By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — Big plays meant a big win.

The Rock Hill Redmen used 3 big runs to help produce a 23-16 win over the rival Coal Grove Hornets in Friday’s Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We did a good job of getting a hat on a hat up front and our backs blocked really well for each other,” said Rock Hill coach Mark Lutz. “When teams crowd the line of scrimmage and you make the blocks, you have a chance of coming out of the pack for a big gain.”

Rock Hill (4-6, 2-5) had 326 yards rushing led by Anthony Stamper with a career-high 214 yards on 19 carries and he scored 2 touchdowns. Levi JIles had 97 yards on 11 attempts.

Coal Grove (4-6, 1-6) had 289 total yards with 240 coming on the ground as Kaden Murphy carried 20 times for 113 yards and 2 TDs. Caden Turner ran 13 times for 82 yards and Gavin Gipson got 46 yards on 10 tries.

Rock Hill built a 23-0 lead and then making 2 big defensive stands to fight off the Coal Grove comeback.

Coal Grove took the opening kickoff and marched 51 yards in 11 plays. The Hornets had a first-and-goal at the 9 but a fourth-and-3 saw the Redmen defense stop Turner less than a yard from the end zone.

A penalty moved the ball out t the 6-yard line and Stamper ran for 7 yards and a first down. On the next play, Stamper broke free and race 83 yards to the Hornets’ 9-yard line.

Rock Hill had a fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line and Stamper fought his way into the end zone. Connor Blagg kicked the conversion and it was 7-0.

A big play followed as Coal Grove fumbled the kickoff and Rock Hill recovered at the Hornets’ 31.

Six plays later, quarterback Dallin Cox went in for the touchdown and Blagg’s kick put the lead at 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Rock Hill got the ball to the Coal Grove 9-yard line but a loss on fourth down gave the ball to the Hornets at the 13.

Coal Grove used 11 plays to reach the Rock Hill 8-yard line, but an incomplete pass and then a pass that went for just 3 yards put the ball at the 5-yard line but time on the first half clock ran out.

Rock Hill wasted no time in getting back on the scoreboard as Stamper bolted 68 yards on the first play of the second half and Blagg’s conversion kicked extended the lead to 21-0.

Coal Grove fumbled the ball on the ensuing play but Rock Hill was unable to capitalize as the Hornets’ defense only let the Redmen gain 11 yards on the next 6 plays.

The Hornets got the ball at the 24-yard line but disaster struck on third down as a bad snap caused the ball to come free and it was batted around until going all the way back to the goal line and out of bounds for a safety to make it 23-0.

Rock Hill was forced to punt and Coal Grove got the ball at its own 25 and began its comeback.

Murphy ran for 36 yards on first down tot he Rock Hill 39. It took 5 plays for the Hornets to score from there with Murphy going the final 5 yards. Gipson ran for the conversion and it was 23-8.

Rock Hill moved to the Hornets’ 44 only to fumble the ball away and the Hornets we back in business.

This drive covered 5-6 yards in 9 plays with Murphy again running 5 yards for the touchdown and Gipson duplicating his feat with the conversion run and the Hornets now trailed just 23-16.

Rock Hill was forced to punt and Coal Grove got the ball back on its own 38.

A key 17-yard third down pass from Whyatt Mannon to Gipson got the ball to the Redmen 47 and the Hornets got to the 39 and were facing fourth-and-2. But the Redmen defense stopped the Hornets just shy of the first down.

Stamper ran for 13 yards on the ensuing play for a first down and Jiles had a 5-yard run on fourth down that settled the outcome as the Redmen ran out the clock.

Next Friday in the Division 6 playoffs, Coal Grove visits Galion Northmor while Rock Hill travels to Sugarcreek Garaway.

Coal Grove 0 0 8 8 = 16

Rock Hill 7 7 9 0 = 23

First Quarter

RH — Anthony Stamper 1 run (Connor Blagg kick)

Second Quarter

RH — Dallin Cox 1 run (Connor Blagg kick)

Third Quarter

RH — Anthony Stamper 68 run (Connor Blagg kick)

RH — Safety (ball fumbled out of the end zone)

CG — Kaden Murphy 5 run (Gavin Gipson run)

Fourth Quarter

RH — Kaden Murphy 5 run (Gavin Gipson run)

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CGRH

First downs 15 9

Rushes-yards 50-240 38-326

Passing yards 49 0

Total yards 289 326

Cmp-Att-Int 4-6-0 0-1-0

Fumbles-lost 4-2 1-1

Penalties-yards 3-20 2-10

Punts-average 1-42.0 2-31.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Coal Grove: Kaden Murphy 20-113 2-TD, Caden Turner 13-82, Gavin Gipson 10-46, Whyatt Mannon 7-minus 1; Rock Hill: Anthony Stamper 19-214 2-TD, Levi Jiles 11-97, Gage Clutters 6-18, Dallin Cox 1-1 TD, Blake Porter 1-minus 4.

PASSING–Coal Grove: Whyatt Mannon 4-6-0 49; Rock Hill: Anthony Stamper 0-1-0.

RECEIVING–Coal Grove: Gavin Gipson 3-46, Landon Roberts 1-3; Rock Hill: None

MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.