By Les Dixon / Sports Editor
If you’re a high school fan that’s going to watch the Corbin/Shelby Valley game, you might be able to get home earlier than expected.
Why?
Because both teams love to run the ball and the game could be over in less than two hours.
Both Corbin and Shelby Valley have combined to rush for 7,439 yards this season and both are looking for their running games to put the other teams’ defense on their heels.
“The fans could be home early — that’s for sure,” Corbin coach Steve Jewell said. “It’s obvious that the running game is both teams’ bread and butter and everyone knows that.
“We just hope to be able to establish the run and take control of the game early,” he added. “That’s the key. We’ve got to take advantage of being at home and get our fans involved early.”
Shelby Valley enters the game averaging 401 yards a game on the ground and is led by the running attack of BJ Roberts and Dillon Hughs.
Roberts has 1,682 rushing yards and a team-best 21 touchdowns, while Dillon Hughs has rushed for 1,397 yards and 12 touchdowns. Quarterback Cody Varney has eight rushing touchdowns and 623 rushing yards.
“This game is going to be a difficult one,” Jewell admitted. “It’s a much different level than playing a four seed game. They are a two seed and they’ve got a very good team.
“They’ve only lost three games and they have 16 seniors, so they have experience,” he added. “I’ll tell you this, I am very impressed with their running attack.”
The Redhounds and the Wildcats have played Knott Central and Leslie County this season and both teams came up with easy wins.
“They have a good team, but the good thing is that we’re as healthy as we’ve been this season,” Jewell said. “Saxon Okuma has an ankle sprain and he will be a game time decision, but other than that, we’re OK.
“If he can’t go, it will hurt us,” he added. “It’s going to hurt us depth-wise at the backer spot and we’ll have to count on either Matthew Taylor or Roman Mitchell for the PATs.”
For Shelby Valley to win, they’re going to have to find a way to contain Corbin’s Caleb Watkins, Ryan Fritts and Taylor. The Redhounds are averaging 274 yards rushing and are led by Watkins’ 1,498 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. Fritts has 505 yards on the ground, while Taylor has 563.
Both Watkins and Fritts set out last week’s win over Morgan County, but Jewell said he expected the talented duo to play in today’s game.
“They’ll be ready to go,” he said. “That’s for sure.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
File Photo
Discussion
Ground Battle
- Local News
-
-
Police search for suspect in highway beating
It was called by some as “road rage,” but Barbourville Police say last Saturday evening’s fight at a city intersection was definitely an assault. And they are still looking for the man who police say threw the first punch.
-
Woman gets five years for drugs
In U.S. Federal Court Wednesday, Heather A. Collins, who was called by Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove as a “kind of leader for the group,” was sentenced to five years after using prescription forms to acquire various drugs.
-
Father, son rearraigned for meth charges
A son and father were rearraigned Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in London.
-
Hounds hold on
Corbin Coach Rob Ledington rolled the dice after his Redhounds took a 6-0 lead, but it paid off with an 8-7 win over Whitley County as Corbin advanced to the 50th District Championship tonight with an ace up their sleeve.
-
Drugs suspected in fatal Knox County crash
Drug use may have been a factor in a crash Monday in Knox County in which an 11-year-old boy was killed, according to Kentucky State Police Post-10 Harlan Public Affairs Officer Trooper Shane Jacobs and Sgt. Jimmy Young.
-
Marie Rader wins 89th Rep. District Primary
Republican Marie Rader won the primary election for the 89th District House of Representatives.
-
Barton wins another circuit court clerk term
Whitley County voters went with experience when it came to electing the next circuit court clerk, choosing incumbent Gary Barton, according to unofficial election results.
-
Bunch victor in 82nd House District
For incumbent State Representative Regina Petrey Bunch, the votes came in bunches Tuesday night.
-
Voter turnout higher than expected
The election day ran fairly smooth in Whitley, with the exception of several precincts losing power briefly and a few complaints regarding signs being too close to polling places.
-
Kenneth S. Stepp to face Hal Rogers in fall
Two Democrats, Kenneth S. Stepp, of Clay County, and Micheal Ackerman, of Rowan County, running for the Fifth Congressional District ran a heads-together race in the 30-county district.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Police search for suspect in highway beating
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
