Harlan County’s middle school football season ended Saturday, three yards short of what could have been the game-winning touchdown.
Brayden Morris picked up a first down on the Knox County 5 with just over three minutes left as the Bears trailed 16-14. Two fumbled snaps stalled the drive, which ended when Morris was tripped up at the 3 with 2:21 to play.
Morris gave the Bears an early lead when he went in from the 10 in the opening quarter.
Knox answered in the second quarter as Hayden Melton teamed with Brayden Hobbs for a 40-yard touchdown pass. Melton threw for the go-ahead two-point conversion.
Braydon Howard threw to Brady Smith down the sideline, and the Harlan County receiver broke a tackle on the way to a 50-yard touchdown. Morris added the two-point conversion for a 14-8 lead with 3:10 to play in the half.
The Bears couldn’t get a stop on defense in the final seconds of the half as Melton went in from the 2 and Evan Hubbard followed with the go-ahead two-point conversion.
Harlan County got the ball back in the final minute, but Hobbs ended the final Bears’ possession with an interception.