RECORD SETTING WIN

Senior Caleb Watkins ran for eight touchdowns and a two-point conversion to lead the Corbin Redhounds to an 84-34 win over the Knott Central Patriots Thursday in a district contest.

Watkins’ touchdowns are not a record for the Redhounds’ program. Billy Bird scored 10 touchdowns in 1959 against the Williamsburg Yellow Jackets. However, the 84 points is the most points scored by a Redhound football team.

“There were not very many things he did that could go wrong for him,” said Corbin Coach Steve Jewell. “Whether is was receiving punts, kickoffs or just catching the pass, everything went his way. He had over 500 yards (541) of total offense.”

“It’s very rare not just for one kid but rare for anybody across the state to have a game like that,” said Jewell. “It looked like at times nobody on the field speed wise could catch him.”

The Patriots surprised the Redhounds in the first half, staying stride for stride. The teams got off to a slow start and it was Knott Central actually putting up the first score of the game on a Braxton Ratliff run of 22 yards. Kenny Craft gave the Patriots an 8-0 lead.

The lead was very brief however; as Watkins scored the first time he touched the ball. He returned the football 84 yards on the kickoff. Senior Ryan Fritts added the PAT, tying the game at 8-8.

The offenses of both teams took over and put 54 points on the scoreboard in the second quarter. It was like a racetrack with Watkins doing all the damage for the Redhounds. By halftime, Corbin had nudged ahead, 36-34.

The Corbin defense rose to the occasion in the second half and held the Patriots scoreless. As matter of fact, the Redhounds limited Knott Central to just 26 yards.

What did Jewell tell his team at the break? “We just made a few adjustments. Remember you are talking about a mental attitude of kids ranging from 15-18 years old. We’ve got to come out and play from the beginning,” said Jewell.

“The first half should have been like the second half and we would have gotten to play a lot more kids in the second half,” he said. “I was very disappointed with out intensity of how we came out in that first half.”

“That comes with leadership,” he said. “We’ve got to have kids that no matter who our opponent is and what level we are playing, we’ve got to be able to go out and take care of business and have a business-like approach.”

“That’s not taking anything away from Knott County,” said Jewell. “They came out and played hard and there was fire there in the first half.”

Corbin put 36 points on the scoreboard, which happened to go out late in the period. The Redhounds led 72-34 at the end of three quarters. Mason Woods and Derek Mahan added TD runs in the fourth quarter to give Corbin the lopsided 50-point win.

Watkins finished the game with 269 yards on eight carries. He scored on a 23-yard pass from Roman Mitchell, scored on two kickoff returns of 155 yards and added a two-point conversion for his 50 points.

Ryan Fritts had two touchdowns in the win for the ‘Hounds.

The Redhounds will host the Leslie County Eagles in a district game Friday night. The Eagles will come in with a 2-5 record after struggling to beat Morgan County on the road, 18-16. They rolled past the Clinton County Bulldogs, 40-0.

“They are a much improved team,” said Jewell. “They are a 50/50 run-pass type team, but they are definitely a much better ball club then they were last year. They are doing a lot more positive things.”

“I actually got to watch them Friday night against Middlesboro and they had opportunities to win that ballgame,” said Jewell. “Middlesboro was able to pull it out there at the end. It was a 14-14 game in the fourth quarter.”

“They are more of a blue-collar team,” said Jewell. “They are a hard working team and play intense. Coach (Tim) Koogler has them working very hard.”

Corbin 84, Knott Central 34

Corbin                        8  26    0    0- 34

Knott Central            8  28  36  12- 84

KC- Braxton Ratliff, 22 run (Kenny Craft run)

C- Caleb Watkins, 84 kickoff return (Ryan Fritts run)

KC- Anthony Newhouse, 50 run (pass failed)

C- Watkins, 31 run (Saxon Okuma kick)

C- Watkins, 10 run (Okuma kick)

KC- Newhouse, 39 run (run failed)

C- Watkins, 47 run (Okuma kick)

KC- Bo Herald, 86 kickoff return (run failed)

C- Watkins, 73 kickoff return (Okuma kick)

KC- Herald, 5 run (Craft from Ratliff)

C- Watkins, 72 run (Okuma kick)

C- Watkins, 41 run (Watkins run)

C- Fritts, 1 run (Okuma kick)

C- Watkins, 23 pass from Roman Mitchell (Okuma kick)

C- Fritts, 31 pass from Mitchell (Okuma kick)

C- Mason Woods, 21 run (run failed)

C- Derek Mahan, 19 run (run failed)