PIGSKIN CLASSIC RETURNS

The Cumberland Falls Pigskin Classic is back. Contracts have been signed with Knoxville Karns, Knox Central and Lexington Christian for the 2012 football season.

The double-header will be played Saturday, August 25 at Campbell Field.

The Knox Central Panthers 6-4 last year will take on Knoxville Karns   Knox Central, led by senior quarterback Johnathan Barger along with junior running back/receiver Jeffery Canady, lost in the first-round of the KHSAA playoffs to Boyle County under first year coach Scott Russell.

Knoxville Karns defeated the Corbin Redhounds 22-21 last season and went on to a 6-5 record before losing to #23 Science Hill in the playoffs, 41-32.

In the second game Coach Steve Jewell’s Redhounds will play Lexington Christian Academy, a Class AA team. Ray Graham coaches the Eagles.

The Eagles had another very successful season, going 6-7 in their first year as a Class AA team. LCA started the season with three straight losses before getting untracked. They were 2-1 in the playoffs, beating Shelby Valley (55-13) and Leslie County (27-20) before losing to Somerset 55-14.

The Eagles will return quarterback Lincoln Henzman along with running backs Justin King and Sam Maybriar.

The Redhounds lost their first two games of the 2011 season then won six of their next eight to take second in the district behind Bell County. Corbin defeated Henry County in the playoffs before losing on the road to eventual state champion, Louisville Central.

Corbin will lose starting quarterback Ty Cobb and leading rusher Brady Foley to graduation, but a host of young players will step into their roles.

Jewell is excited about the return of the Pigskin Classic. “The kids were extremely disappointed this year that we didn’t have it, so we actually got started working on the bowl during mid-season. We talked to a lot of teams that went to the state playoffs and were able to secure some teams.”

“It’s really good to get it back,” Jewell said. It’s an excitement factor for the kids and it will give us an opportunity to play six ballgames at home next year instead of five. It will be a good beginning to our season.”

The Redhounds were originally scheduled to play Knoxville Karns on the road, but will play Lexington Christian instead.

“We have been able to work it out with Karns to come here for the bowl game and we get LCA back on the schedule which is good,” Jewell said. “LCA was a good ballgame for us, very competitive in nature, so that’s who we are going up against.”
“Knox Central has been really competitive and bring a good crowd,” he added. “It should be a good game.”

“These three teams should give us the opportunity to have a good bowl,” Jewell said.