CORBIN FALLS ON THE ROAD

Turnovers proved fatal as the Corbin Redhounds saw their quest for a state championship squandered as the Prestonsburg Blackcats came away with their 13^th win without a loss in the Class 2A, Region 4 contest at Prestonsburg.

Three fumbles and two interceptions was the headline of the night along with drives that ended on fourth-down tries. Five times the Redhounds went for the carry on fourth down and five times Corbin missed picking of the first down, once inside the 25-yard line.

Corbin (10-3) dominated the first quarter, running 26 offensive plays to Prestonsburg eight. Twice it was three-and-punt for the Blackcats.

The mistakes were costly as Corbin took the opening drive from their own 20-yard line to the Prestonsburg 38 where Ryan Fritts coughed up the ball with 9:31 in the opening quarter.

The Redhounds defense did its job and held the Blackcats. A fourth down stretch of the chains resulted in the ball being inches short. The Blackcats Joseph Jamerson punted the ball to the Corbin four-yard line.

Corbin pounded the ball down the field behind all-state candidate Caleb Watkins, Fritts and some timely passes by Roman Mitchell. However, the drive ended in yet another fumble.

The Corbin defense responded once again and held the Blackcats in check and Prestonsburg was forced to punt once again. Jamerson pinned the Redhounds at their own 10-yard line to start their third possession.

The Redhounds quickly got out to the 31-yard line after a 14-yard run by Watkins. Fritz followed with a one-yard gain then a Mitchell pass over the middle to a streaking Ben Hose resulted in a first-down at the Blackcats eight-yard line.

Watkins took it home on the ensuing play to put the Redhounds on top 6-0. It was the second play of the quarter. Saxon Okuma converted the extra point as the margin reached seven.

The celebration didn’t last long was Prestonsburg answered. The Blackcats started their drive at their own 37-yard line. Two minutes later Jamerson was on the end of an 11-yard TD pass by Michael Burchett.

Jamerson, the Blackcats Mr. Everything, booted the PAT, tying the score at 7-7.

Corbin came up short on its first fourth-and-three from their own 42-yard line. However, the Redhounds defense caught Burchett for a five-yard loss and the Blackcats punted once again.

Three plays later the Redhounds faced another fourth-and-one from the Prestonsburg 33, but Matthew Taylor was stopped at the line of scrimmage.

With the Blackcats having trouble moving the ball against the Corbin line on the ground, All-State quarterback Michael Burchett went to the air. Burchett completed six passes on the drive, the final a 21-yard strike to Josh Blackburn, sending the host ahead 14-7 with just: 49 seconds left in the half.

The Redhounds fumbled the ball at the 19-yard line and great clock management gave Prestonsburg enough time to score once again. The Redhounds pushed the Blackcats back to the 29-yard line after Austin McKinney was hit with a two-yard loss and Burchett sacked eight yards behind the line. However, a Corbin penalty allowed Jamerson a closer shot at the goal posts on a 29-yard field goal with 8.8 left in the half.

Things only went worse for the Redhounds in the third quarter. Mitchell was intercepted on Corbin’s first possession. The defense held once again and just when it looked as if Corbin might pull within three, the Redhounds were stopped on a fourth-and-four at the 32.

Prestonsburg had a little misfortune when Burchett fumbled the ball and Okuma was there to pick it up for the Redhounds at the Corbin 39-yard line.

The Redhounds did a good job mixing up their plays and drove the ball down to the 21-yard line where the drive stalled and Prestonsburg took over with 10:09 left in the game.

Five minutes and 12 plays later, Burchett hit Blackburn on a 10-yard pass play that put the game away.

For the game, the Corbin defense held the Blackcats to nine yards. Burchett was 20-of-33 for 254 yards. Watkins led the Redhounds with 147 yards ending his season with 1,645 yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. He had 32 touchdowns for the season.

Prestonsburg 23, Corbin 7

Corbin              0   7   0   0-   7

Prestonsburg            0  17  0   6- 23

C- Caleb Watkins, 8 run (Saxon Okuma kick)

P- Joseph Jamerson, 11 pass from Michael Burchett (Jamerson kick)

P- Josh Blackburn, 14 pass from Burchett (Jamerson kick)

P- Jamerson, 29 FG

P- Blackburn, 10 pass from Burchett (Jamerson kick)