MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAYOFFS

 The Corbin Eighth grade football team opened play in the Kentucky Middle School State Playoffs with a win over the New Harlan (County) Patriots Saturday, 33-6.

The Redhounds (10-1) got off to a slow start, but once Corbin kicked into high gear they were able to run over the Patriots, scoring the last 33 points of the game.

Although the Redhounds had not played New Harlan this year, Corbin Coach Brent Jackson knew the Patriots would come out strong. “We played them in 2010 and they were the only team to knock us off the year we won the state championship,” he said.

“They are a hard physical football team and run the football downhill. We knew we would have to stop the run. I am very proud of our defense for doing that.”

The Patriots took their opening drive to the end zone and jumped ahead of the Redhounds, 6-0 on a 25-yard pass from Jacob Branson to Davis Turner.

Corbin matched the touchdown with a drive of its own that covered 51 yards in 10 plays. The final play of the drive saw Jaxon Stewart go around the right side for a 17-yard run, tying the game with 5:10 in the second period.

A fumble on the New Harlan drive gave the ball back to the Redhounds when Drew Carter recovered a Taylor Farris fumble at the Patriots 47-yard line.

Stewart quickly scrambled for eight yards, but a one-yard loss by Carter left the ‘Hounds facing a third-and-three. Stewart was hit at the end and scrimmage and it appeared the visitors had held. But Corbin went for the fourth-and-three from the 40-yard line. Carter ran around the left side of the New Harlan defense and got into open field. There was no catching the speedster as Carter put the Redhounds ahead for good, 12-6 with :57 left in the half.

The opening drive of the third quarter saw Tucker Jewell break loose for a 15-yard touchdown run. A Stewart pass to A.J. Moore put the Redhounds ahead, 20-6 with less than a minute gone in the period.

Corbin held the Patriots to a short series and got the ball back on a punt at its own 40-yard line.

Jewell, William Brock, Stewart and Carter pounded their way down the field. But, a holding penalty pushed the ball back to the 40-yard line. However, Carter broke loose for back-to-back runs to the New Harlan 33-yard line for a first down.

Jewell broke loose for a touchdown on the ensuing play, but a penalty pushed the ball back to the Corbin 47-yard line. Carter again got to the outside and went untouched for a 53-yard run into the end zone as the Redhounds had a 26-6 lead with 7:32 left in the game.

New Harlan was forced to throw the ball on its next possession and went three-and-out before punting the ball back to the Redhounds. Corbin took over at its own 43-yard line.

Brock took the hand off 32 yards on first down to the New Harlan 15-yard line, He followed with a five-yard run to the 10-yard marker.

Stewart then busted his way through the Patriots defense for the touchdown with 5:56 left in the game. Alex (Cornbread) Gambrel booted the ball through the uprights for the PAT and a 33-6 lead, which would be the final margin.

Jackson said he was waiting for Carter and Stewart to step up their game in the first quarter.

“You expect those guys to step up in a big game. I was expecting Drew to run hard and he did and Stewart picked up the first down when we needed them,” Jackson said. “I like the balance of our offense tonight. I think they had kids to counter us, but we kept them off balanced and made plays when we had to.”

The Redhounds will host Pike Central Saturday at Campbell Field at 4 p.m.

Corbin 34, New Harlan

New Harlan            6     0   0     0-   6

Corbin               0   12   8   13- 33

NH- David Turner 25 pass from Jacob Branson (run failed)

Second Quarter

CMS- Jaxon Stewart, 17 run (run failed)

CMS- Drew Carter 40 run (run failed)

Third Quarter

CMS- Tucker Jewell 15 run (Stewart to A.J. Moore)

Fourth Quarter

CMS- Carter 53 run (run failed)

CMS- Stewart 10 run (Alex Gambrel kick)