The Corbin Redhounds posted their fifth consecutive shutout on Friday in the opening round of the 4A playoffs, blanking visiting Harlan County 55-0.
Sophomore quarterback Kade Elam passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two others in first-half action. Freshman quarterback Cam Estep passed for two TDs in the second half for the Redhounds.
Corbin opened the scoring as Elam scored on a 14-yard touchdown run with 9:25 left in the first half. Jacob Baker added the extra point.
Elam connected with Carter Stewart on a 32-yard touchdown screen pass at the 6:59 mark. Baker’s kick made it 14-0.
The Redhounds added another score in the opening quarter as Eli Pietrowski caught an 18-yard TD pass from Elam with 3:41 remaining in the period. Baker’s kick extended the lead to 21-0.
Corbin added two touchdowns in the second quarter. With 5:54 left in the half, Elam went in from the 5-yard line. Baker’s kick was perfect. Elam found Stewart for a 41-yard pass to the HC 11 and Cameron Combs scored on the next play. Combs added the two-point conversion to give the Hounds a 36-0 advantage at halftime.
At the 7:11 mark of the third quarter, Estep connected with Parker Norvell for a 10-yard touchdown pass. The run failed.
Estep’s second TD pass of the night came at the 1:10 mark of the third period as he found Colton Creekmore for a 40-yard scoring throw. Baker’s kick made it 49-0.
The Redhounds closed the scoring with 5:25 to play as Sam Farmer added a 3-yard run. The Black Bears blocked the extra point.
Elam completed nine of 10 passes for 171 yards in the first half. Estep completed all five of his passes for 97 yards. Stewart had three receptions for 91 yards. Marc Warren added 53 yards on three catches.
Freshman Cole Stevens gained 45 yards on six carries for Corbin. Combs, a senior, added 30 yards on four rushes. The Redhounds had 116 yards on the ground on 16 carries.
Corbin had 20 first downs compared to Bears’ four.
Harlan County was held to 53 yards on the ground and 66 for the game.
Senior Josh Sergent gained 20 yards on 12 rushes. Jonah Swanner added 16 yards on five carries. James Howard had 11 yards.
Swanner was two of seven passing in the first half for 13 yards and one interception. Sergent was zero of two passing with an interception.
Zander Curry and NaShawn Brooks had interceptions for the Redhounds.
The last five games, the Redhounds have outscored their opponents 248-0.
Corbin (11-0) will advance to the second of the playoffs on Friday at home against Letcher Central (8-3). The Cougars rolled to a 61-6 victory over Knox Central in the first round.
Harlan County closed the season with a 4-7 record.
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Corbin 55, Harlan County 0
Harlan County 0 0 0 0—0
Corbin 21 15 13 6—55
C—Elam 14 run (Baker kick)
C—Stewart 32 pass from Elam (Baker kick)
C—Pietrowski 18 pass from Elam (Baker kick)
C—Elam 5 run (Baker kick)
C—Combs 11 run (Combs run)
C—Norvell 10 pass from Estep (run failed)
C—Creekmore 40 pass from Esteo (Baker kick)
C—Farmer 3 run (kick blocked)