JUST A DETOUR

 With the Corbin Redhounds leading #1 Class A foe, Lexington Christian 14-7 at the half, Coach Steve Jewell warned his team they were going to score some points in the second half.

And with the help of some turnovers the Eagles did just that. Jewell saw a once 14-point lead disappear into a 20-point loss.

Senior Caleb Watkins had his way in the first half as the Redhounds line dominated the host. Watkins and senior running back Ryan Fritts picked up small chunks of yardage starting at the Corbin 25-yard line. Corbin put together a 13-play drive with Watkins getting 58 yards on the ground. An 18-yard run to the Lexington Christian nine-yard line by Watkins set up the first touchdown.

Expecting the run, Corbin quarterback Roman Mitchell rolled out and hit Watkins for an eight-yard TD.

It was three and out for the Eagles as the Corbin defense won the battle of the trenches. A short punt left the Redhounds in excellent field position at the LCA 41.

However, on this drive the passing attack may have caught the Eagles off guard. An 11-yard third down pass to Matthew Taylor gave the Redhounds a first-down at the 30. Two plays later it was Mitchell-to-Taylor to the three-yard line. Watkins went in for the touchdown to put Corbin ahead, 14-0 after Saxon Okuma’s second PAT.

Things turned sour late in the second quarter. After holding the Eagles out of the end zone on a 14-play drive Corbin got the ball back with 5:36 left in the quarter. Corbin failed to pick up a first down and was forced to punt. Branden Burdette made a cut here and another there before going 58 yards to the end zone and pulling his team within 14-7 at the half.

LCA (9-1) tied the game when LCA quarterback Lucas Witt scored on a five-yard run with 5:28 left in the third.

The ensuing possession for the Redhounds turned fatal as Corbin fumbled the ball at the 25-yard line less than a minute later. A 26-yard pass to Sam Duff was perfect for the second as the Eagles took the lead for good.

Three and out and the ball went back to LCA at their own 35. Two plays later Domonique Hayden went 56 yards for another score. The PAT put the Eagles ahead, 28-14.

The Redhounds answered the challenge with an 80-yard drive as Watkins broke loose for a 68-yard run with only :20 left in the quarter.

Corbin entered the final period still within striking distance. That (score) didn’t last long as Hayden and company came right back with 72-yard drive on eight plays to go ahead, 34-21. An eight-yard pass to Burdette accounted for the six points.

An interception by LCA’s Drew Walls set up the final touchdown of the night, a one-yard run by Hayden, the state’s scoring leader.

The Redhounds will head into the post-season with an 8-2 record. They will host the Morgan County Cougars Friday night. Morgan County comes in with a 2-8 record coached by Brian Turner.

Senior running back Mitchell Harvey leads the Cougars with 10 touchdowns on the season and 1,047 yards on 159 carries. Adam Cooper has 581 yards on 106 carries and three touchdowns while Kyle Havens has six TD’s on 92 carries.

A running team, the Cougars have only passed 32 times this season with 14 completions for 163 yards. They have scored four touchdowns via the air. They have 23 touchdowns on the ground.

The teams have one common opponent in Leslie County. Morgan County lost to the Eagles, 18-16 while Corbin ran over Leslie County in a district match-up, 44-8.

LCA 41, Corbin 21

Corbin               7   7    7    0- 21

LCA                        0   7  14  20- 41

C- Caleb Watkins 8 pass from Roman Mitchell (Saxon Okuma kick)

C- Watkins 4 run (Okuma kick)

LCA- Branden Burdette 58 punt return (Chaz Witt kick)

LCA- Lucas Witt 4 run (Witt kick)

LCA- Sam Duff 26 pass from Witt (Witt kick)

LCA- Domonique Hayden 56 run (Witt kick)

C- Watkins 67 run (Okuma kick)

LCA- Burdette 8 pass from Witt (Witt kick)

LCA- Hayden 1 run (Witt kick)