MONTICELLO — Wayne County quarterback Korbyn Edwards was a one-man wrecking Friday during the Cardinals’ Class 4A first round matchup against Whitley County.
Edwards scored six touchdowns, willing his team to a 42-35 win over the Colonels.
Whitley County (5-6) hung tough, receiving three rushing touchdowns from Dee Parker but ran out of gas.
Despite turning the ball over on its first possession, Whitley County responded in a big way on its ensuing possession as Chris Cureton broke free for a 31-yard touchdown run to give the Colonels a 7-0 lead at the 6:30 mark of the first quarter.
Wayne County answered on its next possession as Korbyn Edwards scored on a 10-yard keeper to tie the game at seven apiece with 2:25 left in the first quarter.
The game didn’t remain tied long as Dee Parker added a 48-yard touchdown run to give his team a 14-7 edge with 5.5 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Another touchdown run by Edwards (17-yarder) allowed the Cardinals to tie the game at 14 apiece with 9:37 remaining in the first half.
Wayne County surprised Whitley County with an onside kick and recovered as Edwards punched it in from the five-yard line to give his team a 21-14 lead with 7:53 left in the first half.
Cody Bryant added a rushing touchdown minutes later, helping the Colonels tie the game at 21 apiece, but once again, Whitley County had no answer for Edwards, who broke loose and raced 49 yards to give his team a 28-21 edge at the4:52 mark of the second quarter.
Edwards continued to be a problem for the Colonels’ defense in the second half. His six yard touchdown run, and fifth of the game, extended the Cardinals’ lead to 35-21 lead with 8:26 left in the third quarter.
But just when it seemed as if Wayne County was pulling away, Parker does what he’s done all season, kept his team in the game by breaking loose for a touchdown run to cut Whitley County’s deficit to 35-28 at the 7:04 mark of the third quarter.
It didn’t take long for Wayne County to answer as Edward’s six rushing touchdown, a one-yarder, increased his team’s lead to 42-28 with 2:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Parker continued to keep his team in the game, adding his third rushing touchdown, cutting the Cardinals’ lead to 42-35 with 9:53 left in the fourth quarter.
