CATCHING THE GAME WINNER

 Corbin needed a couple of big plays to beat the Lexington Christian Eagles Friday night and they got them in the form of an interception by Wes Tipton and a sensational catch by Roman Mitchell as the Redhounds celebrated victory number eight, 29-22.

With Lexington Christian driving down the field late in the game for what could have been the winning touchdown, Tipton intercepted a Scout McCamy pass at the Corbin 10-yard line.

The Redhounds had the ball with 5:51 left in the game and was able to drive the ball down the field behind the running of Matthew Taylor and Brady Foley, the go-to Redhounds. During the drive Taylor broke loose for an electrifying 46-yard run to set up the winning score.

Junior quarterback Ty Cobb lofted a pass into the end zone for Mitchell, who started at quarterback early in the season. The ball hit Mitchell in the hands and bounced off, but the senior’s concentration on the ball wasn’t going to deny him the catch. Mitchell, falling to the ground, held on tight for the winning TD.

The win was the fifth in a row for the third-ranked Redhounds in Class 2A. The loss left the Eagles with a 7-3 mark and allowed Corbin to take a 4-2 lead in the series that started in 2005 as LCA was building toward their 2009 state Class A championship.

“This was a good test,” said Corbin Coach Steve Jewell. “It’s the kind of game that will help us in the playoffs.”

Corbin found themselves in unfamiliar territory before the clock even had time to warm up. A bad snap on the opening drive went over Cobb’s head and into the end zone. Lexington Christian came away with a safety and a quick 2-0 lead.

However, after holding the Eagles on defense, the Redhounds responded with a drive that allowed Foley to score from three yards out. Saxon Okuma tacked on the extra point and the Redhounds had a 7-2 lead.

The Eagles came back with a touchdown of their own and regained the lead, 8-7 on a Chad Hall one-yard run.

Before the quarter ended Foley added a second touchdown on a short run and Taylor scored on the conversion for two points and a 15-8 lead.

Taylor, who led the Redhounds with 148 yards on 20 carries, scored to put Corbin ahead by two touchdowns, 22-8.

However, it was short-lived as Christian Fielden responded with a 95-yard kickoff return. The Eagles failed to add two points on the conversion and the teams went to the locker room with the Redhounds on top, 22-14.

“I’m sure this game was extremely exciting for the fans, but nerve racking for the coaches,” Jewell said. “We bent but didn’t break. Defensively, we only gave up two touchdowns.”

“We turned the ball over four times and we can’t do that all the time. There was a lot of adverse situations, but I was proud of the way the kids kept fighting those situations and able to come away with the win,” Jewell said.

The second half was even more nerve racking for Jewell and his staff as he saw the Eagles come from behind and tie the game in the third quarter on Chad Snyder seven-yard pass from McCamy.

Jewell feels like a win like this will only help the Redhounds in their march for a state championship. “It’s going to help confidence, but when you look at that film, you’re going to see a lot of mistakes,” he said.

“Sometimes, like the other night, you can overcome those mistakes and pull out a win, but sometimes you can’t overcome them like we did last year against Prestonsburg.”

The Redhounds will be at home throughout the playoffs and start the second season against the Bath County Wildcats.

“They are a pretty good 2-8 ball club,” said Jewell. “They are very similar to Leslie County.  I feel we need to come out and get after this bunch the same way we did against Leslie County.”

“They are a young bunch,” said Jewell. “They have some skill guys and a quarterback about 6-2, 240. He can throw the ball, but from the tapes I’ve seen they just haven’t been in sync.”

Jewell said he they will take these games one at a time. “It’s one and done at this point and you can’t overlook anyone.”

Corbin 29, LCA 22

Lex. Christian                 8   6   8   0- 22

Corbin                   15   7   0   7- 29

LCA – Safety

CHS – Brady Foley 3 run (Saxon Okuma kick)

LCA – Chad Hall 1 run (pass failed)

CHS – Foley 1 run (Matthew Taylor run)

CHS – Taylor 11 run (Okuma kick)

LCA – Christian Fielden 95 kickoff return (run failed)

LCA – Chad Snyder 7 pass from Scout McCamy (Snyder pass from McCamy)

C – Roman Mitchell 7 pass from Ty Cobb (Okuma kick)