Middlesboro is heating up at the right time.
The defending region champion advanced to second round action of the Class 2A playoffs by blitzing past Prestonsburg with a 42-30 win.
Quarterback Cayden Grigsby turned in one of his best efforts of the season, throwing for four touchdown passes while rushing for one score in the win.
The Yellow Jackets improved to 8-2 overall and 43-35 in postseason play.
Middlesboro struck first as Grigsby and Kameron Wilson connected with a 50-yard touchdown connection while giving their team a 7-0 lead with 7:07 left in the first quarter during the process.
The Yellow Jackets’ second touchdown came via an impressive defensive play by Tyler Sturgill. Sturgill scooped up a fumble and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown while increasing his team’s lead to 14-0 with 4:47 left in the first quarter.
Middlesboro’s lead grew to 21-0 at the 8:22 mark of the second quarter after Grigsby’s touchdown pass to Sturgill, a 27-yarder.
Grigsby’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Wilson gave Middlesboro a commanding 28-0 lead at halftime.
Prestonsburg came out in the second half and scored on its first possession to make the score, 28-8, with 10:27 remaining in the third quarter.
The Black Cats added another touchdown 20 seconds later after recovering a fumble and returning in for a score while cutting their deficit to 28-14.
The Yellow Jackets responded like good teams do.
Grigsby’s fourth touchdown pass, a 23-yarder to Case Bayless increased Middlesboro’s lead to 35-14 at the 5:25 mark of the third quarter.
Prestonsburg added a touchdown with 43 seconds remaining in the third quarter to cut its deficit to 35-22.
Grigsby’s seven-yard touchdown run with 6:36 remaining in regulation out the finishing touches on the Yellow Jackets’ win.
