The 1-2 punch of South Laurel seniors Mason Griffin and Wes Dowell delivered an early knockout of the Harlan County football team Friday night in a 49-0 win by the host Cardinals.
Griffin completed 18 of his 21 pass attempts for 284 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Dowell was on the receiving end of both TD tosses by Griffin and rushed for three touchdowns to power South Laurel to its sixth consecutive victory.
Junior Cullen Dalrymple converted all seven of his extra-point attempts for the Cardinals.
Harlan County (4-2) was held to 109 yards of total offense — all on the ground. Sophomore quarterback Brayden Morris rushed for a team-high 45 yards on 15 first-half carries.
After forcing a Black Bears punt on the game’s opening possession, South Laurel put together an 11-play drive that featured 55 yards in penalties by the Cardinals, yet still produced a 2-yard scoring run by Dowell.
South Laurel senior Garrison Brown intercepted a pass on the ensuing possession by the Black Bears during the early stages of the second quarter, and Griffin completed four straight passes for 71 yards to drive the Cardinals to the HCHS 1-yard line. Senior Tim Thompson capped the quick march with a 1-yard TD blast to make it 14-0.
Brown returned a Harlan County punt 57 yards on the Black Bears next possession, and Griffin connected with Dowell on a 28-yard scoring strike on the first play of the Cardinals drive.
Following the Black Bears’ third punt of the first half, Griffin and the Cardinals needed just five plays to score again, this time on a 14-yard run by Dowell.
Dowell’s 2-yard scoring run, along with Dalrymple’s PAT kick, with just less than 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter started a running scoreboard clock.
Harlan County fumbled on its next possession and Dowell scampered to a 21-yard TD run on the first play of the ensuing South Laurel drive to make it 42-0.
South Laurel head coach John Hines pulled his starters during the first minute of the fourth quarter, and freshman backup quarterback Maddox Warren connected on a 3-yard TD pass to senior teammate Aidean Williams to cap the scoring.
Harlan County got 26 rushing yards, apiece, from senior Jayce Brown and junior Jonah Sharp, each of whom took multiple snaps at the quarterback position during the second half.
South Laurel amassed 385 yards of total offense.
Next up for Harlan County is a home game Oct. 10 against Corbin in the district opener. South Laurel will play host to Perry Central on