Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

ROCKSPRINGS — Isaiah Gunther has played just one game this season but it seems like he’s had an entire season of success.

Gunther ran 19 times for 178 yards and four touchdowns as the Coal Grove Hornets exploded for 34 second half points to rout the Meigs Marauders 46-13 Friday in the season opener.

The Hornets racked up 398 total yards including 366 on the ground en route to the win.

Gunther had a 55-yard run called back due to a penalty on the game’s first series that helped give Meigs the ball at their own 47 following a punt.

Eight players later Meigs took a 7-0 lead on a 24-yard run by Michael Davis and Ty Phelps’ conversion kick.

Coal Grove came right back with a 54-yard, seven-play drive capped by Tanner Murphy’s 10-yard scoring run. Gunther ran for 32 yards on four carries in the drive and it was 7-6.

Cody Bartrum ran 7 yards for a touchdown with just 4.4 seconds left in the quarter finished off an 85-yard drive and Meigs led 14-6. The drive was aided by a pass interference call and a 30-yard pass to Phelps.

The Hornets came back to cut the deficit to 13-12 on a 43-yard scamper by Gunthers with 9:25 left in the half.

The Hornets had another scoring chance following an interception by Joe Akers who ran the ball back to the Meigs’ 31. But an incomplete pass on fourth down stalled the drive.

The Marauders moved to the Hornets’ 34 but a Jesse Rigsby interception ended the drive.

After a shanked punt to start the second half, Coal Grove went 55 yards in seven plays to take the lead for good.

The drive culminated on a 7-yard TD run by Gunther and Daniel Rutherford’s conversion kick put the Hornets up 20-13 with 6:46 on the clock.

Coal Grove forced a punt and needed just three plays to score again.

Murphy ran 20 yards and two yards and then Rigsby kept the ball for a 53-yard jaunt and it was 26-13 with 3:09 in the quarter.

The Hornets reached the Meigs’ 4 thanks to a 25-yard screen pass to Gunther, but they fumbled the ball away to end the threat.

An interception by Rutherford got the ball back and Gunther bolted 36 yards for the score and it was 32-13 with 7:35 left.

Tanner Henry recovered a Meigs’ fumble following the ensuring kickoff at the 14 setting up a 10-yard scoring run by Gunther. Jonathan Joseph kicked the extra point and it was 39-13 with 6:19 left.

Another Meigs’ fumble was recovered by Josh Waulk at the Meigs 36 and Henry ran 10 yards for the touchdown with five minutes left. Joseph kicked the conversion.

The Marauders had 286 total yards but were guilty of five turnovers. Davis ran 21 times for 106 yards.

Coal Grove 6 6 14 20 = 46

Meigs 13 0 0 0 = 13

First Quarter

Me — Michael Davis 24 run (Ty Phelps kick) 7:49

CG — Tanner Murphy 10 run (run failed) 4:37

Me — Cody Bartrum 8 run (kick failed) 0.4

Second Quarter

CG — Isaiah Gunther 43 run (run failed) 9:25

Third Quarter

CG — Isaiah Gunther 7 run (Daniel Rutherford run) 6:46

CG — Jesse Rigsby 54 run (run failed) 3:09

Fourth Quarter

CG — Isaiah Gunther 35 run (run failed) 7:35

CG — Isaiah Gunther 11 run (Jonathan Joseph kick) 6:19

CG — Tanner Henry 15 run (Jonathan Joseph kick) 5:00

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CG Mgs

First downs 17 15

Rushes-yards 43-366 42-174

Passing yards 32 114

Total yards 398 286

Cmp-Att-Int 2-5-1 8-23-2

Penalties-yards 6-61 8-85

Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-3

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Coal Grove: Isaiah Gunther 19-178, Jesse Rigsby 2-61, Tanner Murphy 7-47, Austin Ruggles 7-26, Tanner Henry 2-21, Jacob Clark 3-6; Meigs: Michael Davis 21-106, Isaiah English 5-21, Lane Cullumns 4-20, Cody Bartrum 3-18, Ty Phelps 3-15, Nick Combs 2-9, Theo McElroy 2-minus 2.

PASSING—Coal Grove: Jesse Rigsby 2-5-1 32; Meigs: Cody Bartrum 7-12-1 98, Isaiah English 1-5-0 4, Ty Phelps 0-6-1.

RECEIVING: Coal Grove: Isaiah Gunther 1-25, Austin Ruggles 1-7; Meigs: Ty Phelps 5-61, Nick Combs 1-24, Michael Davis 1-9, Colton Lilly 1-4.