HYDEN — While the Leslie County offense adjusted to life without two of its top receivers, the Eagles’ defense took care of business in Friday’s game against visiting Harlan.
Harlan was held to 11 yards of offense and no first downs in the first half while Leslie was also spinning its wheels with the ball. That was until the final minute or the half when the Eagles scored twice and then pulled away in the second half for a 35-6 victory.
The Dragons finished with only four first downs (two by penalties) and 74 yards of offense while turning the ball over three times.
“I wax extremely pleased with our defense tonight,” Leslie County coach Eddie Melton said. “We’ve struggled to stop the run so far this year, and that’s something we’ve focused on with our linebackers this week. Coach (Jeremy) Asher really worked with our linebackers and they played really well tonight. That’s the best we’ve played, and we have to build on that going into next week.”
Harlan (1-3) was held to one touchdown for the third straight game, all in the fourth quarter.
“Until we establish some type of running game and consistency on offense we’re going to struggle,” said Harlan coach Brian Williams. “We’re playing a lot of reps on defense and the kids got tired.”
Senior quarterback Landry Collett struggled to find a rhythm in the first half with two of his top receivers (Noah Kilburn and Jayden Hacker) out with injuries. Held to only three first downs in the first 17 minutes, the Eagles’ offense finally started to click after taking Nate Montanaro’s punt on their own 39 with 4:39 left in the half.
Tanner Sizemore and Brayden Holland each picked up first downs before a pass interference penalty on the Dragons set up Leslie at the 20. Caden Caldwell ran eight yards for a first down on the 6, then Tanner Estep went five yards before Collett went in from the 1 with 45 seconds left. Jesse Osborne’s kick gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead.
A Harlan fumble on the ensuing kickoff was recovered by Jackson Ostrander on the 31. Collett teamed with Caden Shepherd for a 6-yard TD pas with five seconds left in the half to complete a three-play drive. Osborne’s extra point made the score 14-0.
“We had some key pieces out on offense and it took us a while to get flowing,” Melton said. “We had to adjust to how we’re going to play now.”
Harlan picked up its first three first downs on its opening drive of the second half, getting to the Leslie 15 after a nine-yard run by Jonah Sharp followed by a face mask penalty. The Eagles were penalized 17 times for 165 yards.
Rylan Simpson ended the threat when he intercepted a Baylor Varner pass on the goal line. Leslie marched 93 yards in seven plays, beginning with a 48-yard strike from Collett to Simpson. Tanner Estep went in from the 10 with no time left on the clock in the third quarter as the lead grew to 21-0 after Osborne’s third kick.
Another fumble by the Dragons on a kickoff set up a one-play scoring drive as Collett teamed with Simpson for 29 yards and a 28-0 lead following Osborne’s kick.
Simpson stepped in front of another Varner pass on the next play and took it back 60 yards for.a score. Osborne’s kick started a running clock with 11:21 to play.
Darius Akal took over at quarterback in a wildcat formation to close out the game as Harlan drove 35 yards in 10 plays Akal scored on a 5-yard run with 2:30 left on the final play of the night. Varner went out on the previous Harlan possession, and Williams said he wasn’t sure about the severity of the injury.
Harlan travels to East Ridge on Friday. Leslie County will be at home against Clay County.