OH WELLS YEAH: Late-game heroics by senior Brody Wells seals the deal for Corbin in 49-35 semifinal round victory over Franklin Co.

Considering the Redhounds had already defeated Franklin County 40-20 in the regular season, many thought that the outcome of Friday’s rematch in the KHSAA Class 4A state semifinals was a foregone conclusion. Franklin didn’t get that memo, however, pushing Corbin to their limits at Campbell Field before ultimately falling by the final score of 49-35.

A back-and-forth affair featuring a lot of big plays on offense by both sides, Friday’s contest was all knotted up at 21-21 going into the half. Things continued to be competitive in the second half, with neither team being able to pull away, but a miracle touchdown pass by Franklin County with four minutes left in regulation gave them the one-point advantage, 35-34.

Corbin responded immediately, taking over possession and marching right back down the field. A long pass play from quarterback Kade Elam to receiver Carter Stewart set up a Brody Wells touchdown reception with 2:29 left in the game. After Stewart caught a pass for a two-point conversion, the home team led, 42-35.

Then, on the first play from scrimmage on the ensuing Franklin County drive, Wells snagged an interception and ran it into the end zone to put six more points up on the board. The extra point made it 49-35 in favor of the Hounds, which would end up being the final score of the game.

“That was pretty special,” Wells said after the game. “I did what I had to do, but it was a team effort tonight. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without my guys.”

When asked what was going through his head when he ran that final touchdown across the goal line, Wells said, “I just knew that was it, and that we were going to be going to play at Kroger Field. I’m excited. I’ve wanted to be here for three years now, and it’s just a great opportunity.”

“We knew that they would come down here and throw something at us,” said Head Coach Tom Greer of Franklin County. “They had a great offense tonight, and we had a hard time stopping them, but our offense played big for us. They were clicking, and making things happen. This was a great win for us.”

“We knew it would be tough,” Greer added. “We went there in week three, and it was a 40-20 ball game. I knew it wouldn’t be 40-20 again. We knew it would probably come down to who could make the big play late in the ball game.”

Corbin is now one win away from completing an undefeated season and securing the school’s first football state title in 40 years. In order to accomplish that, they will need to get past the defending state champion Boyle County Rebels (12-2), led by former Redhound head coach Justin Haddix.

When asked about the upcoming Redhounds versus Rebels encounter in the state finals, Coach Greer said, “It’s just about getting our football team ready to play. I don’t care who it is, we’re just going to go play. We’re guaranteed four quarters and 48 minutes, and what are we going to do with that? It doesn’t matter what the uniform is of the other team. It doesn’t make a difference. We just have to go play, and take care ourselves.”

This year’s Class 4A state championship game will be held at Kroger Field in Lexington next Friday, Dec. 2, at 8:00 p.m. For more on that history-making matchup, be sure to look inside the Nov. 30 print edition of the News Journal.