Offense comes alive

Corbin hit the road last week and found their offense, racking up 322 yards and scoring 30 points, however, the explosive Lexington Christian Academy Eagles piled up 489 total yards and handed the Redhounds a 42-30 loss.
Corbin Head Coach Steve Jewell felt like his team’s inability to contain LCA’s speed early played a major role in the loss.
“It was definitely an uphill battle,” said Jewell. “The defense had a tough time with their speed in the first half and we made a few adjustments and I felt like the defense played better in the second half, but you let them get up on you like that you’re playing catch up ball.”
After forcing a Corbin punt on the game’s first possession, LCA’s offense quickly went to work. The Eagles started what was a very high octane quarter for both teams. They stayed on the ground for all seven plays during the drive and put the first points of the game on the board. Quarterback Garrie Krueger punched it in from 7 yards out for LCA barreling his way into the end zone. The run and kick made it an early 7-0 lead for LCA.
However, the lead was short lived. On the ensuing kickoff, Corbin’s Eric Blackwood broke tackle after tackle en route to an 86 yard electrfying touchdown return that woke the Redhounds up. Chance Hendrickson tacked on the point after kick and the score was tied at the 7:52 mark of the first quarter.
The Redhounds momentum lasted about as long as the Eagles’ first lead. On the first play of LCA’s drive, running back Tyrell Hayden broke loose for a 65 yard touchdown run that put the Eagles back on top. The extra point was good and the score boosted to 14-7 in favor of LCA.
The offensive fireworks continued when Corbin got the ball back. Looking like a well oiled machine, the Redhounds went through the air to move down the field quickly. After two receptions by Blackwood for a total of 36 yards, Corbin found pay dirt. Quarterback Clint Cashen dumped the ball off underneath to Blake Freeman who then stiff armed the only defender that had a chance to tackle him and waltzed into the end zone. The touchdown went for 21 yards and after Hendrickson’s kick, the game was tied again.
Neither team had time to catch their breath before the Eagles were back in the end zone. On the second play of the drive, LCA got Kaelen Mitchell into the scoring act. Not to be out done by his teammate Hayden’s long run, Mitchell went around the end and scampered 65 yards for the touchdown. Dan Jacus added the extra point for the Eagles and they led again by a score of 21-14 with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter.
Finally, the defenses settled in and both squads were able to slow the opposing offenses as the opening quarter came to a close nearly 45 minutes after it had begun. Unfortunately for the defense when the second quarter started, so did the offense. LCA took possession early in the quarter and put a solid drive together. The drive consisted of the hard running from Hayden and a 21 yard completion from Krueger to Jacus. Once again it was Hayden capping the drive when he squirted through the defense for a 4 yard touchdown run. Jacus split the uprights and the Eagles took a 28-14 advantage.
After a Corbin punt, LCA was able to take total control of the game. Leading by 14 already, they tried to put the game away. Krueger was dropped for a big loss on the drive’s first play, but Hayden was there to pick him up on the next play. The bruising back steamrolled his way 82 yards for his third touchdown of the half. The long run gave LCA a commanding 35-14 lead. Hayden finished the game with 225 yards on 20 carries with 201 yards coming in the first half.
LCA Head Coach Paul Raines knows he has a real football player in running back Tyrell Hayden.
“He’s (Hayden) our workhorse and I think some college is going to be lucky to get him,” said Raines. “He’s as good a player as I’ve coached and I’ve been in it (football) for twenty something years and I’ve had some good ones.”
Seeing the game slip away, the Redhounds fought back. Corbin showed a very balanced offensive attack on the drive, which covered 64 yards in eight plays. Freeman got the Redhounds going with a 34 yard burst on the first play of the series. Then it was Josh Sanders hauling in a pass as well as Freeman making a catch to get Corbin in the red zone. Corbin cut into the lead when Cashen found Sanders for a 7 yard touchdown reception . Hendrickson made good on the point after and the Redhounds got a little closer with 2:26 remaining in the half. The pass and kick made the score 35-21 and both teams were unable to score in the remainder of the half as the teams reached half-time.
After holding LCA on its first second half possession, Corbin took control of the ball and tried to mount a comeback. Senior receiver Blackwood covered 32 yards on a pass play to really get the Redhounds going. Then it was Cashen finding Ryan Tate and Lucas Henson on first down receptions. All of the passing brought the Redhounds to a first and goal situation from the Eagles’ 4 yard line. Corbin could smell the end zone, but LCA wouldn’t budge. The Eagles came up with a big third down sack and held the Redhounds by forcing them to turn the ball over on downs.
Even after the big momentum swing Corbin’s defense took the field and continued to battle. Three plays later, their determination paid off. On third down Krueger dropped back to pass and was sacked in the end zone by senior Josh McHargue for a safety. The two points got Corbin to within 35-23 with 5:47 to play in the third quarter.
Corbin then received the free kick from the Eagles and again the offense went to work. Behind the running of Freeman and Sanders, the Redhounds were inside the red zone once again. However, LCA rose to the challenge and stopped another Redhound threat after a fourth down pass fell incomplete.
The stops were helped by some changes the Eagles made at the half according to LCA Head Coach Paul Raines
“We had to make a few adjustments in the second half and we did those and I thought that helped us some defensively,” said Raines. “They still hurt us in the middle, but I thought our coverage’s stood up.”
The Eagles took possession and put together a drive that would spoil any chances of a Corbin comeback. Starting from their own 8 yard line, LCA went to their potent ground game. Krueger carried three times on the series and tallied 29 yards, but it was his arm and athletic ability that made the biggest play of the drive. On fourth and ten from the Corbin 25 yard line, Krueger went back to pass and was hit by a Redhound defender who was hanging on him as he found Jacus open along the sideline for what turned into a 23 yard gain after the run. Then, on the next play, Mitchell punched it in from 2 yards out to give LCA a comfortable 42-23 lead with 9:55 to play.
On Corbin’s next drive, things got worse. Early in the drive, the Eagles’ A.J. Smithy intercepted a pass and regained possession for LCA. However, they would hand it right back to the Redhounds when Hayden fumbled.
This time Corbin was able to put some points on the board. Blackwood caught four Cashen passes on the drive for 44 yards. The senior wide receiver finished the game with 9 receptions for 118 yards. It was Blackwood getting the ball deep into LCA territory and then Sanders took care of the rest. Sanders ended the drive with a I yard plunge that cut the lead to 42-30 after Hendrickson remained perfect on the night with the point after kick.
The time was now against the Redhounds as only 5:41 remained in the ball game. After an onside kick attempt went awry, the hopes of any comeback dwindled away. LCA used their impressive running attack to pound at the Corbin defense and run the final minutes off the clock. The final score ended with LCA winning 42-30 and improving to 3-1 on the season, while Corbin dropped to 0-4 with the loss.
Corbin Head Coach Steve Jewell knows the Redhounds have to get their defense and offense playing well together to have success.
“The offense played well in the first half and didn’t punch it in the second half. The defense played bad in the first half and played good in the second half,” said Jewell. “We’ve got to get on sync both halves for us to get over the hump.”
Corbin will be back in action this week as they hit the road again and pay a visit to the Bell County Bobcats at Log Mountain. Kickoff is set for 7:30.