The Pikeville Panthers captured their third state championship during the past four years, and seventh overall, by defeating Raceland, 41-9, in Friday’s HealthCare Sports Medicine KHSAA Class A state finals.
The Panthers (12-2) were led by game MVP Blake Birchfield’s 231-yard, three touchdown performance along with their bend but don’t break defense that limited the Rams to 270 of total offense.
It didn’t take Pikeville long to get on the scoreboard, as Birchfield scored on his team’s first offensive possession with an 85-yard run to give the Panthers a 6-0 lead at the 11:38 mark.
Raceland (13-2) followed with a 31-yard field goal by Peyton Ison with 7:25 remaining in the first quarter, cutting their deficit to 6-3.
Pikeville’s defense made a huge play on the Rams’ ensuing drive, forcing a fumble on a fourth and two situation at the Panther 26-yard line as Deonte Stevens scooped up the fumble and raced 74 yards for the score, giving his team a 14-3 lead with 3:30 remaining in the first quarter.
Both teams struggled to find the end zone in the second quarter until Isaac Duty’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Wade Hensley with no seconds remaining in the first half increased Pikeville’s lead 21-3.
The Panthers outgained Raceland in total offense in the first half, 193-151, with most of the yardage coming on the ground (138) for the Panthers.
Pikeville continued to dominate in the third quarter with Jacob Rigers’ 12-yard rushing touchdown at the 5:44 mark, capped off a 10-play, 76-yard scoring drive.
The Rams responded on their ensuing offensive drive as Logan Lundy’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Mason Lykins made the score, 28-9, with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
Birchfield found the end zone for the third time during the game with 10:26 left in the fourth quarter thanks to a 32-yard rushing score, extending the Panthers’ lead to 34-9.
Carson Wright added to Pikeville’s lead with a six-yard touchdown run with 3:19 left to make the score, 41-9.
