Coalfield Opens Regional Competition Against Harriman

By Greg Addington

Coalfield is looking for their second win of the season in their first region contest of 2020, hosting the Harriman Blue Devils this Friday on Rochelle Field.  It is the fourth consecutive year that the Blue Devils provide the competition for the first region game for CHS.

While the Yellow Jackets enjoyed an impromptu bye week last week, Harriman defeated Wartburg at home on Wallace-Black Field by a final score of 36-22.  Coach Travis Tapp’s offense was clicking on all cylinders with Junior quarterback Tahdarius Boyd throwing for four touchdowns on the night.  One each to Nick Pelfrey, Thomas Brown, Nasir Stokes and Cam Clark.

On the offensive side of the ledger, the Blue Devils will often line up in three and four wide receiver sets with Stokes as an effective weapon either running or receiving from out of the backfield.  Harriman has speed at the skill positions; however, Wartburg did have success getting pressure on Boyd at times and forced incompletions and a couple interceptions.  Boyd’s touchdown passes to Brown and Stokes were well thrown and both receivers broke coverage for the long scoring completions.

On defense, Harriman will line up in with a four-man front.  In their first two games, Kingston had consistent success in their week one game on the ground and Wartburg also had success with ground and pound in the second half of last week’s contest.

Two weeks ago, things went about as well as Coach Keith Henry would have expected with Coalfield extending their winning streak against Wartburg to 11 with a 40-8 decision on John R. Dillon Field.  Cole Hines in his second career start (both against the Bulldogs at this point) went 11-for-15 with 174 yards passing and two touchdowns.  Conner Johnson was leading receiver with 112 yards in receptions and a touchdown and Dawson Nitzschke scored on both of his receptions (one from Hines and another on a halfback pass from Seth Lowe) and had 76 yards receiving.  Leading rusher was Canaan Bowling with 61 yards rushing on two attempts.  Seth Lowe led the way defensively with nine tackles and a fumble recovery.

Coalfield begins their 2020 home schedule and their region schedule on Friday night at Rochelle Field against Harriman.  Kickoff is set for 7:30pm.