D-FENCE

Why should a 2-0 score surprise anyone? When you have two traditional defensive powers trying to run the ball down the middle of the field, not many points are going to be scored. But, something had to give Saturday when the Corbin Redhounds battled the Rockcastle County Rockets in the Bob Allen Pigskin Classic in Danville.
Heading into the fourth quarter many were thinking overtime, especially after the Redhounds had just stopped the Rockets inside their own 10-yard line for the second time. But, with the Redhounds backed up at the six-yard line, back-up quarterback Lance Freeman was caught in the end zone for a safety with 11:51 on the clock. That would be all the scoring as the Rockets defeated the Redhounds in the season opener, 2-0.
“That’s the second one we have had,” said Corbin coach Steve Jewell. “We came out on the winning end last time against Russell County.”
“But, we came out on the short end of the stick this time,” said Jewell. “It’s a bitter pill just in the mere fact that the kids played extremely hard. I wasn’t pleased offensively, obviously, we didn’t block well, didn’t throw well, didn’t catch well. We didn’t do a lot of things well offensively.”
“The kids kept plugging away,” said Jewell. “They kept going out there and making stops and giving us opportunities to win, it just didn’t turn out good.”
“We just had one too many mistakes or it could have been overtime, 0-0.” said Jewell. “It was a total team effort.”
The Redhounds (0-1) had a rough day offensively against the Rockets huge defensive line. Corbin rushed the ball for only 26 yards while picking up 14 yards through the air.
The Redhounds had very little opportunity in the first quarter but one of those did come early in the game when senior Blake Freeman took the kickoff to the end zone on the first play of the game, but a holding penalty brought it back. It was three and out after that and the battle on the line was underway.
The Rockets found themselves pinned at the 12 yard line after a Clint Cashen punt, but carries by senior tailback Dusty Miller and Rockcastle County had a first down at the 44 yard line. The Redhound defense got to senior quarterback, Izak McQueary on the drive for a 10-yard sack and the Rockets were forced to punt.
However, the Redhounds didn’t have the ball long as they fumbled and Donovan Pigg recovered for the Rockets.
Rockcastle took the ball from their own 40 down to the 24 yard line where the drive stalled with 4:38 in the opening period.
Junior Josh Sanders had the longest carry of the day on the first play, taking the ball from the 24 yard marker to the 36 yard line, for one of the few first downs of the afternoon. Sophomore Corey Sewell pushed the ball up to the 37 yard line before a holding penalty took the ball back to the Corbin 26.
Rockcastle took over at their own 35 and drove the ball down to the 22 yard line behind the running of sophomore Cody Mize and a big catch by senior Shawn Childress for 27 yards.
However, the Corbin defense denied the Rockets first threat of the game and took over at their own 22 yard marker with 10:34 in the half.
It was three and punt for the Redhounds. It was a short punt as the Rockets took over the ball at the Corbin 36.
An Adam Hensley (6-0, 220-pound senior) run of 14 yards pushed the Rockets into the red zone and gave Rockcastle a first down at the six-yard line. Miller and Hensley got the ball close to the goal line but on third and two from the two, a procedure call pushed the ball back to the seven yard line. Miller tried to score from the seven on the replay but came up short. The defense then denied a McQueary pass to Anthony

See, Redhounds, Page C-4
Prewitt in the end zone. Corbin took over at their own five yard line.
The Redhounds moved the ball out to the 37 yard line before the half ended with the help of a 14 yard pass from Cashen to Sanders and back to back runs of 10 and seven yards by Freeman.
The second half wasn’t any better for the Redhounds, in fact Corbin failed to pick up a first down in the final two quarters. The Redhounds were backed up most of the half. Neither team had made much progress until Shawn McHone broke open for a 29 yard run from the Redhounds 48 to the 17 yard line. Rockcastle pushed the ball down to the one yard line on a three yard run by Miller with 1:17 left in the third period before they were hit with a five-yard penalty which back the ball up to the six.
Two passes later the Rockets were at the six but the Redhounds had the ball back.
Sanders took the ball to the nine on second and ten but a third down pass caught Freeman in the backfield for the safety.
The defense had to hold a couple of times in the fourth quarter but kept the Rockets out of the end zone.
“I like the way the kids responded and was able to adapt defensively in the middle of the ballgame,” said Jewell. “I was pleased defensively.”
The Redhounds will be in action Saturday in the 12th Annual Pigskin Classic. Corbin will take on Oldham County.

Corbin 0 0 0 0- 0
Rockcastle 0 0 0 2- 2
Fourth Quarter
RC – Safety