With seven wins in the regular season and a second-place finish in District 8 of Class 4A to earn their first home playoff game in six years, the Harlan County Black Bears made progress in 2025 after back-to-back one-victory campaigns.
The Bears made one other truth painfully clear in Friday’s first-round matchup against visiting Wayne County. They are not yet ready for success in the postseason.
Wayne dominated the line of scrimmage, limiting the Bears to negative seven yards and four first downs in a 26-2 loss to visiting Wayne County. The Cardinals owned the time of possession with several long drives that led to a 56-21 advantage in offensive plays. Brice Lefevers capped three of the drives with touchdown runs out of the wildcat set.
“They whipped us front. They were stronger and bigger and wanted it more. That’s the bottom line,” Harlan County coach Jacob Saylor said. “I wasn’t sure about our motivation tonight. I’m not sure we really wanted to be here. We played better defensively at times the second half, but they just whipped us up front offensively. That was the difference in the game.”
Wayne County took control of the line of scrimmage on the first play as Brayden Morris, the Bears’ leading rusher this season, was dropped for a two-yard loss on the first play of the first drive and a one-yard loss on the first play of the second drive. The Bears also struggled to pass as the rain intensified as Gunner Burkhart missed on three of four passes for no yards.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, had no problem moving the ball as running back Weston Hancock, quarterback Reese Garrett and receiver Ian Tucker led them on a seven-play, 52-yard march after the Bears’ three-and-out to start the game. Hancock ran for 24 yards on the drive while Garrett completed two passes to Tucker to set up Lefevers’ 4-yard TD run with 7:31 left in the first quarter. Lefevers’ extra point attempt hit the cross bar and bounced away.
After another three-and-out by the Bears, Wayne marched from its 20 to the HC 14 on nine plays before lightning struck with 52 seconds left in the first quarter to force a delay. Garrett completed three more passes to Tucker before his first incompletion as Jonah Sharp broke up a throw in the end zone. Masyn Stewart broke through to drop Lefevers for a 2-yard loss on third down. An incomplete pass on fourth down ended the threat.
The HCHS offense was unable to move the ball, and Wayne got the ball back at the Harlan County 26 after a short punt. Lefevers went in from the 1 on third down out of the wildcat formation. Lefevers’ kick pushed the lead to 13-0 with 4:58 left in the third quarter.
The Harlan County offense finally showed signs of life on the next possession. Jayce Brown had a catch of 16 yards and Morris had one of 17 for a first down on the Wayne 1, After Burkhart stopped the clock by spiking the ball, Hunter Napier was stopped for a 1-yard loss. Morris picked up 1 on third down. The Bears rushed the fourth-down play, and Burkhart’s pass was incomplete with 11.6 seconds left.
Harlan County still picked up two points as Hancock’s knee hit in the end zone for a safety.
Kayden Adams returned the ensuing kickoff 36 yards to the Wayne 15, leaving time for one play. Burkhart was sacked to end the half.
The Cardinals all but put the game away with a 14-play, 52-yard drive to open the second half, taking almost nine minutes off the clock. Wayne converted three fourth downs, including a 6-yard touchdown run by Lefevers. The extra point by Lefevers pushed the lead to 26-2.
After another three-and-out by the Bears, Wayne scored for the final time when Colton Baker blocked a Morris punt and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. Napier intercepted a pass on the two-point attempt.
Harlan County (7-4) ran only six plays on offense in the second half for nine yards and no first downs.
“I told the guys coming back it’s all about the weight room. They were stronger than us and you could tell on film, and that was my concern. I challenged these guys coming back to get in the weight room. The only way we can take the next step is to get stronger. We can win six or seven games and get beat in the first round of the playoffs if that’s what we want, but that’s not where I want to be, and I don’t think these kids do either,” Saylor said. “These seniors, though, I want to thank them for digging down deep and getting this program to the next step this season.”
Wayne County (4-7) will travel to Boyle County on Thursday in a second-round playoff game.