Paintsville senior Cedric Stewart — all 5-foot-7 of him — was the little engine that could Friday night at Bradner Stadium, leading the Tigers to a 32-19 Class 1A playoff victory over an injury-riddled and youth-laden Middlesboro squad.
Stewart was a workhorse for Paintsville, rushing for a game-high 262 yards on 31 carries in a performance that included three scoring runs by the diminutive running back.
Middlesboro freshman quarterback Bryson Heck showed poise beyond his years In just his second start for the Yellow Jackets. Heck completed eight of his 16 pass attempts for 127 yards, including a scoring pass to freshman Colby Lawson. Heck also added a rushing touchdown.
Freshman Jacob Tinnell scored the Yellow Jackets’ lone other touchdown on an electrifying run during the third quarter that spanned 54 yards. Tinnell rushed for a team-high 66 yards on three carries.
After forcing Middlesboro to punt on the opening possession, Paintsville sophomore quarterback Alex Johnson triggered a 14-play drive that featured 10 rushes by Stewart.
Stewart capped the march on a 10-yard run through the left side. Senior Lucas Howard’s conversion run made it, 8-0.
The two teams traded punts, before the Yellow Jackets found the end zone at the end of a dazzling 41-yard pass from Heck to Lawson.
Back came Stewart and the Tigers.
A 28-yard run by Stewart pushed Paintsville into Middlesboro territory, and two plays later Johnson tossed an 18-yard scoring strike to sophomore Colton Short. Lawson’s second straight conversion run made it, 16-6.
After a 45-yard punt by Middlesboro senior Sebastian Kyle pinned the Tigers deep in their own territory, the Yellow Jackets defense held and staked the hosts to their best field position of the game at the Paintsville 32.
Five plays later, Heck ambled into the end zone from a yard out, and Kyle’s conversion kick made it 16-13 with 30 seconds remaining in the first half.
Middlesboro freshman Kordell Partin intercepted a Johnson pass in the waning seconds of the first half, providing Middlesboro with a defensive boost before the intermission.
But Johnson and his teammates were not deterred by the mistake. The Paintsville signal caller engineered a nine-play, 76-yard drive to open the third quarter and Stewart capped the march with a 1-yard TD run. Howard’s third conversion run of the game made it, 24-13.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Tinnell took a pitch from Heck and sprinted down the far side of the field en route to the game’s longest play from scrimmage and pulled the Yellow Jackets to within a touchdown of the Tigers.
A pivotal stop by the Middlesboro defense stymied the Tigers on their ensuing possession, but the Yellow Jackets were unable to execute on offense and turned the ball over on downs.
Stewart scored on a 11-yard run with 6:10 remaining in the game, and Howard’s fourth consecutive conversion run capped the scoring.
Paintsville rushed the ball 45 times for 364 yards and amassed 428 total yards.
Senior Vincent Smith rushed for 21 yards on nine carries in his final game for the Yellow Jackets and finished the season with slightly less than 800 rushing yards.
Paintsville (4-7) will travel to Pikeville Friday for a second-round Class 1A playoff game.

Paintsville 32, Middlesboro 19

Paintsville 8 8 8 8 — 32
Middlesboro 0 13 6 0 — 19

P — Stewart 10 run (Howard run)
M — Lawson 41 pass from Heck (pass failed)
P — Short 18 pass from Johnson (Howard run)
M — Heck 1 run (Kyle kick)
P — Stewart 1 run (Howard run)
M — Tinnell 54 run (pass failed)
P — Stewart 11 run (Howard run)