Russell oust Redhounds

The defense did its job against All-Stater Kasey Clark Friday night, but the Redhounds came up short on the scoreboard in the Class AA playoffs in a 31-23 loss to Russell High School.
Russell (12-1), the defending state champions, came up with the defensive stops when they needed to in holding off the Redhounds (7-6).
In the first period, the Red Devils forced Corbin into a field goal instead of a touchdown when a Redhound drive stalled at the 13-yard line. On it’s third possession, the Redhounds drove the ball down to the 10-yard line but came up empty after the Red Devils’ defense came up with some big defensive plays.
It was a night for the quarterbacks to shine as Corbin’s Clint Cashen finished with 226 yards on 20 of 40 passes while Tyler Jones had 97 yards on 18 carries. He was just five of seven through the air for 86 yards but two of those passes went for touchdowns.
“He did the major damage,” said Corbin Coach Steve Jewell after the game.
Corbin took it to the Red Devils from the start, driving the ball down the field with ease until it got in the red-zone. That’s where the Russell defense came up with back-to-back stops and forced the Redhounds into a field goal attempt.
Jordan Wagers booted a 23-yard field goal through the uprights for a 3-0 lead.
But, the Red Devils came right back. The ‘Hounds successfully stopped Clark but Jones got past the Corbin defenders on a couple of key third-down situations.
However, it was Clark who crossed the line from one-yard out as Russell took a 7-3 lead in the game.
The Devils successfully stopped the Redhounds on the ensuing drive and forced a punt. Jones led his team down the field for a 14-3 lead in the game when he scored on an eight-yard run. Jones rushed for 85 of his 97 yards in the first half.
The Redhounds refused to quit and Cashen went back to the air, hitting Rob Madon and Corey Sewell on a couple of key plays. Madon was on the end of an 18-yard pass play in the end zone as Corbin pulled within 14-9.
But, the Devils answered before the half when Clark scored on an eight-yard pass. Dwaine Evans added his third PAT of the half and the host led, 21-9.
Russell extended its lead to 28-9 when Jones and Clark hooked up on a 19-yard play early in the quarter.
However, the momentum began to change midway through the quarter when Michael Campbell scored from one yard out to pull the Redhounds within 28-16 when Wagers added the point after.
The Redhounds held Russell to a 26 yard Evans field goal late in the third. Corbin went into the final period trailing, 31-16.
Junior Josh Sanders, who was sick in the first half, came back in the fourth quarter to score on a 14-yard run. Wagers kick pulled the Redhounds within eight points with 8:55 left in the game.
It was the teams’ defenses that took control of the game in the final nine minutes as Corbin held on Russell’s final three possessions but it was a big play by Russell’s Jacob Sizemore that saved the game for the Red Devils.
The senior defensive back picked off a Cashen pass at the Russell six-yard line with 1:44 left in the game. Still, with time-outs intact and the defense playing at a high level, Corbin got the ball back with 1:16 but a long punt forced the Redhounds to take the ball at their own 44-yard line. Four incomplete passes later, Russell was able to claim the victory and make plans for the Belfry Pirates this week.
Jewell said he was proud of his team’s efforts. “They left it all out there,” he said. “We had our chances but Russell made the plays when they needed them.”
Junior Rob Madon led the Redhounds’ offense with 111 yards on nine catches. Sanders, who sat out much of the first half, finished with 37 yards on six carries while Mike Campbell had 28 yards on five rushes.
The Redhounds closed out the season with a 7-6 record after running through their district with another undefeated season.