Looking Back

In 1980 a young linebacker took the field with the Corbin Redhounds, on the front of his helmet and the helmet of each player was a sticker normally placed on air cargo, with simply “Destination Louisville” on it.
That young linebacker was sophomore Steve Jewell and he was to play a big part in winning the 1980 AA State Championship trophy now residing in the trophy case at Corbin High School.
Now Steve Jewell has an ever larger role, that of head coach as once again the Redhounds are one game away from returning to Louisville in quest of yet another state championship.
Coach Jewell and his staff did a magnificent job of preparing the Redhounds for their regional championship game with the Elizabethtown Panthers. You must go all the way back to coach Archie Powers to find a coaching staff that did as good a job preparing for big games as do this years staff. I would not trade our head coach or his staff for any staff in the state of Kentucky.
That being said, all the best plans of all the great coaches without execution are fruitless. Each player on the field gave it all as they physically whipped Elizabethtown into submission.
Brad Lawson was terrific both on offense and defense as he became the senior leader who would carry the football play after play in the fourth quarter. Eric Blackwood is our big play man as he is a breakaway threat anytime he gets his hands on the ball, and it always seems to happen when the Hounds need it the most. Isaac Mills, another breakaway threat combines strength and speed to terrorize opponents.
Josh Ware, who can go inside or out for good yardage from his running back slot also had a good game.
Our defensive secondary with Dempsey Ballou, Kenny Kysar and Travis Prewitt really played their hearts out with Prewitt blitzing from all over the field and Ballou and Kysar covering like glue to the very quick E-town receivers. Blackwood also was very effective as he would cover receivers very closely.
Clint Cashen very coolly managed the game from his quarterback position, always in control.
But, specials laurels go out this week to the line, offensive and defensive as they whipped the E-town line from pillar to post. On defense it was Travis Arena, Andrew Davis, Sean Gosser, Aaron Broyles and Ronnie Bowling along with a blitzing Travis Prewitt. that kept Chris Todd, the great E-town quarterback, on the run all night.
The offensive line led by center Travis Hart and Ryan Cleary gave Cashen time to throw and Lawson, Ware and Blackwood room to run. Bowling had a very tough assignment in blocking Duncan, the all-state Panther defensive end, but handled the job very well for the most part. Bowling was called for holding a time or two but gave great effort against a very tough opponent. Bowling is a winner, my kind of player.
At last year’s game, Ron “Cruise” Boone was in attendance as the Panthers thumped our Hounds, 35-19. Ron passed away in January of this year. “Cruiser” would have enjoyed this game. This one was for you Ron.
There was a large crowd following the E-town Panthers, and were a very knowledgeable and courteous group and their players as well as the Corbin Redhounds exhibited very good sportsmanship on the field.
This coming week’s opponent will be no less formidable as the Owensboro Catholic Aces come to town with yet another ballyhooed quarterback in Zack Barnard, who has already committed to Marshall University.
My profile this week is of Bobby “Muncy” White of the Class of 1960.
“Munch” began his high school career as a running back for the Corbin Redhounds. White was an excellent broken field runner before giving way to our all-time running back Billy Bird and honoring the request of Coach Walt Green to move to an offensive guard position where White was an outstanding blocker. “Munch” played linebacker on defense and was a key player on some very good Redound teams.
Good luck to coach Jewell and the Redhounds this week on reaching “Destination Louisville”.