While an impressive exhibition performance does nothing to ensure the Harlan County Black Bears are going to be a better team in 2025 than the 1-9 squad a year ago, they certainly looked to be much improved Friday in a 35-0 rout of visiting Leslie County in three quarters of varsity play.
Harlan County was impressive on both sides of the ball, scoring on five of seven possessions while holding the Eagles without a first down until the final minute of the first half.
Jonah Sharp, a junior tailback who played at Harlan last season, had an impressive debut with the Bears as he raced 38 yards on HC’s first offensive play, then scored four players later on a 9-yard touchdown run after Jayce Brown picked up 17 yards on the third play of the five-play drive. Austin Tye, who joined the team in the off-season as a soccer standout who wanted to kick, also had an impressive debut at kicker as he hit all six of his extra point attempts for a 7-0 lead with 7:44 left in the first quarter.
A 42-yard run by Sharp on the Bears’ second drive was wiped out by a holding penalty, but Brown scored on a 48-yard run on the next play for a 14-0 lead after Tye’s kick with 5:13 left in the opening period.
A Brown interception set up the Harlan County offense on the Leslie 28. Sophomore quarterback Brayden Morris raced 13 yards before runs of 8 and 4 yards by Sharp put the Bears in the end zone again. Tye’s kick made the score 21-0 with 10:32 left in the first half.
Kayden Adams and Gunner Burkhart broke up a Leslie County pass on fourth down to set up the Bears’ final scoring drive of the half. Facing a fourth-and-two play, Morris handed the ball to Hunter Napier for a 27-yard TD run straight through the Eagles’ defense. Tye’s kick pushed the lead to 28-0 with 4:32 left in the half.
Gage Bailey and Brady Freeman recovered fumbles late in the second quarter to end Leslie drives.
A 51-yard run by Morris was the highlight of a seven-play march in the second half, ending with Bailey’s 1-yard run. Tye’s kick made the score 35-0 with 7:13 left in the third quarter.
A 15-yard pass from Jackson Mackowiak to Adams and a 12-yard run by freshman Eli Joseph helped the Bears run out the clock in the third and final varsity quarter.
Liam Smith picked up two first downs and Joseph went in from the 10 with 4:44 left for the only junior varsity touchdown in the fourth quarter. Tye added his sixth extra point.
Harlan County will play at Estill County in a second scrimmage on Friday before the regular season schedule opens Aug. 23 at Corbin against Clay County.
