Tom Greer’s Corbin Redhounds are heading to the Class 4A state title game by outlasting Franklin County in a heavyweight slugfest with a 49-35 win.
Senior Brody Wells was on the receiving end of Kade Elam’s touchdown pass with 2:29 left in regulation to give the Redhounds a 42-35 lead.
Wells then intercepted a pass six seconds later and took it in for the score to give Corbin a 49-35 win.
The Redhounds will now face-off against former coach Justin Haddix and his Boyle County Rebels during Friday’s Class 4A championship game.
Corbin will enter the contest with a perfect 14-0 mark while the defending state champion Rebels are 12-2. Boyle County handed Louisville Central a 35-21 loss on Friday.
Corbin will be searching for its first state championship since 1982 when the Redhounds defeated Glasgow, 18-6, to win the state title.
Corbin’s last appearance in the Class 4A state title game came in 2018. The Redhounds dropped a heartbreaking, 20-19, decision to Louisville Central.
Elam turned in another stellar game, throwing for four touchdowns in the win while also finishing with a rushing touchdown.
Corbin set the tone early, scoring on its opening drive as a 44-yard pass from Elam to Carter Stewart set up the Redhounds’ first score.
Elam scored on a six-yard run to give his team a 7-0 edge with 8:06 left in the first quarter.
Franklin County responded with a drive of its own on its ensuing possession as Gilead Galloway snuck into the endzone with a one year run to tie the game at seven apiece with 2:42 remaining in the opening quarter of play.
The two teams continued to trade punches with the Redhounds matching the Flyers’ score with one of their own.
This time around, Elam hit freshman Eli Pietrowski with a 27-yard touchdown pass at the 1:18 mark of the first quarter, giving Corbin a 14-7 advantage.
Franklin County answered again as Emanuel Smith found Kaden Moorman open for a 20-yard score, tying the game at 14 apiece with 6:30 remaining in the second quarter.
The game didn’t remain tied for long as Elam hit Brody Wells with a 50-yard touchdown strike, pushing the Redhounds’ lead to 21-14 with 5:10 remaining in the first half.
The Flyers matched Corbin’s touchdown again, scoring right before the end of the half (11.1 second remaining) as Smith broke free four a four-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 21 apiece.
The Redhounds’ first offensive drive of the second half stalled but they still managed to get on the scoreboard with a field goal by Jacob Baker, reclaiming a 24-21 lead with 6:58 left in the third quarter.
Franklin County took the lead for the first time with 5:09 left in the third quarter as Smith continued to find the open receiver, and connected with his third touchdown pass, a 31-yarder to Amari Mays-Clark to give his team a 28-24 advantage.
It didn’t take Corbin long to regain the lead, though.
The Redhounds didn’t seem fazed as Elam’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Combs gave Corbin a 31-28 advantage at the 3:57 mark of the third quarter.
Franklin County had hopes of tying or going ahead during its ensuing possession but the Redhound defense made a stop on a fourth and one situation at the Flyers 29-yard line.
Corbin’s offense took over and eventually scored thanks to Jacob Baker’s second field goal, making the score 34-28 with 11:58 left in regulation.
Facing a fourth and five situation at the Redhound 27-yard line, Franklin County drew up a flea flicker as Kaden Moorman threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Mays-Clark to give the Flyers a 35-34 advantage lead with 4:04 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The touchdown didn’t seem to faze Corbin.
Elam marched his team down field in less than two minutes to give his team the lead again.
His fourth touchdown pass of the game, this isn’t to Brody Wells gave the Redhounds a 42-35 lead with 2:29 remaining in the game.
Wells put the finishing touches on the win on Franklin County’s ensuing offensive play by intercepting the pass and returning it for a score, pushing Corbin’s advantage to 49-35 with 2:23 left in the game.
