The Harlan County freshman team opened its season with an 8-6 victory Thursday at Bell County.
“I was worried coming into the game with the limited time we had to prepare our younger guys. I told them before the game all I asked was to play 32 minutes as hard as they could and they did exactly that,” HCHS coach Needham Saylor said. “They started out nervous, but settled down after the first two series and started doing their jobs and it all came together. They showed a lot of heart and fight tonight.”
It took the Harlan County over a half to get started, but the Bears held the ball for all but 30 seconds in the third quarter, helped by runs from Dallas Sergent and Bryan Howard. Bell stopped the Bears on fourth-and-goal from the 1, but the Bobcats gave the ball back four plays later after going for it on fourth down at their own 9. Howard scored three plays later on a sweep around the right side. Howard also added the two-point conversion.
Bell scored on its second possession, but the Bears made the stop on the two-point conversion.
The Bobcats threatened again late in the half before Carter Howard made a big tackle for a loss on third down. Jared Rhymer and Tanner Griffith teamed for the stop on fourth down.
James McMillian led the HCHS defense with nine tackles. Griffith added seven tackles.
Harlan County (1-0) returns to action Thursday at home against Clay County.