CORBIN — The final score didn’t indicate it but for three quarters, Luke Salmon’s Corbin Redhounds had their hands full against visiting Hazard.
The Redhounds fell behind 8-7 in the first quarter before reclaiming a 21-8 lead in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs answered with two touchdowns late in the first half to take a 22-21 lead at halftime before Corbin reeled off 39 unanswered points to pick up a 51-22 victory.
The win improved the Redhounds to 4-1 as they will shift focus and prepare for next week’s road matchup against Johnson Central.
The Redhounds scored on their opening drive with Kade Elam hitting Noah Cima for a 30-yard touchdown strike to give their team a 7-0 lead at the 9:27 mark of the first quarter.
Hazard answered on its drive, marching downfield to score on a four-yard touchdown pass while adding the two-point conversion to take an 8-7 lead with 1:39 left in the first quarter.
It didn’t take Corbin long to regain the lead as Elam threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Colton Creekmore nine seconds into the second quarter to give his team a 14-8 lead over the Bulldogs.
The Redhounds’ lead grew to 21-8 with 5:07 remaining in the second quarter when Elam’s third touchdown pass, a 49-yarder to Cima, gave Corbin a 21-8 advantage.
Hazard came right back and managed to cut its deficit to five points with a 24-yard touchdown pass, making the score 21-16 with 1:38 left in the first half.
The Bulldogs answered with another touchdown with 20 seconds left in the first half. A one-yard touchdown pass allowed them to reclaim a 22-21 lead at halftime.
Elam scored on a 13-yard touchdown run during Corbin’s opening drive of the second half, allowing the Redhounds reclaim a 28-22 advantage with 8:42 left in the third quarter.
Corbin followed the touchdown up with a safety, increasing its lead to 30-22 with 7:44 left in the third quarter.
A six-yard touchdown run by Creekmore with 3:22 remaining in the third quarter allowed the Redhounds to build a 37-22 cushion.
The Redhounds continued to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter with Elam’s second rushing touchdown, a two-yarder, giving Corbin a comfortable, 44-22, lead.
Cole Stevens got into the scoring action with 7:34 left, racing to the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown run, increasing the Redhounds lead to 51-22.
Hazard added a late touchdown to make the score, 51-28.
