CMS football wins region, eyeing state title

Photo by Ashley Norvell

Last Saturday the Corbin Middle School Redhounds became the last area team standing in the 2014 state football championship playoffs.

The Williamsburg Yellow Jackets fell to Somerset-Meece in the Region 2 championship game of the Division 3 bracket, ending their season one game short of an appearance in the state semifinals in Lexington.

Meanwhile, the Redhounds were able to top Knox County 52-12 at Letcher County Central High School that same day, becoming the champions of Region 4 in the Division 1 bracket, and earning them a trip to the state semis in the process.

“We’re honored and blessed to be in this situation,” Head Coach Brent Jackson said Monday. “This was a total team effort, and Saturday was a great win.”

Cameron Maguet and Grant Gibson scored touchdowns early for the Hounds, helping them get off to a 14-0 start. Maguet added on another touchdown in the second quarter, as did Devyn Sams, and when the whistle sounded at the end of the half Corbin had a comfortable 28-12 lead.

The Redhound defensive unit, led by Cameron Gilbert, was solid in the second half, preventing Knox County from scoring again. That allowed the talented offense to continue their dominance with Gibson, Devan McKey, and quarterback Noah Taylor all finding their way into the end zone, as did Nick Smith, who recorded a two-point conversion.

When all was said and done, Corbin had achieved the 52-12 victory and laid claim to a region title.

Up next for the middle school Hounds is a trip to Lexington Catholic High School for this Saturday’s state semifinal game against undefeated Bowling Green, whom Corbin beat last year in the finals of the seventh grade state championship tourney.

“Bowling Green will present a great challenge for us,” said Jackson. “But the kids have done what the need to do in order to put themselves in a position to be successful.”

If the Redhounds get past Bowling Green, they will play at Bryan Station High School in Lexington at 6:00 PM on Sunday to face the winner of JCTMS (Louisville) versus Meade County.

Coach Jackson and company must focus on the task at hand Saturday first, however, and he is hoping for a good turnout to help cheer his team on. “We’ve had unbelievable fan support,” he said. “I was very excited to see so many people at the region championship, and I hope to see a lot of red in the stands this weekend.”

Kickoff for the Corbin versus Bowling Green semifinal game is set for noon on Saturday.

Special thanks to Corbin eighth grader Rachel Bonnell for information on the Corbin versus Knox County region championship game.