SEKC Grid-A-Rama

The Williamsburg Yellow Jackets and the Corbin Redhounds took part in the 2005 SEKC Grid-A-Rama at Campbell Field last week. The Yellow Jackets came out on top of Clay County 14-6 while the Redhounds lost to Knox Central, 14-7.
It was a coming out party for two young men, Tommy Helbig of Williamsburg and Lance Freeman of Corbin. Helbig led Williamsburg to the win over Clay County as the teams played two 20 minute halves with the clock running most of the time.
Williamsburg 14, Clay County 6
Coach Jim Black of Williamsburg was looking for someone to step up after losing 13 seniors from last year’s regular season undefeated Jackets. He got that in the form of juniors Tommy Helbig and Chase Hamblin. Starting quarterback Thomas Frazier had to sit out the game because of a preseason injury and Hamblin stepped in and led the Jackets from behind the center position.
The Jackets stumbled somewhat on its first possession moving the ball from the 30 to their own 41 in the first six plays. A short pass to Charlie Bryant, another newcomer, allowed Williamsburg to pick up a first down, but a second-down penalty moved the ball back to the 37.
Clay County took over at their own 30 yard line two plays later and began to move the ball. The Tigers scored on a Brian Bragg run of 37 yards to get on the scoreboard first. The TD came with 10:29 on the clock. The teams were allowed to kick with no rush, but Zack Lewis missed and the Tigers led 6-0.
Helbig began to show his athletic ability on the Jackets’ second series of the game. His first two carries were over 10 yards each as he took his first pitch out to the 44 yard line then broke away for a 35 yard run to the Clay County 21. Three plays later he went in from 14 yards out with 6:21 left in the opening half for the tying score. Chase Hamblin added the PAT and the Jackets had the lead for good, 7-6.
Helbig scored again in the second half on a 65 yard run but a holding penalty brought the ball back. Several plays later the Jackets were back on the move with Hamblin throwing a 13 yard pass to Stephen McCullah. After a short run of three yards, Helbig broke loose on a 35 yard run to the 10 yard line.
Freshman Jordan Hughlett took the ball down to the one yard line before Bryant bulled in for the second TD of the game for the Jackets. Hamblin converted the extra point for the 14-6 score.
Williamsburg drove down to the 12 yard line on its next possession but time ran out on the teams and the final score ended with Williamsburg winning, 14-6.
The Jackets will have a week off before opening the season against Jellico in Jellico.
Knox Central 14, Corbin 7
The Redhounds took on the Knox Central Panthers in the second game of the grid-a-rama with the Panthers coming out on top with a 14-7 score.
Knox Central scored on its first possession of the game moving the ball from its own 30 yard line into the end zone when Bob Blevins scored from one yard out. The conversion was successful and the Panthers led 7-0 rather quickly.
However, the Redhounds came right back when sophomore quarterback Clint Cashen hit Blake Freeman with an 18 yard pass to the 44 yard line. He followed with a 21 yard pass to Freeman at the Panthers 23.
After going incomplete then hitting Freeman with a short pass, he connected with Lucas Henson on a 19 yard play to the Panthers three yard line. Whether it was an awkward hit or a bad stumble, Cashen went down on his shoulder and sustained an injury that has sidelined the 2004 Rookie of the Year.
According to coach Steve Jewell he will be out a minimum two-three weeks with the slight separation.
Enter Lance Freeman, a freshman back-up. Freeman kept the drive going and handed off to Blake Freeman two times in a row. The second was good enough to reach the end zone from one yard out. Chance Hendrickson tied the game with the extra point at 11:11 and the scoreboard read, 7-7.
The Redhounds held Knox Central on the ensuing possession but Freeman threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage. Knox Central answered with a three yard touchdown by Matt Ramsey. The PAT made it 14-7.
Despite the absence of Cashen, the Redhounds looked impressive on offense. Freeman hit on 14 second half passes for 141 yards. Senior Ryan Tate, Eric Blackwood and Blake Freeman were on the receiving end.
Corbin drove down to the 27 on its first possession of the half but came up short. After taking over the ball at the 12 yard line, Freeman drove the Redhounds down to the 42 yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
Corbin held the Panthers out of the end zone in the second half as never team scored. The scrimmage ended with the Panthers on top, 14-7.
Corbin will open the season Saturday night when they play the Southwestern Warriors in the Bob Allen Pigskin Classic in Danville. The Redhounds will take on Southwestern at 5:30 p.m.