Something has to give when unbeaten Corbin faces-off against Letcher Central today at Campbell Field during second round action of the Class 4A playoffs.
The Redhounds (11-0) enter the game shutting out their past five opponents while outscoring them 248-0 during the process.
The last time a team scored any points against Tom Greer’s squad was way back on Sept. 30 (Simon Kenton).
To make things even more interesting, the last time an opposing team has scored any points at Campbell Field was two months and two days ago — (Sept. 9, Pulaski County).
Corbin possesses the top RPI rating in Class 4A (.75319), and is 20-2 at home the past three years.
“The team knows that we have to turn up our focus and intensity this week and prepare for Letcher Central,” Greer said. “The Redhounds are as solemn and zoned in as I’ve seen them. However, we are excited to still have the opportunity to play four more quarters and 48 minutes of football. That is all we are guaranteed.
“Every win this year has been big, but none bigger than last week,” he added. “We all knew that last week offered us more opportunity which is a little different feeling than in the regular season.”
The Cougars (8-3) by no means will be a pushover.
They’ve got the weapons to end the Redhounds’ streak of five shutouts. Their RPI is .59124, and they’ve averaged 48.8 points per game their past six games.
Letcher Central is coming off a 61-6 win over Knox Central. The Cougars have scored at least 60 points once this season, 50-points or more four times times, and 40 points or more eight times.
The lowest point total the Cougars have scored against a Kentucky high school team is 32 points in a win over Breathitt County. Tennessee’s David Crockett High a school shutout Letcher Central on Aug. 26. Since then, the Cougars are averaging 47 points per game.
Letcher Central is led by quarter Jonah Little, who has rushed for 1,722 yards and 32 touchdowns while passing for 1,143 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Isaac Mathews has 575 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Mathew’s also leads the team with 17 receptions. He has 206 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Keaston Branham has a team-best 375 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches while reeling in 14 receptions.
On defense, the Cougars have forced 23 turnovers while Koby Johnson has rallied a team-high 98 tackles. Dawson Cornett and Keyante Miller each have four sacks apiece.
“Letcher County Central has an outstanding team and is very solid offensively and physical defensively,” Greer said. “They have good size upfront and the quarterback is a dual-threat player. We will have to be very physical and attack on both sides of the ball to win.”
Corbin’s offense ranks as one of the best in Class 4A, too.
Led by sophomore quarterback Kade Elam’s 1,920 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, the Redhounds are averaging 41.9 points per game.
Elam also has 350 rushing yards, and 12 touchdowns while Cameron Combs leads the team with 842 rushing yards, and 10 touchdowns.
Elam’s top receivers are Carter Stewart, Brody Wells and freshman Eli Pietrowski.
Stewart leads the way with 43 receptions, 898 yards, and seven touchdowns while Wells has 19 catches for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Pietrowski has 17 receptions for 266 um yards, and two scores.
Ten different players have caught a touchdown pass for the Redhounds. Marc Warren has 12 receptions, 209 yards, and four touchdowns while Combs has 14 catches for 117 yards, and two scores. Zander Curry, and Colton Creekmore also have two touchdown catches apiece.
Another weapon for the Redhounds is kicker, Jacob Baker. He’s connected on all 56 of his PAT attempts while connecting on 6-of-7 field goal attempts.
Defensively, Corbin has forced 24 turnovers.
Zayne Hammack leads the Redhounds with 91 tackles. He also has three sacks. Baker has 70 tackles, and a team-best five sacks.
Corbin is 80-42 overall in playoff action while Letcher Central is 8-13. Today’s game will be the first meeting between the two teams.
“The atmosphere Friday night will be awesome,” Greer said. “We hope Redhound nation understands that we need them at Campbell Field to support us as we attempt to get No. 12.”
