STATE CHAMPS

Jake Coppock and Tanner Powers ran for a combined 350 yards to lead the Corbin Middle School Seventh grade to a 36-14 win over the Lone Oak Purple Flash in the championship game of the Kentucky Middle School State Playoffs at Lexington Catholic High School Sunday.

The Redhounds walked through the state playoffs beating Jackson County (36-16), Southwestern Pulaski (34-8) and Greenup Co. (26-8) before beating Lone Oak.

The defense played a key role in the win allowing Lone Oak only 21 yards rushing for the game. The Purple Flash had a minus 23 yards at the half.

Corbin got off to a rough start after one of the players touched the kickoff but couldn’t get a hold of the football. He fell on the ball at the three-yard line. Although they didn’t pick up a first down, things got better for the Redhounds.

Corbin turned the ball over at their own 10 yard-line but a bad snap allowed the defense to catch Lone Oak quarterback Bronson Owens in the backfield for a three-yard loss. Lone Oak followed with a false start and another sack of 12 yards pushed the ball back to the 30-yard line. On third down, Coppock intercepted the ball and Corbin was back on offense.

The first play from scrimmage saw Coppock go 54 yards to the 17-yard line. Coppock followed runs of 11 and two yards to the four-yard line where Powers finished off the distance for the first touchdown of the game.

Owens, a talented young quarterback, tied the game on a 55 yard run seconds later. However on first down from the 24-yard line after the Lone Oak kickoff, Powers went 76 yards, giving the Redhounds the lead for good with 1:48 left in the first quarter.

The Purple Flash didn’t have the ball long before Corbin forced a fumble that went into the arms of lineman Caleb Rollins. Rollins went 48 yards for the score to put the Redhounds ahead, 18-6.

Coppock scored again before the half ended on a 95-yard run that sent Corbin ahead 24-6. The Redhounds never looked back taking the seventh grade state title. There were 13 teams that participated across the state this year.

Prior to the game, Coach Wendall Foley was concerned about Lone Oak and the speed of Owens. “We knew coming he was a speedster and very athletic. We told them to bring it at him, put pressure on him and keep him on the run.”

“I feel like our defense has been a key all year,” said Foley. “I think we stepped it up a notch. I’ve been coaching here 11 years and I think this might be the best defensive game I’ve seen.”

“Coppock and Powers have been super all year long,” said Foley of his two running backs. “They take it to the next level.”

“You’ve got to throw (Harrison) Reedy and (Evan) Grissell in there along with tight end Dalton Anderson,” said Foley. “This is a great group of kids with a bright future.”

The Redhounds finished the season 13-1 with the lone loss being against Clay County.

The eighth grade, coached by Brent Jackson, had an equally fine season, finishing with a record of 14-1. Their lone loss came in the semifinals of the state playoffs to a much bigger Bowling Green team, 36-6.

Corbin had to play in Division One with much larger middle schools. “We were just four players from the smaller division,” said Jackson. Meece, a team Corbin beat during the season won the state title over Morgan County Sunday.

The eighth grade suffered a blow in the win over Hardin County’s Bluegrass Middle School when Derek Woolum was injured. The eighth grade Redhounds were led by fullback Ben Gosser and quarterback Taylor Waddle. Waddle scored the only touchdown in the loss to Bowling Green. He scored on an interception return.

Jackson’s team won all of its regular season games then beat Rockcastle Co., 36-18 and Meece 14-12 in the conference playoffs.

During the run to a state championship. Corbin defeated Southwestern, 34-14, Meade County 20-18, Bluegrass Middle 26-20 before falling to Bowling Green.