Brayden Morris set what is believed to be a program record, several of them in fact, as Harlan County rolled to a 54-34 middle school win over visiting Whitley County on Saturday afternoon in eighth-grade action.
Morris ran for 368 yards on 23 carries, scored seven touchdowns and added three two-point conversions, finishing with 48 points as the Bears improved to 3-1 on the season.
“Morris had one of the most impressive performances I’ve personally ever seen tonight. Our offensive line and blocking backs were dominant, and Morris took advantage of it,” said Harlan County coach Scott Caldwell. “His field vision has always been the best I’ve ever seen, and I can’t wait to see him every time he touches the ball. Our entire offense put up over 500 yards and that’s saying a lot. We are throwing the ball well, definitely running it well, stopping the run, and with some improved pass defense we will be a hard team to line up against.”
Morris started the scoring with a 9-yard TD run in the first quarter followed by a pass from Braydon Howard to Brady Smith for the two-point conversion.
A 79-yard run by Morris followed by a pass from Howard to Morris pushed the lead to 16-0.
Whitley scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass and then the conversion, but Morris answered with a 30-yard run to make the score 22-8.
Whitley pulled even at 22-22 on touchdown passes for 46 and 85 yards as the Bears lost Whitley receivers.
Morris’ 2-yard TD run in the closing seconds of the half followed by his two-point conversion gave Harlan County a 30-22 lead at the break.
Morris scored on a 53-yard run to open the third quarter, then Smith added the two-point conversion. Whitley followed with two more touchdown passes to cut the deficit to 38-34, but Morris put the game away with touchdown runs of 38 and 18 yards. Morris and Smith each added two-point conversions.
Harlan County returns to action Thursday at home against Clay County.
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Harlan County posted a 28-0 win in the sixth-grade game as Hudson Faulkner scored two touchdowns on the ground and one through the air.
Faulkner went in from the 12, then added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Blake Johnson teamed with Faulkner for a 39-yard TD pass to push the Bears’ advantage to 14-0.
Faulkner added a 9-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 20-0.
Gunner Zunda went in from the 3 for the final HC touchdown. Christian Aslinger recovered a fumble in the end zone for the two-point conversion.
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Harlan County fell 16-12 in the seventh-grade game.
Caysen Farley went in from the 19 to give Harlan County a 6-0 lead.
After a Whitley touchdown and two-point conversion, the Bears went back ahead when Jackson Mackowiak teamed with Jaxon Daniel for a 10-yard touchdown pass.
Whitley scored the game’s final touchdown to win.
