairsville next Saturday in the Division IV playoffs.

Ironton 30, Portsmouth 14

Tyler Hager ran 21 times for 197 yards and a touchdown and the Ironton Fighting Tigers overcame four first half fumbles to beat the Portsmouth Trojans 30-14 on Friday night in the rain and mud at Tanks Memorial Stadium.

Portsmouth (3-7) took a 6-0 lead with 6:26 left in the first quarter on a 35-yard pass from Mason Jordan to Zaide Whitley.

But Ironton tied the game on a 2-yard run by Trevor White with 4:10 left in the half and White also added the conversion run for an 8-6 lead.

A 25-yard run by Hager fueled Ironton’s first possession in the third quarter and White ran 16 yards for a touchdown to cap the drive. Tyler Kratzenberg’s conversion run put the lead at 16-6.

Jordan hit L.J. Adams with a 23-yard touchdown pass on fourth down and Wayne Evans caught the conversion pass and it was 16-14, but Hager answered with a 57-yard touchdown run and the lead was 22-14 less than two minutes later.

Kratzenberg ran for a first down on a fourth down play at the Trojans’ 43, then kept the ball and went the remaining distance to score with 6:04 to play. White’s conversion run made it 30-14.

Ironton (6-4) rolled up 378 yards on the ground and 390 total yards for the game. White had 89 yards on 18 carries and Kratzenberg had 73 yards on eight tries.

Jordan was 6 of 20 passing for 111 yards and two interceptions as Portsmouth finished with 210 total yards.

Ironton is expected to play at Johnstown-Monroe next Saturday in the Division IV playoffs.

Fairland 40, Rock Hill 6

PROCTORVILLE — The Fairland Dragons had three running backs gain more than 100 yards en route to a 40-6 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Rock Hill Redmen on Friday.

Tyree Ceaser ran 18 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns, Eric Riley had 107 yards on a 13 attempts and three touchdowns, and Nathan Campbell ran just five times for 100 yards and a score as Fairland (4-6, 3-2) racked up 412 total yards — all on the ground.

Riley and Ceasar had first quarter touchdowns run for a 14-0 lead and Campbell’s 53-yard scoring run made the lead 22-0 at the half.

Riley had a 5-yard TD run and Ceaser went 26 yards for a score and it was 34-0 at the end of the third quarter.

Shane Harper ran 24 times for 151 yards to lead the Redmen (3-7, 2-3) who had 248 yards rushing as a team and 248 total yards. Will McCollister added 59 yards on 19 carries.

Symmes Valley 21, South Gallia 8

CHESHIRE — The Symmes Valley Vikings built a 21-0 halftime lead and went on to beat the South Gallia Rebels 21-8 in muddy, rainy conditions on Friday.

The Vikings took a 6-0 lead on a 15-yard run by Tyler Rowe just before the end of the first quarter.

Moments later, Jacob Graybeal blocked a punt and Tanner Mays recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. D.J. Miller ran for the conversion and it was 14-0.

Miller bolted 50 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter as the lead went to 21-0 with 4:13 left in the half.

The Rebels (7-3) scored on an 8-yard run by Jacob White who also added the conversion with 1:46 on the third quarter clock.

Miller finished with 87 yards on eight carries as the Vikings rolled up 232 yards rushing. Cody Myers added 58 yards on 14 carries and Alec Herrell had 54 yards on 10 attempts.

Symmes Valley (9-1) are first in Region 23 and is expected to host Trimble next Saturday in the Division VI playoffs.

Oak Hill 20, Green 12

OAK HILL — Wes Harden ran 25 times for 175 yards and two touchdowns as the Oak Hill Oaks held off the Green Bobcats 20-12 on Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

Harden scored on runs of 4 and 13 yards to make it 12-0 at the half. Daniel Woods went 10 yards for a score just before the end of the third quarter and Chris Fairchild ran for the conversion and it was 20-0.

Green (3-7, 0-4) got within 20-12 on an 11-yard run by Rob Applegate and a 1-yard plunge by Clay Applegate in the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats outgained the Oaks 236 to 231 but suffered four turnovers including three interceptions.

Friday Night’s High School Football Scores of Interest

Ironton 30, Portsmouth 14

Coal Grove 20, Chesapeake 15

Fairland 40, Rock Hill 6

River Valley 45, South Point 30

Symmes Valley 21, South Gallia 8

Oak Hill 20, Green 12

Sciotoville East 20, Portsmouth Notre Dame 7

Portsmouth West 40, Wheelersburg 14

Lucasville Valley 38, Minford 13

Waverly 55, Northwest 20

Jackson 27, Gallipolis 6

Chillicothe 29, Logan 19

Raceland, Ky. 36, Russell, Ky. 21

Amanda-Clearcreek 17, Logan Elm 14

Columbus Hartley 42, Columbus Ready 12

Johnstown-Monroe 70, Johnstown Northridge 0

St. Clairsville 48, Belmont Union Local 28

Athens 24, Nelsonville-York 21, OT

Alexander 14, Meigs 0

Wellston 24, Vinton County 6

Trimble 36, Federal Hocking 0

Waterford 46, Belpre 7

Wahama, W.Va. 74, Corning Miller 8

Johnathan Alder 27, Bishop Watterson 14

Scott County, Ky. 41, Simon Kenton, Ky. 0