Portsmouth seniors J.T. Williams (13) and Jacob Tidd (7) celebrate after Williams scored his third touchdown run during the Trojans’ 34-0 Ohio Valley Conference football victory at Coal Grove on Friday night.

Courtesy of Randy and Joann Waugh

COAL GROVE — Chase Heiland rumbled for 173 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns, leading visiting Portsmouth to a 34-0 shutout win over Coal Grove on Friday night at Lemaster Stadium at Coal Grove High School.

Trojans quarterback J.T. Williams added 132 yards on the ground on 11 totes, and found the end zone three times to boost the Trojans to 4-1 overall — and 2-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

“We knew that (Coal Grove) was going to stack the box and we used J.T. (Williams) as a secret weapon for us, because we knew he could get on their edge and use his speed and it would spread the defense out,” Heiland said. “After that we were able to run up the middle all night.”

The Trojans got on the board at the 2:22 mark in the first quarter — when Williams bolted 25 yards for the score and the 7-0 lead.

The 5-6 senior had runs of 11 and nine yards in the six-play and 66-yard drive.

On Portsmouth’s next drive, Williams scampered 30 yards into the end zone with 9:21 to go in the half for the 14-0 lead.

Williams scored his third touchdown of the first half — when he sprinted 62 yards to cap a three-play and 85-yard drive with 5:50 left in the second quarter.

Portsmouth senior quarterback J.T. Williams (13)

Courtesy of Randy and Joann Waugh

“At halftime I told the kids that good teams will ride this to the end,” Portsmouth head coach Bruce Kalb said. “Great teams will keep the foot on the gas and will finish the way it should be finished. That means you play just as disciplined and just as focused and clean as you did in the first half.”

After Fernando Poxes recovered a Hornet fumble at midfield for PHS, Heiland dashed 50 yards on the first play for a touchdown and the 27-0 lead.

“I knew I had to turn the jets on,” Heiland said. “I saw 54, Landen Bore, have an amazing pull and sealed the defender and just knew I could hit the outside and take it to the house.”

Heiland went into the end zone again — on a 35-yard zigzag run to cap a 90-yard drive in 10 plays with 8:34 to go in the game.

Portsmouth senior running back Chase Heiland (2) and junior lineman Jonathan Carter (75)

Courtesy of Randy and Joann Waugh

At that point, the Ohio High School Athletic Association running-clock rule went into effect.

“I was pleased with the intensity we played with,” he said. “I was happy with the way we executed in the second half. But we had a couple of boneheaded mistakes and penalties that hurt. Those lackadaisical moments were still there. But we took a step toward being a great team tonight. But we are still not there.”

The Trojans churned out 305 yards on the ground — shared between Heiland and Williams — and held Coal Grove to 154 yards of total offense.

Malachi Loper made four of five extra-point kicks for PHS.

“The race is marked, and we have to finish,” Kalb said. “But we have to keep moving forward. Two weeks in a row our defense has turned in some great performances. There was some question about what our run was going to be like, and I think they stepped up big tonight.”

The Hornets (3-2, 1-1 OVC) had 127 rushing yards from Kaden Murphy on 31 carries, and 30 yards from fullback Caden Turner.

Coal Grove attempted just three passes, and did not complete any.

It was the second straight shutout for Portsmouth, which blanked winless Gallia Academy 47-0 in week 4.

Portsmouth junior defensive back Kayleb Johnson (22) tackles Coal Grove’s Kaden Murphy (14)

Courtesy of Randy and Joann Waugh

Williams was 3-of-4 passing for 53 yards for the Trojans.

“Coal Grove does not back down. They are always big strong and physical,” Kalb added. “When I took over here, I wanted our guys to be like that. A team that fights for 48 minutes. Tonight, we had a running clock in the second half, and they were still chipping away. They did not give up and they did not back down. And I’m happy to see that our guys played like that too tonight.”

The Trojans return to the road, and return to OVC action, on Friday night (Sept. 27) at Chesapeake.

* * *

Portsmouth 7 14 6 7— 34

Coal Grove 0 0 0 0 —0

P — J.T. Williams, 25-yard run (Malachi Loper kick), 2:22, 1st (7-0 P)

P — J.T. Williams, 30-yard run (Malachi Loper kick), 9;21, 2nd (14-0 P)

P — J.T. Williams, 62-yard run (Malachi Loper kick), 5:50, 2nd (21-0 P)

P — Chase Heiland, 50-yard run (kick blocked), 9:29, 3rd (27-0 P)

P — Chase Heiland, 35-yard run (Malachi Loper kick), 8:34, 4th (34-0 P)

Team Statistics

P CG

First Downs 11 13

Scrimmage plays 31 57

Rushes-yards 27-305 54-154

Passing yards 53 0

Total yards 358 154

Cmp-Att-Int. 3-4-0 0-3-0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 9-80 7-50

Punts-Ave. 2-25.2 3-38.3

Individual Leaders

RUSHING — Portsmouth: Chase Heiland 16-173 2TD, J.T. Williams 11-132 3TD; Coal Grove: Kaden Murphy 31-127, Caden Turner 15-30, Rylan Smith 4-(-9), Leland McKnight 2-(-2), Case Webb 1-6, Logan Roberts 1-2

PASSING — Portsmouth: J.T. Williams 3-4-0-53; Coal Grove: Rylan Smith 0-3-0-0

RECEIVING — Portsmouth: Logan Adkins 1-30, Camron Williams 1-12, Landon Malone 1-11; Coal Grove: none