Redhounds have good season

Last Friday night’s playoff game had the feelings of big-time high school football. Heck, what does Texas have that we don’t. Maybe bigger high school kids on the line or in the backfield.
There was tail-gaiting, long lines at the gate, fans with horns and cowbells. A dry field on one side and muddy one on the other. Guess who got the muddy sidelines.
But, there were no better players to be found that Clint Cashen or Tyler Jones, the two quarterbacks in the game. There was Kasey Clark, who was leading the state in about every category known to the KHSAA. There was Josh Sanders, who sit most of the first half wrapped in a jacket and blanket.
There were receivers Corey Sewell, Rob Madon, Josh Reeves, Jordan Wagers and Sanders. And last but not least, the hard-nosed players in the trenches.
Russell had its expected large crowd. It was the Corbin fans that came out in big numbers despite the 3-hour drive to Ashland and its confusing layout.
To say the Red Devils intimidated the Redhounds would be a false statement. At times, I believe it was Russell who was questioning themselves.
Did the real Kasey Clark show up? Did the Red Devils play that bad? I don’t think so. I think Corbin had a perfect game plan; they just weren’t able to push it in for a few more points. Many thought the Redhounds were out of the game when they were down 28-9 or even 31-16, but they battled back all night.
Coach Steve Jewell said, “They left it on the field.” They certainly did. Corbin never quit. Even if you were not a Redounds fan, you had to be happy to see the defense shut down the powerful Red Devils in the final minutes to get the ball back with 1:16 left in the game.
The game was still in doubt in the final seconds. Until that fourth down pass fell incomplete, the Redhounds had a chance to force overtime.
News Journal columnist Bill Crook talks a lot about the deep history of Corbin football. I hope the seniors on this year’s team, Blake Freeman, Josh Martin, Will Stewart, Anthony Miller, Zach Woody and Jake Reeves pat themselves on the back along with some of their teammates on a job well done.
Sure Corbin was supposed to get to “that” game against the Red Devils with the likes of Wayne County, Garrard County and Casey County in the same district. But, if the KHSAA had not changed the format, LaRue County would have rolled into Corbin last weekend and Owensboro Catholic would be making their way back to Corbin this week. The Redhounds may have been headed to Louisville next weekend. I don’t guess we will really know but it’s good to dream.
Corbin had a fine season; sometimes the expectations are just too high for a small school. The first game of the season against Rockcastle County may have been the best game of the year. Here you had two traditional football powers and Corbin more than held their own with the 3A Rockets.
The Redhounds probably should have gone 9-3 with wins over Oldham County and South Laurel. But, then again how many schools out there would just be tackled to death to get to the district finals, let along the first game of the state playoffs.
I have to agree with Crook about next season’s Redhounds. It should be sky’s the limit for the next time if everyone comes in healthy and works even harder over the summer.
Corbin will be in a new district with the likes of Middlesboro, Leslie County and Knott Central. Middlesboro may be down next year with the loss of several seniors. I don’t expect Knott Central to be that improved and it should be old times with the Patriots. It looks like the district will come down to Corbin and Leslie County. That’s my projections anyway!
Volleyball Showcase
Three area players went to Hazard Sunday and played in the Southeast Volleyball Showcase for seniors. With the basketball edition coming out today, I didn’t get a chance to talk to them about their experience. The 13th region finished second to the 14th region and won three of their six games. Corbin’s Michelle Lowe and Megan Taylor played while Brittany Fox represented Whitley County.
Several district players were honored by being named to the All Southeast Team. Fox was picked by the 13th region coaches on the First Team, Lauren Wilson of Lynn Camp and Corbin’s Sarah Davis was on the Second Team and Michelle Lowe was on the Third Team. Herren Taylor and Ashley McCreary of Lynn Camp was Honorable Mention along with Sarah Prewitt and Korri Richardson of Whitley County. Megan Lewis of Corbin was also Honorable Mention.