BATTLE OF UNBEATENS

Are the Corbin Redhounds ready to take on the Wayne County Cardinals? “We still have a lot of work to do this week, but the kids attitude is very good. They feel good and confident,” Corbin Coach Steve Jewell said about his team’s big game against an undefeated (6-0) team that feels like they are on top of the world.

The two are consistently ranked in the top five of all football polls. Wayne County as high as second while the Redhounds are right behind at third.

Both have prepared well for this big showdown. The Redhounds, unbeaten after five games, have wins over Pulaski Southwestern (14-0), Perry Central (36-8), Trimble Co. (55-6), Danville (55-7) and South Laurel (53-0).

Corbin is second in the state defensively, giving up only three touchdowns in Class 3A and third overall behind South Warren and Betsy Layne.

“We have to do a good job implementing what we’ve done and when they get to the game, ultimately the kids will have to preform and carry out the game plan,” Jewell said.

“They will have to play a very aggressive ballgame because Wayne County will play a very aggressive style of football,” Jewell said.

Although the teams have been putting up some of the highest scores in area play, it still figures to be a “defensive” game. The Cardinals are averaging 40.8 per game while Corbin has been scoring at a 42.6 clip.

Wayne County started the season with a home win over Monroe County (44-14) then went on the road to beat South Laurel 36-7 in the Cumberland Valley Bowl. They were on the road four weeks in a row, picking off Garrard Country (42-15), Williamsburg (40-12) and Southwestern (42-20).

They were back home last week to beat Bell County, 41-6 and Jewell got to see that game. “They did things that they have been doing all year long and have had success with,” he said.

“They throw the ball extremely well, they run the ball well, the line blocks well and they tackle well. They are the complete ball club. They are playing a good brand of football right now,” Jewell said.

“They are a very confident playing ball club in the aspect of what they want to get accomplished,” he said.

The biggest threat for the Cardinals is quarterback Tyler Guffey, who ranks eighth in the state in passing leaders. He has hit on 69-of-116 passes for 1240 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His main receiver will be Jason Perkins, who has caught six touchdowns during the season for 592 yards. Perkins ranks third in the state.

Jewell hopes to slow Guffey down Friday night. “He is an excellent runner and brings the ball down. He is like having another fullback in the backfield. He is a strong kid, an excellent pin-point passer and has good speed.”

“He compliments their offense very well. He is very dangerous in the passing game as well as the running game, so we need to mix things up,” Jewell said.

“We need to have a good offensive game and keep their offense off the field. If we can keep their offense off the field that just limits the number of times they have a chance to score,” Jewell said.