Corbin Falls

The Corbin Redhounds opened the 2005 season Saturday in the 5th Annual Bob Allen Pigskin Classic. The result was a 16-3 loss to the Pulaski Southwestern Warriors in a game much closer than the final score indicated.
It was the Redhound defense that was more than ready to play, holding the high-powered Warriors to nine points until the final :14 seconds of the game.
“I felt like we played well at times,” said Corbin coach Steve Jewell. “Offensively, we had way too many penalties, I think we ended up with 10 on the night. We didn’t get in our sets as quickly as we needed to.”
“But it was a learning experience, we need to protect better on the line, the backs didn’t protect well, you got to give the freshman quarterback time and then you have to make the catches when the opportunities are there,” added Jewell. The Redhounds were 13 of 21 through the air for 64 yards.
“Obviously, we had ample opportunities to win the ballgame,” said Jewell. “They gave us chances. They had more turnovers than we did, we had opportunities to win the game, we just didn’t convert.”
Despite being down 9-3 in the fourth quarter, the Redhounds missed on a chance to take control of the game after Josh Martin recovered a Ryan Smart fumbler at the Corbin 38 yard line with 6:47 left in the game.
Back to back penalties pushed the ball back to the 28 yard line and the Redhounds eventually had to start first and 20. Quarterback Lance Freeman was able to connect on a 12 yard pass to Eric Blackwood, but the ‘Hounds were unable to make up the difference because of the penalties for a first down.
Corbin also had a chance to score in the first quarter when the Redhounds moved the ball down to the Warriors’ four-yard line before Blackwood was hit with a loss and Freeman was sacked on the next play. A fourth and 19 pass attempt was incomplete in the endzone.
However, it was Corbin getting on the scoreboard first when Chance Hendrickson booted a 23 yard field goal with 11:07 in the second period.
Again it was a Southwestern turnover that set up the potential touchdown. After Corbin’s drive failed on the incomplete pass the Warriors took over from their own 20 yard line. An incomplete pass and two penalties later, Mike Jones lateral pass was fumbled and senior Lucas Henson recovered for the Redhounds with :32 in the opening quarter at the Southwestern 12 yard line.
Sophomore Josh Sanders pushed the ball inside the 10 yard line, down to the eight but an incomplete pass and a Blake Freeman run resulted in no extra yards. Hendrickson had to kick the field goal from the 13 yard line.
The teams traded possessions before Southwestern struck with a 57 yard run by quarterback Mike Jones. The score came with 5:21 in the second period.
“The defense played well enough to win although I wasn’t satisfied with the last drive,” said Jewell. “They only had 230-something yards the whole night and gave up 76 on the last drive.”
“That was a time when we needed to go get the ball and have one last chance for our offense,” he said. “We had a chance to win this game 10-9.”
In the second half the Warriors added a 23 yard field goal when Ryan Pruett booted the ball through the uprights with :14 left in the third period.
“I felt we played hard at times, but we have a long way to go as far as techniques,” said Jewell.
On the positive side, Jewell said. “We found some kids who played a really good ballgame and did a lot of things right. I’m not saying there was any kid that didn’t do something wrong.”
“I was real pleased how the Woody (Zach) kid played,” said Jewell. “After the first series or two, I felt a lot of kids were playing well. He stood out for the different things that he did.”
“I felt like a lot of kids played hard,” added Jewell.
The Redhounds will be back in action Saturday night when the Pikeville Panthers roll into Campbell Field for the 11th Annual Cumberland Falls Pigskin Classic.
Corbin 0 3 0 0- 3
Southwestern 0 6 3 7- 16
Second Quarter
C- Chance Henrickson, 23 FG
S- Mike Jones, 57 run (kick failed)
Third Quarter
S- Ryan Pruett, 23 FG
Fourth Quarter
S- Josh Smith, 9 run (Pruett kick)