Early scoring pushes Fort Frye over Coal Grove in Regional Semifinal
By: Chloe Gee
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LANCASTER, Ohio (WOUB) — A snowy night and freezing temperatures did not stop the Fort Frye Cadets (12-1) from a hot start on Saturday as they ended Coal Grove’s (8-5) season 27-14.
On the opening drive, the Cadets defense muscled up and held Coal Grove to just three yards, forcing them to punt.
With Braxton Brown back to receive it he quickly made his way through the defense and with a clear field ahead, found the endzone to put the Cadets on the board early.
The dominating Cadet defense didn’t stop there as they forced yet another three and out and just two plays later, they scored again, this time from 50 yards out at the hands of Clayton Miller.
Coal Grove couldn’t get much done as Fort Frye picked up yet another stop, it didn’t take long until they were able to punch it in yet again, this time Owen Brown led the way.
With 49 seconds left in the first quarter, Coal Grove finds a groove with a Chase Hall touchdown catch. Fort Frye answered with their final touchdown, Brown picking up another.
From this point on, Coal Grove defense picked up the necessary stops to lead them to the half.
The Cadets looked like a different team coming out of the half. Both teams struggled to score until Hall came up clutch yet again with a touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter.
Fort Frye still struggled to score, but this time the teams traded penalties. It ranged from holdings, to face masks to sideline warnings. Coal Grove even had a touchdown that was called back on a holding call.
Down to the final 40 seconds, Coal Grove had a clear shot at the end zone when Fort Frye picked up an interception that ultimately sealed the fate of the Hornets. For Chase Hall and the rest of the seniors, this was their final play.
Hall marched back with his head held high and was the first to shake hands with the Cadets. The emotions set in when Fort Frye began their celebrations, including team awards and music blaring in the locker room.
On the other side of the field, it was a different story. Coach Jay Lucas shared some reassuring words with his team, as the tears began to fall. Chase Hall was the last Hornet on the field, and with tears in his eyes he held a warm embrace with his father before putting his helmet back on and walking off the field for the last time.