CORBIN — Corbin senior quarterback Kade Elam continued to solidify his bid for Mr. Football as the Redhounds moved one step closer to their ultimate goal — capturing its first state championship since 1982.
If Friday’s 42-7 blowout win over Ashland in the Class 4A, Region 4 championship game is any indication of what’s to come, both Elam and his teammates could have plenty of reasons to celebrate come December.
Elam turned in one of his best efforts to date, throwing for over 200 yards, and two touchdowns while running for more than 100 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Corbin also dominated the game defensively from the get-go, containing both Ashland quarterback LaBryant Strader, and star running back Braxton Jennings, who entered the game with 1,093 rushing yards and a total of 24 touchdowns, for most of the contest.
“I thought we came out ready to play tonight,” Corbin coach Luke Salmons said. “Our defense came to play and made stops throughout the game, allowing us to get the lead early.
“Offensively, We moved the ball really good,” he added. “We were able to run the ball really good tonight which was important. And Kade had another great game. He showed he’s a DI player. I mean, he did what we needed him to do tonight.”
Ashland coach Chad Tackett credited Corbin’s defense in slowing down the Tomcats’ offensive attack, but also acknowledged his players’ effort throughout the season.
“It’s a tough loss, but this takes nothing away from the type of season we had,” he said. “We had a very good season, but we fell behind 14-0 early and really never got back into the game.
“They’ve got a really good team,” Tackett added. “They jumped on us early and a couple of things didn’t go our way and then we found ourselves down 14-0. Elam really had a good game for them. We knew he was a good player and he has a great arm and also ran the ball well.”
The Redhounds 12-1 will travel to Paducah Tilghman (13-0) Friday with a trip to the Class 4A state championship on the line.
The Redhounds struck first Friday night, taking less than three minutes to find the endzone.
Elam drove his team downfield, and scored on a four-yard run. Noah Cima fed the PAT to give his team a 7-0 edge.
After holding the Tomcats on their first drive, Corbin’s offense added more fireworks.
Elam connected with Cima for a 44-yard touchdown connection. Cima followed with the PAT, boosting the Redhounds’ advantage to 14-0.
Ashland continued to struggle offensively, allowing Corbin to continue to pull away.
After the Tomcats failed to put anything together, the Redhound offense obliged with its third touchdown during its third offensive series of the game.
Elam’s second rushing touchdown, a one-yarder, pushed Corbin’s lead to 21-0 with 7:37 remaining in the second quarter.
After another defensive stop by the Redhound defense, Elam went back to the ground and broke free for a 33-yard touchdown run while increasing his team’s cushion to 28-0 with 2:28 remaining in the first half.
Corbin added another touchdown right before halftime, as Elam’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Cam Estep made the score, 35-0, at halftime.
Jennings got the Tomcats on the scoreboard with a seven-yard touchdown run at the 6:51 mark making the score 35-7, but the Redhounds quickly regained the momentum.
Elam capped off Corbin’s sixth scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown run, his fourth rushing score of the game to give his team a 42-7 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
