Pike County Bowl 2023

2023 Community Trust Bank/WYMT-TV Pike Co. Bowl Legends Award Recipient

Virgil Osborne graduated from Virgie High chool and is recognized in the helby Valley High chool Hall of ame. Virgil continued his education, obtaining his undergraduate degree from the niversity of ouisville and his post graduate degree from Eastern entucky niversity.

Once Virgil returned to the mountains, he made it his life’s mission to give back to his community and its youth. Virgil coached the Virgie Eagles to a 15th Region Basketball Championship in 1962. He was a founding member and is a Hall of ame member of the WY T ountain Basketball Classic. Virgil was also a founding member of the Community Trust Bank WY T Pike County Bowl, where he served as chairman for many years. He was an educator at Virgie

High chool and enkins High chool where he coached basketball, baseball, and football.

Virgil served as a deacon at irst Baptist Church of Pikeville, entucky, was a Pike County school board member, and former president of the Pike County Retired Teachers Association. He was inducted into the Distinguished Educators Hall of ame at P E and retired as Director of the Eastern entucky Concentrated Employment Program.

Virgil Osbourne’s contributions to the Pike County community continues to live on. We know for certain that the Pike County Bowl would not have had the same success without Virgil Osborne’s vision and commitment.

Virgil Osborne

History of the Pike County Bowl

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXXVII 2022 PIKE COUNTY BOWL H ARLAN 22, EAST RIDGE 16

East Ridge scored first.

East Ridge scored last.

But everything in the middle was Harlan as the Green Dragons picked up a 22-16 win over the Warriors to open the 37th Annual Community Trust Bank/Pike County Bowl Friday night at Belfry.

East Ridge got out to a quick start as Zack Mason scored on a 21yard TD run with 9:11 left in the first half to give the Warriors an 8-0 lead.

Harlan answered right before halftime as Darius Akal scored on a 56-yard TD run with just 43 seconds left in the first half. After the twopoint conversion, the Green Dragons and Warriors were tied at 8-8.

Harlan took the lead in the third quarter as quarterback Dylan Middleton scored on a short run up the middle with 7:30 left in the third quarter. After the two-point conversion, the Green Dragons held a 16-8 lead.

East Ridge gave the Green Dragons the ball back with 3:27 left in the third after a fumble. Harlan took over at its own 40-yard line.

Harlan extended its lead as Donovan Montanaro scored scored on a short run up the middle with 8:37 left in the game. His TD run pushed the lead to 22-8.

East Ridge made one last push.

Warrior quarterback Dylan Burdine scored on a nine-yard keeper with 5:33 left to cut the lead to 22-16.

The Warriors couldn’t find a way to score after that as Harlan held on for the win.

BELFRY 42, BOURBON COUNTY 14

After Harlan knocked off East Ridge 22-16, the lightning delayed the start of Belfry and Bourbon County.

Once the lightning subsided, the Pirates exploded from the start.

Belfry got on the scoreboard on its first possession as Caden Woolum scored from inside the Bourbon County 10-yard line with 7:38 left in the first quarter. That gave the Pirates a 7-0 lead after the extra-point.

Bourbon County tried to answer on its next possession, but the Pirates forced them to turn the ball over on downs at the Belfry 22-yard line with 2:16 left in the first quarter.

After a long Dre Young carry,

Belfry’s Chase Varney punched the ball in from a couple of yards out with 10:24 left in the first half. After the extra-point, the Pirates pushed the lead to 14-0.

The Pirates forced Bourbon County to turn the ball over on downs again its next possession.

Young carried the ball down to the one-yard line and then Chase Varney punched it into the end zone on the next play as the Belfry lead grew to 21-0 with 6:53 left in the first half.

With 4:46 left to play in the first half, Chase Varney scored on another short keeper to push the Belfry lead to 28-0.

Bourbon County got on the scoreboard before the first half ended, though. Quarterback Clay Estes scored on a keeper to cut the lead to 28-6 with 1:17 left in the first half.

Belfry marched down the field, but Chase Varney was picked off late in the first half.

The Pirates held a 28-6 halftime lead.

After the break, the Pirates went back to work.

Young finally got in the end zone as he broke a 52-yard TD run with 9:17 left in the third quarter. Belfry’s

lead grew to 35-6.

Cayden Varney came up with an interception for the Pirates with 8:14 left in the third to give the Pirates the ball back.

Young scored his second TD of the night to push the lead to 42-6 and ensue the running clock.

Bourbon County scored once more after the running clock to set the game’s final scoreboard at 42-14.

SHELBY VALLEY 59, PIKE CENTRAL 7

Shelby Valley overwhelmed a young Pike Central team and scored early and often as the Wildcats cruised to the big 59-7 win.

Shelby Valley put up 551 total yards of offense in the big win against the Hawks.

The Wildcats’s defense was just as dominate as they held Pike Central to just 91 total yards of offense on the night.

It didn’t take the Wildcats long to find the end zone as Russ Osborne found Brady Bentley for an 18-yard TD pass with 8:17 left in the first quarter.

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The Wildcats got the ball back after holding the Hawks to a three and out.

Senior running back Jayden Newsome scored on an 18-yard TD run with 5:02 left in the first quarter to push the lead to 12-0.

Pike Central senior running back Matt Anderson answered for the Hawks as he reversed the field and the Wildcats’ defense over pursed at first allowing him to score on a 53-yard TD run with 3:53 left in the first quarter. After the extra-point, Shelby Valley held a 12-7 lead.

Anderson led the way for Pike Central as he rushed for a team-high 72 yards on the night on 14 carries.

It didn’t take long for the Wildcats to answer as Osborne found Bentley for a 56-yard TD pass with 2:27 left in the first quarter. After the extra-point, Shelby Valley held a 19-7 lead.

Bentley led the Wildcats’ receivers with three catches for 86 yards and two TDs.

The Wildcats got the ball back to open the second quarter. This time, Osborne kept the ball and scored on a 24-yard TD run with 9:19 left in the

first half. After the extra-point, the Wildcats held a 26-7 lead.

Osborne finished the game 13 for 18 passing for 260 yards and four TDs. He also rushed for 42 yards and a TD on three carries.

The Wildcats weren’t finished in the first half, though.

On their next possession, Newsome rushed for a 19-yard TD run with 5:17 left in the first half to push the lead to 33-7.

Newsome led the Wildcats’ rushing attack with 101 yards and two TDs on just nine carries. He also added a 17-yard catch.

Osborne then found Jesse Cook for an eight-yard TD pass to push the lead to 39-7.

Osborne and the Wildcats added another TD before the first half ended to get the running clock. Osborne connected with Ethan Mullins for a 61-yard TD pass with just 18 seconds left in the first half to push the lead to 45-7.

COVINGTON CATHOLIC 27, PIKEVILLE 19

Pikeville had chances, but the Panthers fell short to Class 5A Covington Catholic in the 37th Pike County Bowl finale.

Covington Catholic got the ball first and drove down the field. Quar-

terback Evan Pitzer scored on a fouryard TD run with 7:07 left in first quarter. Pitzer fumbled on his way into the end zone, but it was ruled a TD as the Colonels jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

Pikeville answered, though.

Pikeville quarterback Tayvian Boykins scored on a 29-yard TD run with 5:26 left in the first quarter to cut the lead to 7-6 after a missed extra-point.

Boykins finished the game three for eight passing for 36 yards. He led Pikeville’s rushing attack with 106 yards and two TDs on 18 carries.

The Colonels answered as Pitzer found receiver Louie Hodge for a TD with 1:34 left in the first quarter. That pushed the lead to 14-6.

After getting the ball back early in the second quarter, Covington Catholic’s Braylon Miller returned a Pikeville punt for a TD to push the lead to 20-6 with 11:41 left in the first half.

The Panthers tried to add some points late in the first half.

Pikeville drove deep into Covington Catholic territory and the Panthers went for a field before the first half ended, but missed as the Colonels took a 20-6 lead into the halftime break.

Pikeville’s Cassidy Slater was

named the 2022 Pike County Bowl Queen during the halftime break.

The Panthers got right back in the game in the third quarter as Blake Birchfield broke a 77-yard TD run with 7:28 left in the quarter.

Birchfield rushed for 98 yards and a TD on 14 carries.

That long run cut the Covington Catholic lead to 20-12.

The Colonels answered as Owen Leen scored with 1:45 left in the third quarter to push the lead to 27-12.

Boykins scored with 8:14 left in the game from four yards out as the Panthers cut the lead to 27-19.

After a bad snap on a Covington Catholic punt, Pikeville got the ball back on the Colonels’ 45-yard line with 2:58 left to play.

The Panthers threw an illegal forward pass on fourth down to give Covington Catholic the ball back with just over a minute to play.

Pikeville’s offense was held to only 249 yards on the night.

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXXVI

EAST RIDGE 40, PHELPS 26

The Warriors kicked off the 36th Community Trust Bank/WYMT Pike County Bowl with a big win.

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East Ridge picked up its second win under new Coach Donnie Burdine. The Warriors picked up their game and snapped a three-game losing streak to Phelps in the bowl.

East Ridge quarterback Dylan Burdine had a huge game offensively to lead the Warriors. Burdine was 12 for 17 passing for 153 yards and three TDs. On the ground he carried the ball 25 times for 206 yards and two scores.

Nathan Martin added 75 rushing yards and a TD. Isaiah Adkins had four catches for 68 yards and two TDs. Landon Robinson also hauled in a 13-yard TD.

Defensively, o o Ratliff had 24 tackles (three for a loss) and a sack.

Quarterback teven ayne led Phelps going nine for 16 passing for 106 yards and a TD with an interception.

Bryson Locklear added 150 yards and a two TDs on the ground.

Cainan Land caught four passes for 72 yards and a TD. Corey Turnmire also caught a TD pass from Locklear.

COVINGTON CATHOLIC 42,

BELFRY 13

Class 5A power Covington Catholic left Belfry with a big 42-13 win over the Pirates.

Colonel quarterback Adam Holtz led the way for Covington Catholic. Holtz was nine for 15 passing for 84 yards and a TD with an interception. He also added 44 yards rushing and a TD on 10 carries.

Brayden Collins and Reid Hummel each added 72 rushing yards. Collins scored two TDs, while Hummel ran for one. Nicholas Darpel also rushed for a TD.

Preston Agee had three catches and a TD for the Colonels as well. or Belfry, r. ootball saac Dixon lineup up at quarterback. He was three for six passing for 53 yards and a TD with an interception. He also had 16 carries for 60 yards and a TD.

Dre Young led the Pirates’ rushing attack with 87 yards on the ground.

Belfry fell to the Class 5A power and this was one of the Pirates’ five straight losses to open the season before righting the ship and winning the Class 3A state championship.

SHELBY VALLEY 59, PIKE CENTRAL 32 n the final game of the 36th Community Trust Bank/WYMT Pike

County Bowl, helby Valley’s offense exploded.

The Wildcats rushed for 396 yards and passed for another 163. That was good for 559 yards of total offense.

Sophomore quarterback Russ Osborne was 10 for 18 passing for 163 yards and a TD with two interceptions. He added 91 rushing yards and three TDs on 11 carries.

unior running back ayden Newsome led the rushing attack with 233 yards and three TDs on 16 carries.

Ethan Bentley and Brady Bentley each had three receptions to lead the Wildcats; Brady Bentley had a receiving TD.

On defense, helby Valley’s Caleb ovins had 15 tackles.

Pike Central rushed for 319 yards of its own.

Quarterback Tayvian Boykins led the way for the Hawks. He was four for 13 passing for 15 yards. He did his damage on the ground as he ran the ball 30 tines for 280 yards and four TDs.

Standout running back Matt Anderson didn’t play for Pike Central.

2018

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXXIV

PHELPS 44, EAST RIDGE 0

Phelps cruised to a 44-0 win over

East Ridge in the opening game of the 34th Annual Pike County Bowl.

The Hornets got on the scoreboard first with 8:44 left in the first quarter. Dominic Francis scored on an eight-yard touchdown run. After the two-point conversion, Phelps held an 8-0 lead.

Quarterback Garrett Clevenger found Francis for a 32-yard TD pass for the second score with 4:23 left in the first. The two-point conversion was no good and the Hornets lead grew to 14-0.

Francis scored his third TD with 51 seconds left in the first quarter. After the two-point conversion, the Hornets led 22-0.

For East Ridge running back and current Hornet, uke Ramey scored the next Phelps TD from three yards out with 10:08 left in the first half. The two-point conversion was no good. Brandon Turmire scored with 2:29 left in the half on an eight-yard TD run. Ramey punched in the twopoint conversion and the Hornets got the running clock.

Ramey added a TD in the third quarter to set the game’s final score and give the Hornets their second straight Pike County Bowl win over East Ridge.

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HUNTINGTON HIGH 17, BELFRY 9

The Pirates rushed for 198 yards against Huntington High.

Isaac Dixon led the way for the Pirate rushing attack with 77 yards and a TD on seven carries. Peyton Hensley led the way at the fullback spot with 48 yards on 12 carries.

The Pirates allowed Huntington High 72 passing yards last week.

Belfry couldn’t get its offense going against Huntington High.

SHELBY VALLEY 43, PIKE CENTRAL 35 (DOUBLE-OVERTIME)

t was a perfect call in the perfect situation.

Facing third and 10 in the second overtime, Shelby Valley did the unthinkable — the Wildcats threw the ball.

It was the Wildcats’ only pass of the game.

And it paid off as incoln Billiter hauled in a 10-yard touchdown catch and Shelby Valley picked up a 43-35 win in double-overtime against Pike Central in the 34th Annual Community Trust Bank/WYMT Pike County Bowl.

Pike Central had one final possession after Billiter’s TD catch, but the Hawks were stopped short of the end zone.

Johnson had a huge game as he rushed for 220 yards and two TDS on 25 carries.

PIKEVILLE 50 LCA 7

Pikeville was off to the races, while exington Christian was left in the dust aturday night in the finale of the 34th Annual Pike County Bowl as the Panthers cruised to a 50-7 win over the Eagles.

Panther quarterback Connor Roberts found Jackson Hensley for the game’s first touchdown on a 15yard pass with 7:01 left in the first quarter. The Panthers added the twopoint conversion to take an 8-0 lead.

On their first defensive series, Pikeville forced a turnover. Kyle Watkins came up with an interception to give the Panthers the ball back.

Connor Roberts’s did the rest as he scored on a 48-yard TD run with 5:02 left in the first quarter. After the extra-point, Pikeville held a 15-0 lead.

Pikeville struck with another big play as Christian Billiter hauled in a 54-yard TD catch with 9:09 left to push the Panther lead to 23-0.

Seth Pugh came up with an interception to give Pikeville the ball back.

Hensley came up with a 32-yard TD catch as the Panthers lead grew to 30-0 with 6:53 left in the half. Hensley hauled in a 52-yard TD catch with 4:21 to give the Panthers a 36-0 lead and a running clock.

Hensley finished with four TD catches.

2017

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXXIII PHELPS 32, EAST RIDGE

Phelps did it.

8

The Hornets picked up their first-ever win in the Pike County Bowl with a 32-8 win over East Ridge. Brandon Turmire was the story for Phelps. Turmire came up with four interceptions for the Hornets. He nearly returned one for 99 yards and a touchdown, but stepped out of bounds.

Phelps got on the scoreboard first as Garrett Clevenger found eth Mayhorn for an 11-yard TD with 6:04 left in the first.

Peyton Rife pushed the lead to 12-0 on a three-yard TD run with 6:13 left in the first half.

The Hornets got on the scoreboard again with just 29 seconds left in the first half as Clevenger rushed for a seven-yard TD. The Hornets held a 19-0 halftime lead.

Dylan New pushed the lead to 25-0 with 8:39 left in the third as he found the end zone for the Hornets.

Rife added the Hornets’ final score with 11:07 left in the game. That pushed the lead to 32-0.

Kane Taylor scored the Warriors’ lone TD with 3:40 left in the game.

HUNTINGTON HIGH 45, BELFRY 34

Belfry jumped out to a 27-7 lead with 4:25 left in the first half. Huntington High fired back with two quick scores before the end of the first half to cut the lead to 27-21 at the break.

Derek Wellman scored for Belfry to open the third quarter and give the Pirates a 34-21 lead.

The second half was all Huntington High as the Highlanders scored the game’s final 24 points.

PIKE CENTRAL 36, SHELBY VALLEY 6

Seth Conn was the story. The Hawk offensive and defensive line were good, but Conn was the playmaker.

Conn led the Hawks to a 36-6 win over Shelby Valley Saturday night in the 33rd Annual Pike County Bowl.

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The Hawks now have back-to-back wins over the Wildcats in the bowl.

On Pike Central’s first offensive play, Conn broke a 72-yard touchdown run to give the Hawks a 6-0 lead. The score came with 9:35 left in the first quarter.

Pike Central added to the lead in the second quarter. Conn scored on a 10-yard TD scamper with 9:22 left in the half to push the lead to 12-0.

Shelby Valley got on the scoreboard before the first half ended. Dalton Meade scored on an one-yard dive to cut the lead to 12-6 with 4:26 left in the first half.

Pike Central took that lead into halftime.

It didn’t take long for Conn to add to the Hawks’ lead, though. On the opening kickoff of the third quarter, Conn returned the kick 71-yards for the score. Pike Central scored on the two-point conversion to push the lead to 20-6.

After that, Isiah Hess scored on an 11-yard TD run with 5:49 left in the third; the two-point conversion pushed the lead to 28-6.

Conn put the finishing touches on the win with an interception that

he returned for a TD with 9:30 left in the game.

Conn finished the game as Pike Central’s MVP.

Shelby Valley running back Seth ohnson finished the game with 109 rushing yards and was named the Wildcats’ Pike County Bowl MVP.

LCA 49, PIKEVILLE 21

Dillon Wheatley didn’t start the game, but he made a huge impact as Lexington Christian Academy picked up a big 49-21 win over Pikeville in the final game of the 33rd Annual Pike County Bowl Saturday night.

Eagle quarterback Logan Nieves got the Eagles on the scoreboard first. He scored on a two-yard TD run with 5:35 left in the first to give CA an early 6-0 lead.

Pikeville answered with a big play. Peyton Boyd-Blair found Jackson Hensley wide open in the middle of the field. Hensley took the catch 76 yards to the end zone to tie the game up at 6-6 with 2:46 left in the first.

Wheatley rushed for his first TD of the game with 4:49 left in the second to give LCA a 13-6 lead.

LCA recovered a Boyd-Blair fumble late in the first half. The Eagles took advantage as Nieves scored on an one-yard TD run to push the

lead to 20-6 with 3:42 left in the first half.

Wheatley scored from 17 yards out with 1:36 left in the first to give the Eagles a 27-6 lead; LCA took that lead into halftime.

Wheatley rushed for 171 yards and three TDs in the game. Nieves threw for 212 yards and two TDs, while adding 144 yards rushing and two TDs.

Pikeville’s Kyle Watkins intercepted a pass and returned it 35-yards for the TD with 9:08 left in the third.

2016

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXXII EAST RIDGE 38, PHELPS 18

Brodey Johnson was the story for the Warriors. The senior running back rushed 393 yards and five touchdowns in East Ridge’s 38-18 win.

East Ridge jumped out to a 24-0 lead. Phelps fought back to cut the lead to 24-6 at halftime.

Phelps quarterback Garrett Clevinger scored to open the second half on a 63-yard TD to cut the lead to 24-12. East Ridge answered with two quick scores to push the lead to 38-12, before Peyton Rife scored late to set the game’s final scoreboard.

BELFRY 48,

TATES CREEK 12

Belfry dominated from the opening whistle to the final whistle against Class 6A Tates Creek in the 48-12 win. The Pirates had a running clock during the game.

Belfry rushed for 386 yards on the night and added 47 more through the air. The Pirates only gave up 51 rushing yards and 125 passing yards against Tates Creek.

Noah Corbett and Derek Well scored two TDs each against Tates Creek.

PIKE CENTRAL 35, SHELBY VALLEY 10

Pike Central’s Dylan Coleman got stronger as the game continued. Shelby Valley had injuries and cramps the longer the game played. Pike Central knocked off helby Valley 35-10 in the 32nd Annual Pike County Bowl.

Dylan Coleman had four touchdown runs for the Hawks.

Coleman busted TD runs of 39 yards, 55 yards, 72 yards, 60 yards and 60 yards.

Coleman’s first score came with 6:01 left in the first quarter. That score tied the game up at 7-7.

Pike Central’s second TD came

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when quarterback Seth Conn found Stone Harris for a 54 yard gain down to the Shelby Valley one-yard line. Conn carried the ball into the end zone on the next play to give Pike Central a 14-7 lead with no time left on the first quarter clock.

Shelby Valley kicker Dimitri ataxis made a 37-yard field goal with just 4 seconds left in the first half to cut the lead to 14-10 at the break.

Shelby Valley’s Jordan Hampton scored the game’s first TD on a 58yard TD run with 7:28 left in the first quarter. Hampton finished the game with 147 yards rushing and Shelby Valley’s lone TD. Hampton also had nine tackles on the defensive side of the ball for the Wildcats.

But in the second half, Hampton along with a slew of other Wildcats started cramping up from the temperature. Hampton sat out the Wildcats’ opening game of the season against Franklin County due to injury.

That’s when Coleman took over for the Hawks.Coleman scored his second TD of the game from 55 yards out with just 44 seconds left in the third quarter. That pushed Pike Central’s lead to 20-10.

Coleman scored again with 9:46 left in the game to push Pike Central’s lead to 28-10 the score came on a 72 yard TD run.

Coleman put the game on ice with 5:54 scoring his fourth TD of the game after he broke a 60-yard TD run.

Coleman and Hampton were named Pike County Bowl MVPs for their respective teams.

PIKEVILLE 30, LETCHER CENTRAL 6

A late kickoff.

An R.C. drone.

Lots of of talking by a Letcher Central player.

And a football game.

Those were all characteristics of the 32nd Annual Pike County Bowl finale between Pikeville and etcher Central.

Pikeville picked up a 30-6 win in the game.

In the nightcap of an eventful hot muggy night, the Panthers knocked off the Cougars in the game that didn’t kickoff until after 10:00 p.m. The first game was delayed over an hour due to the heat.

But shortly after the kickoff of the second game, a drone ew over the field, delaying the game for over 10 minutes.

Once the game got going, Pikeville’s Clay lone scored the first touchdown with 3:39 left in the first quarter. Evan Rhodes ran in the two-point conversion to give the Panthers an 8-0 lead.

Pikeville’s second score didn’t come until late in the first half as lone scored his second TD of the game from 18 yards out to push the lead to 14-0 with 2:10 left in the first half. Pikeville kicker Campbell Dawahare ran in the two-point conversion to push the lead to 16-0 at the half.

lone finished the game with 26 rushing yards and two TDs to lead the Pikeville running attack. Rhodes added 65 rushing yards.

Quarterback Wyatt Battaile found Andrew McNamee for a 40yard TD pass with 7:29 left in the third quarter. Dawahare made the extra-point kick to push the Panther lead to 23-0.

Battaile finished the game with 150 yards passing and a TD on 14 of 29 passing.

Letcher Central ruined the Panthers shot at a shutout by scoring with just 36 seconds left in the game. ayson Buttery on a five yard run to end the shutout bid.

2015

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXXI

0

East Ridge running back Brodey Johnson was the story for the Warriors.

ohnson rushed for 226 yards and four touchdowns as the Warriors rolled to a big shutout victory over the Hornets.

Dalton Swindall scored East Ridge’s only other TD besides ohnson’s four.

Johnson was named MVP for East Ridge, while Phelps quarterback Bailey Hurley earned MVP honors for the Hornets.

BELFRY 55, TATES CREEK 38

The Pirates won a shootout over Tates Creek in the final game of the first night of the 2015 Pike County Bowl.

Belfry scored all of its touchdowns on the ground, while Tates Creek scored all of its TDs through the air.

Senior running back Xondre Willis scored three TDs for Belfry. Fullback Derek Wellman added three more rushing TDs for the Pirates and junior fullback Andrew Fletcher scored the Pirates’ other two TDs on

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the game.

Tates Creek quarterback Peyton Burke threw six TDs to lead the Commodore attack. Two of those TDs went to wide receiver Jackson Beerman.

SHELBY VALLEY 34, PIKE CENTRAL 32

In the most exciting game of the Pike County Bowl, the Wildcats edged out the Hawks for a two-point win. Senior running back Chandler Rowe rushed for 176 yards and four TDs to lead the Wildcats past county-rival Pike Central.

Junior running back Jordan Hampton also stepped up with a big game for the Wildcats rushing for 143 yards and a TD.

Quarterback Seth Conn led the way for the Hawks. Conn threw for 253 passing yards and three TDs on 14 of 29 passing.

Austin Mullins also scored for the Hawks on a 65-yard kick return for a TD.

Rowe and Conn were named MVP for their respective teams.

PIKEVILLE

It was all Daric Pugh in the 2015 Pike County Bowl finale.

Pugh rushed for 175 yards and four TDs to help the Panthers pick up a big win over Lecther Central.

Quarterback Cody Dials threw for two TDs for Pikeville as well. Chatlin Jarrell and Andrew McNamee each had TD catches for the Panthers; Jarrell also scored on an interception return for a TD.

Running back Jaylyn Williams rushed for 166 yards and scored the Cougars’ only two TDs of the game.

2014

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXX SHELBY VALLEY 32, PARIS 12

After an hour delay due to lightning, Shelby Valley’s Chandler Rowe led the Wildcats to the win. Rowe scored three touchdowns for the Wildcats and he was named the Wildcats’ VP. Rowe scored the game’s first three TDs to give Shelby Valley a 20-0 halftime lead.

The Wildcats added another TD to go up 26-0.

Paris added two late scores, but Shelby Valley’s lead was never in doubt.

PIKE CENTRAL 45, SOMERSET 34

Pike Central coach Shawn Thacker picked up a win in his debut on the Hawks’ sideline. Quarterback Mac Justice led the way for the Hawks. Justice found his favorite target Brad Elkins for the game’s first two touchdowns the first from 60 yards out and the second from 82 yards out. Pike Central held a 14-0 lead after the first quarter of play. Justice threw for four TDs, while running for another.

Somerset cut Pike Central’s lead to 21-20 with 9:25 left in the third, but Justice threw for two quick scores to give the Hawks the momentum back and secure the win.

BETSY LAYNE 52, PHELPS 6

Lightning just delayed the inevitable as Betsy Layne rolled to a big win over Phelps in the nightcap of the Pike County Bowl at Shelby Valley.

It was all Betsy Layne as the Bobcats held a 26-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Phelps got on the scoreboard in the closing seconds of the game to prevent the shutout.

BELFRY 29, HENRY CLAY 7

Belfry just did what Belfry does — run all over its opponent.

The Pirates rushing attack was

led by senior fullback Austin Hatfield. Hatfield rushed for 128 yards on 21 carries.

Pirate quarterback Keaton Taylor scored the game’s first two touchdowns to give the Pirates a 14-0 lead after the opening quarter of play.

Austin Woolum added a field goal to give the Pirates a 17-0 lead. Henry Clay scored on a fumble recovery for a TD by Joquise Buford.

Hatfield put the game away scoring the game’s final two TDs.

HURLEY 36, EAST RIDGE 15

Turnovers plagued East Ridge as Hurley scored the game’s first two touchdowns after East Ridge fumbles. Hurley scored again to jump out to a 20-0 lead with 5:38 left in the first half.

Brodey Johnson found Trey Little for an eight-yard TD pass to put East Ridge on the board.

The Rebels answered with a TD to push the lead to 28-7.

East Ridge got one more late score as Johnson scored on a QB keeper.

PIKEVILLE 49, HAZARD 36

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49, LETCHER CENTRAL 12

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Daric Pugh.

That was the story for the Panthers.

The junior running back rushed for a whopping 326 yards and seven TDs as Pikeville knocked off Hazard in the finale of the 30th Annual Pike County Bowl.

As most of the players on the field started to wear down in the second half, Pugh was getting stronger. He scored on three straight runs at one point at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth. He scored on a 47-yard TD run, followed by a 70 yard TD run and capped it off with a 57-yard TD on three straight rushes. His seventh and final TD of the game came with just over 2:00 left in the game.

2013

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXIX

SHELBY VALLEY 22, PARIS 19

Shelby Valley’s Chandler Rowe scored two touchdowns on his way to being named VP and ick Wallace added the other score for the Wildcats.

Wallace’s TD came on an 81 yard punt return for a touchdown. Rowe

scored his first TD with just over six minutes left in the first half to give the Wildcats a 14-0 lead.

Paris’ Kobe Garrard scored with 3:46 left in the first half to cut the Wildcat lead to 14-7. The Greyhounds cut the lead to 14-13 in the third quarter as ames Clark scored with 1:02 left in the third quarter.

Rowe scored his second TD to push Valley’s lead to 22-13.

Garrard scored late for Paris, but coming up short on two extra points left the Greyhounds three points shy of the Wildcats. Garrard was named Paris’ VP.

BETSY LAYNE 62, PHELPS 6

It was all Bobcats in the 29th Annual Pike County Bowl.

Betsy ayne scored 28 first quarter points on way to a big win over Phelps.

Phelps’ Da’Von mith scored the Hornets’ only touchdown late in the game.

The Betsy Layne’s high octane offense and aggressive defense was too much for the Hornets to overcome.

HENRY CLAY 52, PIKE CENTRAL 14

Class 6A powerhouse Henry Clay was just too much for Pike Central.

Standout Blue Devil running back Elijah Bell took just 20 seconds to find the end zone as he scored on a 67-yard touchdown pass from amuel Carter.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a 27-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

Pike Central quarterback ac ustice connected with Chris Wesley to get the Hawks on the board and cut the lead to 27-7.

Bell answered on the next drive on a 42-yard TD scamper to push the Blue Devils’ lead to 33-7.

Pike Central added another score late in the game, but it was too little as Henry Clay rolled to the big win.

BELFRY 37, SOMERSET 12

The first half was a nail biter, but in the second half it was all Belfry as the Pirates knocked off the Briar umpers in the primetime game riday night at C.A. . tadium.

Trenity Carr scored two touchdowns for the Pirates and ran for 35 rushing yards. Justin Johnson ran for a team-high 110 yards and a score, while fullback Austin Hatfield also rushed for 101 yards in the game.

Jordan Doan scored both TDs for omerset. He rushed for one TD and had a receiving TD as well.

HURLEY 36, EAST RIDGE 14

ick Gibson threw for two touchdowns and ran for one more in the Rebels’ 36-14 win over East Ridge in the 29th Annual Pike County Bowl.

Devin Tester got things going for Hurley with a score from one-yard out with 9:15 left in the first half.

East Ridge answered as Caleb keens found the end zone from twoyards out to tie the game at 6-6. rom that point, it was all Hurley as the Rebels scored 22 straight points to push the lead to 28-6 and put the game on ice.

PIKEVILLE 62, HAZARD 50 Offense, offense, offense. That was the name of the game between Pikeville and Hazard in the 29th Annual Pike County Bowl finale.

Chase Hall ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns for Pikeville. Cody Estep had 142 yards receiving and and a TD and also scored on a 98-yard fumble recovery for a TD he was named VP for Pikeville. Austin Black added three scores for the Panthers as well, while Daric Pugh added

See HISTORY, Page 24

58 yards rushing and a TD.

Pikeville built up a 56-28 lead in the third quarter, but Hazard rallied to cut the lead to 56-50 in the fourth quarter before the Panthers scored one final time to put the game away.

2012

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXIII

PIKE CENTRAL 62, PHELPS 6

The Hawks dominated the game as ac ustice threw three first half touchdowns to Wes Pugh as Pike Central led 21-0 at the break. Justice ran for two more scores in the second half. Phelps’ lone score came with just 14 seconds left as Davon mith scored on an 80-yard kick return TD.

BELFRY 46, HARRISON COUNTY 14

Belfry dominated from the start as Justin Johnson broke a 56-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage for Belfry. The Pirates pushed the lead to 21-0 in the first quarter. Belfry’s lead grew all the way to 46-0 before Harrison County scored two late TDs.

SHELBY VALLEY 54, EAST RIDGE 22

helby Valley jumped out to a big 24-0 halftime lead against the Warriors and never looked back. Corey Gri th, Donovan ayne and Andrew Brendan acy all scored touchdowns in the first half.

acob keens scored two touchdowns in the second half and ichael Fields added one late for East Ridge, but helby Valley’s lead was too big to overcome.

PIKEVILLE 53, POWELL COUNTY 12

t was all Pikeville from the start as Austin Charles broke a 59-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage for Pikeville. Charles followed that with an 11-yard TD throw to Austin Black on the next possession.

Pikeville’s Cody Estep scored on a 25-yard run at the end of the first half as the Panthers held a 32-6 lead. The Panthers cruised from that point.

2011

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXVII

PIKE CENTRAL 57, PHELPS 6

Pike Central scored at will against Phelps as the Hawks cruised

to a 57-6 victory.

Behind 20-second quarter points, Pike Central jumped out to a 34-0 halftime lead and had no problem cruising to the win.

Phelps stayed close to Pike Central early as the Hornets only trailed 7-0 late in the first quarter. But Wes Pugh returned a 68-yard punt to end the first quarter and put Pike Central on top 14-0.

The Hawks never slowed down from that point, leading 41-0 after three quarters of play.

ustin mith won his second straight Pike County Bowl VP award scored three touchdowns for the Hawks.

Dakota mith, which threw a TD pass to Tommy tiltner as the game ended, earned VP honors for Phelps.

BELFRY 35, HARRISON COUNTY 7

Belfry won its sixth straight Pike County Bowl by cruising past Harrison County 35-7.

Harrison County coach ark Carroll returned home to take on his alma matter and former coach Philip Haywood. The homecoming wasn’t a fun one as Belfry scored 28 first half points. The Pirates raced out to a 28-7

halftime lead and scored on the first possession of the third period to make the score 35-7.

osh Robinson, which won the VP award for Belfry, led the Bucs with 106 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Justin Johnson ran for 97 yards, helping Belfry to 488 yards of total offense.

Harrison County QB oe orona led the Thoroughbreds with 109 yards through the air and was tabbed VP for Harrison County.

The Belfry defense limited Harrison County to 165 yards of total offense.

SHELBY VALLEY 55, EAST RIDGE 6

helby Valley tailback ucas ields had a game that will go down as one of the top performances in Pike County Bowl history as his Wildcats routed East Ridge 55-6.

The Warriors had no answer for Fields as he broke highlight run after highlight run. Fields scored four total TD’s in the game. ields finished with 204 rushing yards and three rushing TD’s on only nine carries. Fields also returned a punt 97-yards to paydirt. The Wildcats led 21-6 at the half before busting out to a big second half

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lead.

Continued From Page 24

East Ridge’s lone score came in the first quarter as ikey tiltner threw a TD strike to Cody mith early in the second quarter to make the score 7-6.

helby Valley responded with 48-straight points.

PIKEVILLE 35, TELLICO PLAINS, TENN. 8

t was hard to label Pikeville standout Randy aynard the quarterback in the Panthers’ 35-8 victory over Tellico Plains.

aynard was more than that, aynard did a little bit of everything, running, throwing and catching the ball in the victory.

aynard accounted for 233 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns.

aynard got Pikeville off to an early lead with a 69-yard TD pass to Cody Estep on Pikeville’s first possession to push the Panthers to a 6-0 lead. Pikeville led 13-0 after the first quarter as aynard also caught a 23yard TD pass in the opening quarter.

The 13-0 score would be the score at the break. But Pikeville scored

twice in the third quarter, including a TD pass by aynard, which earned VP honors. The Panthers took a 280 lead into final quarter of play.

2010

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXVI

EAST RIDGE 30, SHELBY VALLEY 6

Brad Allen’s Warriors came out ready. The underdogs came out and played with enthusiasm and fire. The Warriors picked up their first-ever win on the gridiron over rival helby Valley.

Patrick Casey scored on a 68yard run to give the Warriors and early lead and scored again with 4:40 left in the half to give East Ridge a 14-0 lead. Dalton ewis scored with 2:46 left in the half and Brent Taylor hit a fiel goal as the route was on and East Ridge held a 24-0 lead at the half.

The contest got chippy late as both teams had players to be ejected.

Dalton ewis was named Pike County Bowl VP for East Ridge and Tim mith for helby Valley.

BELFRY 20, COVINGTON HOLY CROSS 13

The Pirates picked up their first win of the season, saw Belfry make a run.

Tyler Williams was named Pike

County Bowl VP for the Pirates. After Holy Cross scored first, Williams answered with a five-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 7-6.

Belfry took the lead as Gary Runyon scored on a two-yard run to cap off a 75-yard drive with 1:54 left in the third.

Williams put the Pirates up 20-7 after scoring on a 33-yard run with 2:54 to play.

PIKE CENTRAL 47, PHELPS 14

The Hawks used to Pike County Bowl to set the tone for the rest of their season as Alan Boggs and company lit up the scoreboard all season.

The Hawks high potent offense and hard hitting defense overpowered the Hornets. Boggs found deep threat

Wes Pugh for a 28-yard TD with 9:11 left in the first quarter and on the Hornets next drive, safety Corey house intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 100 yards to give the Hawks a 14-0 lead.

ustin mith was named Pike County Bowl VP for Pike Central, while Dakota mith was named the VP from Phelps.

PIKEVILLE 16, BOYD COUNTY 7

The Panthers snapped a three-

game losing skid in the Pike County Bowl with the win over Boyd County.

Pikeville trailed 7-3 at halftime.

Panther quarterback Randy aynard gave Pikeville a 10-7 lead as he scored on a 24-yard TD run with in the opening minutes of the second half. aynard scored on a 25-yard run with 1:20 left to play in the game to ice the win.

aynard was named Pike County Bowl VP for the Panthers with 116 yards rushing on 16 carries and two TDs and he threw for 48 yards by completing 12-of-17 pass attempts aynard accounted for 164 yards of total offense.

2009

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXV EAST RIDGE 32, PHELPS 14

East Ridge used a balanced running game and a stingy defense to roll to a 32-14 victory over Phelps. The Hornets struggled with turnovers, turning the ball over four times and the Warriors capitalized on the mistakes.

Patrick Casey and Dalton ewis led the Warriors to victory. Casey rushed for 168 yards and one score to earn the VP award. ewis finished

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HISTORY

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the game with 139 yards rushing.

Steven Dotson was named MVP for Phelps. Greg Blankenship led the Hornets with 68 yards rushing.

BELFRY 28, BOYD COUNTY 14

Belfry tailback Thomas Varney recorded over 300 all-purpose yards as the Pirates won their fourth straight Pike County Bowl game with a 28-14 victory over Boyd County.

Belfry finished with 345 total yards in the game. The Pirates held a 7-0 halftime lead and extended it to 14-0 as Varney returned the second half opening kickoff for a touchdown.

Tyler Arthur turned in a gutsy effort for the ions. Arthur finished the game with 133 yards rushing and 37 yards passing.

SHELBY VALLEY 35, PIKE CENTRAL 13

Shelby Valley used all of its weapons as the Wildcats knocked off Pike Central 35-13.

The Wildcats saw big games from several players including Dillon Hughes, B.J. Roberts, Cody Varney and Tanner Tackett.

After trailing 7-0, Shelby Valley scored 20 straight points to take a 20-7 halftime lead.

Both Shelby Valley and Pike Central were under new coaches. The Hawks were led by first year coach John Chapman and the Wildcats are under the direction of eff orman.

Senior quarterback Aaron McGuire was named MVP for the Hawks.

COV. HOLY CROSS 32, PIKEVILLE 14

Covington Holy Cross quarterback Markel Walker dazzled fans with a performance like no other that pushed the Indians to a 32-14 victory.

Walker finished the game with 312 total yards and three touchdowns. Walker threw for 137 yards and two scores and carried the ball 15 times for 175 yards and a touchdown.

Pikeville’s Blake Branham led the Panthers, completing 16-of-28 pass attempts for 196 yards. The Indians shut down Pikeville’s run game, limiting the Panthers to 23 yards rushing on 19 carries.

2008

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXIV

SHELBY VALLEY 60, EAST RIDGE 14

The Wildcats rolled to a big win

against East Ridge. B.J. Roberts led a balanced Shelby Valley running attack with 79 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and also scored a touchdown on an interception on his way to being named MVP.

Bryan Casey was named East Ridge MVP. The young quarterback moved the ball through the air and on the ground for the Warriors.

Shelby Valley coach Kevin Saunders moved to 3-0 in the Pike County Bowl, while East Ridge first-year coach Brad Allen lost his coaching debut with the Warriors.

BELFRY 49, LOUISVILLE HOLY CROSS 14

Belfry had three players to rush for more than 100 yards against Holy Cross. van ee, Chase aynard and Thomas Varney each rushed for more than 100 yards. ee was named VP for the Pirates as he rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

Holy Cross lost its second straight Pike County Bowl.

PIKE CENTRAL 53, PHELPS 6

Michael Chandler led the way for Pike Central scoring three touchdowns. He scored rushing the ball and on a 66-yard punt return touchdown.

Ryan Hager scored with 6:22 left in the game to put Phelps on the scoreboard. Jesse Peck lost his coaching debut with Phelps. Phelps dropped its eighth straight Pike County Bowl.

CORBIN 23, PIKEVILLE 15

The Panthers fell behind 16-0 to Corbin. Daniel Harmon led the way back as he gained 213 yards rushing and two touchdowns; he was named MVP for Pikeville. However, Harmon and the Panthers came up a 1/2 yard short late in the game. Harmon caught a pass from Blake Branham, but fell out of bounds 1/2 yard short of the first down.

Michael Copley lost his coaching debut for Pikeville.

2007

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXIII

EAST RIDGE 27, PHELPS 0

Senior running back Caleb Epling scored three touchdowns to give Bobby Branham a win in his debut as Warrior coach. Epling finished with three touchdowns and was named MVP for East Ridge.

Phelps dropped to 0-7 in the Pike County Bowl with the loss, but the Hornets were credited for a victo-

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ry after the season was over because East Ridge used an ineligible player. Patrick Dotson was named MVP for Phelps.

BELFRY 21, CORBIN 0

Belfry just overpowered the Redhounds. Senior fullback Dustin May led the way on offense as he ran over defenders for 142 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. He was named Belfry’s MVP.

Belfry’s stingy defense shut down Corbin’s standout quarterback Clint Cashen. The Pirates pushed their record to 16-7 all-time in the Pike County Bowl.

SHELBY VALLEY 34, PIKE CENTRAL 12

The game opened with three straight turnovers. Cody Mitchell scored two touchdowns for Shelby Valley. He finished with 84 yards rushing.

oe ichols scored on an 84 yard interception for a touchdown for Pike Central.

Shelby Valley coach Kevin Saunders moved to 2-0 in the Pike County Bowl and the win marked his 100th career victory.

PIKEVILLE 28, LOUISVILLE HOLY CROSS 18

Pikeville standout running back Daniel Harmon opened the second half with a 96 yard kick return for a touchdown. Harmon was named VP he finished with 161 yards rushing and two touchdowns to go with the big kick return.

The win snapped a two game losing streak in the Pike County Bowl for the Panthers.

2006

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXII

SHELBY VALLEY 79, PHELPS 6

New Shelby Valley coach Kevin aunders made a splash in first Pike County Bowl, leading the Wildcats to the most lop-sided win in Bowl history.

Shelby Valley also set a Pike County Bowl record for most points scored as quarterback Tyler Johnson earned Most Valuable Player honors as he passed for 125 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Russell Johnson earned MVP honors for Phelps.

PIKE CENTRAL 26, EAST RIDGE 21

Gordon Varney joined the elite group of players who earned back-toback Pike County Bowl Most Valuable Player honors as he returned from a knee injury and rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns in the Hawks’ win.

Quarterback Quirvon Merchant found wide receiver Joe Nichols in the end zone for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown. David Ratliff was selected as VP for East Ridge.

HENRY CLAY 31, PIKEVILLE 0

The Class 4A Thoroughbreds shut down the Panthers after Pikeville drove down to the 5-yard line on its first possession. Pikeville had just 95 yards of offense after that drive and senior quarterback John Michael Mayo had to leave the game after suffering a concussion that ended his senior season.

Led by all-stater Dirk Minnifield, Henry Clay used three quarterback and collectively passed for 291 yards, completing 27 of 36 passes. Clark Jeter earned most valuable player honors with 11 catches for 121 yards.

Sophomore Daniel Harmon led Pikeville with 126 yards rushing on 26 carries and also completed a pass for 44 yards, earning him the MVP award.

BELFRY 7, NEWPORT CATHOLIC 6

In a thrilling defensive struggle, Newport Catholic came up just three yards short of a second-straight Pike County Bowl win, but a two-point conversion try late in the fourth quarter was broken up, giving Belfry the win.

With two of the winningest coaches in Kentucky history on the sidelines, Philip Haywood got the better of Bob Schneider as Gerald Epling broke up a pass attempt with 2:47 to play to preserve Belfry’s lead. Epling also had an interception as he earned the MVP award.

Belfry’s defense held vaunted running back and reigning MVP Michael Vicars to just 55 yards on 15 carries. Corey Chapman provided Belfry’s only touchdown with a 53-yard scoring run.

2005

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XXI

HENRY CLAY 43, BELFRY 14

Henry Clay Clay scored 36 unaswered points and Salin Simpson was named MVP completing 11 of 17 passes for 190 yards.

Belfry’s Matt Maynard was voted

MVP on the Pirate side scoring both TDs and gaining a 135 yards on 12 carries. Corey Chapman picked up 99 yards on the ground and Dustin May added 44 for the Pirates.

PIKE CENTRAL 32, PHELPS 14

Chris c amee kicked off his second stint as Pike Central coach with a big win. Gordan Varney led the Hawks with 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns; he was named MVP. Quirvon erchant added 87 yards and a TD in the win.

Phelps coach Chris Hagerman’s first game didn’t go as well as he wished. Hornet QB Robert Gannon was named VP with 138 yards threw the air, 88 yards rushing and two TDs.

SHELBY VALLEY 14, EAST RIDGE 6

After a heat delay in the first quarter Shelby Valley was able to score to 14 first quarter points. ohn McPeek was named MVP for the Wildcats gaining 91 yards to lead the Shelby Valley run attack. East Ridge’s only score came near the end of the first half when QB David Ratliff hit yle letcher for a 51-yard score.

NEWPORT CATHLOLIC 37, PIKEVILLE 6

Newport Catholic controlled the line of scrimmage and gained 329 yards of offense. QB am Diehl had two passing and two rushing TDs. Running back Michael Vicars was named MVP for the Thouroughbreds picking up 130 yards on 15 carries.

Pikeville’s offense struggled all game long and were held to just 92 yards of total offense. The Panthers only score of the game came off a 13yard TD run by Chazz Jackson.

2004

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XX

PIKEVILLE 14, PRESTONSBURG 0

Pikeville senior fullback Robert hurtleff earned VP honors for the Panthers after scoring both of Pikeville’s touchdowns and running for 132 yards in the host team’s victory.

He scored both TDs in the first 13 minutes of the games on runs of three and 55 yards while the Panthers’ defense held the Blackcats to just 21 yards rushing on its way to the win.

BELFRY 41, ESTILL COUNTY 14

Belfry started its second consecutive Class 2A state championship chase with 228 yards on just seven carries by senior tailback Doug How-

ard on its way to an easy win over the Engineers.

David Jones, who signed to play football for the University of Kentucky after graduation, posted 150 yards and three TDs on just five carries. The Pirates scored on their first three possessions.

PIKE CENTRAL 46, SHELBY VALLEY 38

Pike Central senior Chase Snodgrass only had one touchdown in the 2004 Pike County Bowl but he made it count, plunging in from a yard away during the third overtime to give the Hawks their third bowl victory in a row.

The Hawks ran up 359 yards on the ground, with sophomore Gordan Varney accounting for 229 of them. ullback Anthony Chapman ran for 146 yards and three TDs, including one in each of the first two OT periods.

Shelby Valley senior quarterback Timmy Gri th only completed one pass in the game, but it was his 14yard throw to Patrick Tackett which forced the second OT. Gri th led the way for the Wildcats with 116 yards rushing and also ran for a TD.

EAST RIDGE 46, PHELPS 40

Until East Ridge’s Derek Sesco fell on Phelps’ final onside kick, the outcome of the Warriors’ first-ever Pike County Bowl victory was far from assured.

East Ridge senior quarterback, Paul Deese threw two touchdown passes, ran for another TD and scored another on an interception return; he also hit two extra-point kicks and ran in a two-point conversion on his way to MVP honors.

Phelps’ Chris Robinette split time between running back and quarterback, piling up 116 yards on the ground and 72 in the air with a TD each way.

The Hornets controlled the ball for 32-1/2 minutes and ran for 339 yards but East Ridge had a deeper roster and used that to its advantage, moving the ball at will in the second half. However, Phelps never got the message that it was supposed to go away and answered the Warriors touchdown for touchdown after halftime. A 19-yard TD pass from Robinette to Chris Hardin and Robinette’s two-point conversion with 25 seconds to go had the Hornets six points out of the lead before Sesco tracked down the onside kickoff attempt.

“They were like a gnat at a barbecue,” Deese said after the game. “They just never went away.”

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2003

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XIX BOYD COUNTY 18, BELFRY 0

Belfry’s run to the state’s Double-A crown could not have started more ignominiously. With new faces up and down the offensive line, the Pirates got shut out by Class 3A Boyd County.

Four years after getting drilled by Belfry, the ions came south and outplayed the Pirates in every aspect of the game, holding them to 58 yards rushing and forcing two key turnovers.

Junior running back David ones was named Belfry’s VP, but Boyd County limited him to 19 yards on only eight carries. Belfry Coach Philip Haywood said his team didn’t attack the ions the way he expected and that Boyd County controlled the game.

Boyd senior tailback Jake Hughes was named his team’s VP, carrying the ball 19 times for 88 yards to go with three catches for 25 yards. The ions role up 256 total yards and

ran roughshod over the Pirate defense for 212 yards on the ground.

LAWRENCE COUNTY 26, PIKEVILLE 0

awrence County made history in the nightcap of Saturday’s action at Hillard Howard ield, which was swathed in a brand-new coat of synthetic grass. But it wasn’t the kind of history local fans enjoyed.

Never before had Pikeville and Belfry both been shut out in the Pike County Bowl until awrence County TKO’d the Panthers on their own home field.

Bulldog running back James Storts made the Pikeville defense look pretty hapless in an VP effort, blowing by the Panthers for 200 yards on 23 carries. Quarterback Bryan Short had what was recorded as a 56-yard touchdown run that will be remembered for his sideline-to-sideline dash that ended with a dive into the end zone. awrence County rolled over Pikeville for 311 yards on 53 running plays.

Weston Robinson was voted Pikeville’s VP, with a 68-yard rushing effort that accounted for almost all of the Panthers’ ground attack. He was also Pikeville’s leading receiver with two catches for 44 yards.

SHELBY VALLEY 46, PHELPS 6

The first meeting between helby Valley and Phelps in 13 seasons wasn’t quite as bad as the last time the two teams played each other.

n 1990, the two teams’ game was postponed one night after storms rolled through the Phelps area. In 2003, violent storms that blew into Robinson Creek held up the game for two hours once the lightning started ashing right at the end of halftime of the Friday doubleheader’s opening game.

Shelby Valley led 39-0 when the lightning started and cruised to an easy win after the game resumed.

Junior quarterback Timmy Griffith was voted helby Valley’s VP for a 5-for-7 passing effort with 136 yards and three touchdowns — all in the first half. oe Wyatt carried the ball 12 times for 96 yards as the Wildcats picked up 406 yards of offense. Jared Branham had three catches for 106 yards.

or Phelps, osh ohnson was named MVP after scoring the Hornets’ first-ever TD in the Pike County Bowl. He set it up with a 54-yard run off a sweep and got the rest of the yardage with a nine-yard run. He finished with 77 yards on eight carries.

Pike Central cleared the 40-point barrier for the second straight year and picked up its third straight win in the Pike County Bowl by running roughshod over the Warrior. iterally.

Hawks Coach Johnny Poynter came into the game saying “Everybody knows we’re a passing team” after his team’s aerial output of 2002, but the Hawks scored four rushing touchdowns and three conversions in the first half in a game which ended after 1 a.m. due to the lightning delay in the Shelby Valley-Phelps game. The game started 1-1/2 hours late and ran into trouble at the start of the fourth quarter when a blown circuit breaker knocked out the lights at one end of the field. However, o cials and coaches agreed to allow both offenses to play toward the south end of the field.

The Hawks gained 230 yards on 39 rushing attempts. Team MVP Scott Combs had 76 yards on the ground while wide receiver Sonny Buckley had two catches for 71 yards.

East Ridge MVP Willie Collins had 35 yards on 10 carries.

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HISTORY

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2002

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XVIII BELFRY 14, TATES CREEK 13

A clipping call on the final play of the game negated a potential winning touchdown by Class 4A Tates Creek and allowed the Pirates to claim a win over the Commodores. Belfry trailed 13-0 in the first half but senior tailback onah Caudill scored with 11 minutes left in the game senior kicker oey Ramey hit the extra point to put Belfry ahead for good.

Caudill had over 100 yards on the ground and was named the game’s VP. Quarterback Paul Howard scored Belfry’s other TD with less than a minute left in the first half.

PIKEVILLE 31,

CAMPBELLSVILLE 8

Panther senior Paul ullivan took the first steps on what would become a 2,000-yard season with 263 yards rushing and three touchdowns as Pikeville thrashed Campbellsville in the first game of the aturday night doubleheader. He blew through the Campbellsville defense for a 75-yard TD run on Pikeville’s third play from

scrimmage, scoring again later in the first quarter on a 64-yard sprint.

ellow senior arrod rasure also scored a TD and junior quarterback Derek word hit tight end Robert hurtleff for what turned into a 40-yard score.

SHELBY

VALLEY 27, EAST RIDGE 22

oe Wyatt put helby Valley over the top with a 37-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter, then the Wildcats recovered East Ridge’s onside kick attempt with less than a minute left in the game to hand the Warriors a loss in their first game ever.

VH rolled up 308 yards rushing, led by immy Henson with 11 runs for 104 yards and two touchdowns.

The game, played at helby Valley marked a first: ntil this contest, no Pike County Bowl game had ever counted in a district race.

PIKE CENTRAL 49, PHELPS 0

Pike Central senior ustin cCurry was named the VP of the game for good reason he passed for 275 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Hawks to an easy win over Phelps that gave ohnny Poynter a victory in his debut as Pike Central’s

head coach.

Pike Central junior Eric Coleman rushed for 60 yards on 10 carries and had a 40-yard TD reception to go with two touchdown runs. cCurry also ran the ball for 48 yards and one more touchdown.

The Hawks’ defense held Phelps to 119 yards. Hornet running back osh tratton led Phelps with 86 yards.

2001

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XVII

BELFRY 14, HARRISON COUNTY 12

Belfry used a quarterback shufe of seniors Daniel Wright and oseph tanley the entire game, but junior onah Caudill led the Pirates to a last-second victory. Caudill rushed for 175 yards, including 130 in the first half. Caudill took the Pirates’ first snap of the second quarter 80 yards for a touchdown and game Belfry a 7-0 lead at the half. enior B. . Wallace scored on a five-yard run to give Belfry a 14-6 led with 7:23 left in the game before Harrison County hit pay dirt. Will Blackburn knocked down the potentially-tying two-point conversion and the Pirates held on to get the win.

LEXINGTON LAFAYETTE 33,

PIKEVILLE 14

Pikeville standout senior running back Barrett Rogers was sidelined with an injury and afayette running back Elrazor harp took over. harp slipped the grasp of Panther’s defenders and rushed for 258 yards on 18 carries with four touchdowns to give the Generals the victory. Pikeville senior Paul ullivan had 103 yards rushing on 12 carries, junior arrod rasure finished with 92 yards rushing on 10 carries with one touchdown and senior Don Paul Branham recovered a fumble for touchdown.

PIKE CENTRAL 33, HARLAN 25

Pike Central used the offensive output of running back yle Wood and quarterback ustin cCurry to offset the Green Dragons’ amie acobs. The Hawks ew out of a 19-19 tie at the end of the third quarter with a touchdown apiece by Wood and Benny Grigsby. Wood rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns to earn VP honors while cCurry threw for 176 yards and three touchdowns.

PARIS 61, SHELBY VALLEY 0 Paris broke away to a 33-point

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lead after the first quarter and went on to keep the Wildcats out of the end zone the entire game as the Greyhounds established the most-lopsided victory margin in Pike County Bowl history. helby Valley senior quarterback ris Prater threw for 151 yards while the Greyhounds were led by the duo of Bruce haw, who rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, and Odell Cosby, who ran for three touchdowns and threw for another.

2000

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XVI BELFRY 35, BOURBON COUNTY 26

Belfry began the game with an offensive onslaught with a 20-0 lead before the Pirates fought off a late Bourbon County comeback for the victory. Belfry senior Curtis Childress led the Pirate attack by rushing 16 times for 122 yards and a touchdown and catching three passes for 23 yards and two more scores to claim the VP honors. Belfry quarterback Casey equire went 11-of-18 for 177 yards and four touchdowns.

PIKEVILLE 46, LAWRENCE COUNTY 36

Quarterback att Branham threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more to earn VP honors as Pikeville held off awrence County to snap the Panthers’ four-game losing streak in the Pike County Bowl. Pikeville gained 289 yards on the ground led by junior tailback Barrett Rogers with 145 yards on 17 carries, while holding the Bulldogs to 28 yards passing. The win game Pikeville Coach Chris c amee the distinction of being the first person to win a Pike County Bowl game as both player and a coach.

BELLEVUE 60, PIKE CENTRAL 0

Bellevue rode a 86-yard opening kickoff return to hand Pike Central what at the time was the most lopsided margin in Pike County Bowl history. Bellevue scored on its first four possessions and ran away with the game, which featured numerous miscues by the Hawks’ special teams. David Branham was named Pike Central’s Bowl VP with many of the Hawks eyeing the future.

HARRODSBURG 41, SHELBY VALLEY 6 Harrodsburg and helby Valley

opened the 16th Pike County Bowl with a contest quickly going from a 6-6 tie to an impressive Harrodsburg victory. Harrodsburg returned the opening kickoff 76 yards for a touchdown, but the extra-point was blocked by Valley’s ohn Akers. Valley quarterback Brandon tevens hit Valley Bowl VP Todd ewsome for the tying score, but Harrodsburg notched touchdowns in each of its next five possessions to take the win.

1999

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XV BOYLE COUNTY 24, PIKEVILLE 6

Pikeville’s losing steak in the Pike County Bowl was extended to four games with its loss to eventual Class 2A state champion Boyle County. Pikeville’s defense gave up only two touchdowns, but could not get its offense started. n what would turn out to be uncharacteristic performances, quarterback att Branham was just 13-of-31 for 92 yards in the game, and wide receiver eremiah Akers caught just two passes for 28 yards.

BELFRY 21, BOYD COUNTY 2

Belfry posted its first Pike County Bowl win since 1996 with its victory over Boyd County. ot everything

went according to plan for the Pirates offensively, as highly-touted quarterback onathan Wright threw four interceptions and just one touchdown in the game.

SHELBY VALLEY 46, ELKHORN CITY 12 helby Valley and Elkhorn City faced off in the first game of the Pike County Bowl in 1999. Valley senior running back Dusty Hall scored four times in the game, on three rushes and a reception, rushing for 181 yards on 13 carries. Teammate Casey ewsome was equally dominate, running up 113 yards on seven carries. Elkhorn City scored all 12 of its points in the fourth quarter, on a three-yard run from arrod Belcher and a 39-yard scramble from quarterback Adam Ratliff.

PIKE CENTRAL 46, PHELPS 0

Pike Central made Coach Barry Birchfield’s debut a successful one, running backs oe Waugh, tephen Varney, and Bobbie Worrix all rushed for touchdowns, and the Hawks’ running game put up a total of 272 yards on the ground. Pike Central freshman quarterback ustin cCurry also

See HISTORY, Page 32

made an impressive debut, connecting on all three passes he threw and getting 96 yards with two touchdowns.

1998

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XIV

CAMPBELL COUNTY 7, BELFRY 6

A blocked extra point was the difference in a defensive struggle.

Belfry took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on Jonathan Wright’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Smith, but kicker Curtis Childress’ extra point was blocked.

It hurt because Campbell County began the second half with a 60-yard drive which included four third-down conversions. Campbell County scored a touchdown on the drive and put through a critical extra point. Neither team would score again.

BREATHITT COUNTY 33, PIKEVILLE 0

New Pikeville Coach John Chapman began his tenure at PHS by taking on his former mates. Before coming to Pikeville, Chapman was the defensive coordinator at Breathitt County and his former defensive players didn’t lose a beat as they held Pikeville scoreless.

Pikeville running back Jonathan Chapman finished with 90 yards on 14 carries but Breathitt County’s Jason White was outstanding. He scored four touchdowns on touchdown receptions of 69 and 50 yards, an eightyard run and a 38-yard interception return. He rushed for 105 yards on 18 carries.

Breathitt County quarterback Kyle Moore was also outstanding, connecting on 14 of 20 passes for 242 yards.

1997

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XIII

LOUISVILLE MALE 7, BELFRY 0

ew expected Belfry to hang with Class 4A Louisville Male in the ‘97 Pike County Bowl.

The Pirates did, but eventually lost 7-0.

Belfry had a pair of opportunities to tie the game or take the lead late in the game. But the defense of Male, especially in the secondary, came up with the big plays.

The statistics told the story of how close the game really was. Belfry had 192 total years, while ale has 189. Also, each team had nine first downs.

Male dented the scoreboard just

before the half on Garner Byers’ two -yard touchdown plunge. It would prove to be the only score of the game.

“I think our kids gave a good effort and played very hard and very physical, Belfry Coach Philip Haywood said, “The boys were disappointed because we felt like we could’ve won it. But if we can keep that kind of intensity up, the rest of it will come around.”

Senior running back Micah Caudill paced the Pirate offense with 18 rushes for 48 yards and three catches for 70 more yards.

The game marked the debut at quarterback for Belfry’s much heralded sophomore Jonathan Wright. He relieved evin Deskins in the fourth quarter.

ASHLAND BLAZER 70, PIKEVILLE 28

The nightcap of the 1997 Pike County Bowl was a shocker.

Ashland pounded Pikeville 7028 in what was then the most lopsided game in bowl history.

The Panthers simply couldn’t stop the Tomcats, which rolled up 519 total yards, including 503 on the ground.

Bowl MVP Jack Smith, a senior running back for Ashland, rushed 15 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, it was just poor tackling bodies ying out of position and out of their space, Pikeville Coach Royce Mayo said. “You just can’t play a good football team like that. With good backs, you have to get down and be aggressive ... And I’ll take the blame for that, not having our defenders ready to go.

Ashland led 13-0 after one quarter, 38-16 at the half and 44-16 after three.

Chad Newsome, Pikeville’s bowl game VP, rushed for 85 yards. Quarterback Ben Howard completed 9-of-15 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown.

1996

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XII

BELFRY 40, NORTH LAUREL 0

Belfry’s slogan Angry red, enough said held to form in the second game of the 1996 Pike County Bowl as the Pirates crushed Class 4A orth aurel 40-0.

Belfry, coached by Philip Haywood, rolled up 413 yards, led by junior tailback icah Caudill offensive VP , who had 118 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns.

The Pirates’ defense limited the Jaguars to only 87 total yards.

Defensively, we controlled the game, Haywood said after the game.

We played hard on both sides of the ball.”

BARDSTOWN 28, PIKEVILLE 6

Bardstown spoiled Pikeville Coach Royce Mayo’s debut, cashing in on four Panther turnovers to win the 96 Pike County Bowl opener 28-6 at Pikeville’s W.C. Hambley Athletic Complex.

Mayo, who was replacing departed Coach Hillard Howard, was disappointed after the game.

“We just couldn’t punch it in,” Mayo said. “And you can’t beat anybody with four turnovers.

The Panthers were playing without the services of starting quarterback Doug Powers, who was injured in a preseason game. Sophomore Ben Howard, son of Hillard Howard, got the nod.

Pikeville’s only score was a Howard touchdown pass to Todd McCoy in the fourth quarter.

1995

PIKE COUNTY BOWL XI

PIKEVILLE 59, PARIS 20

Pikeville rolled out to a 44-7 halftime lead and cruised the rest of the way, crushing Paris 59-20.

Panther running back Eddie Deramus was the game’s MVP. The junior rushed for 154 yards and had a touchdown run of 69 yards.

PHS Coach Hillard Howard was pleased after the game.

f we score that many points every game, we’re not going to lose many ballgames,” he said.

The Panthers amassed 419 total yards to Paris’ 79.

Brent Coleman added 108 rushing yards for PH .

BELFRY 28, HARRISON COUNTY 0

Belfry sophomore running back icah Caudill rushed for 173 yards on 21 carries and scampered for a 65-yard touchdown run to lead the Pirates past Harrison County 28-0.

But the story of the game was Belfry’s defense, which only allowed 135 yards running and none through the air. Mike Hardin anchored the Belfry D, recording 10 tackles.

n addition to snu ng out Harrison’s offense, Belfry rolled up 275 yards on the ground.

Adam Eastwood carried the ball 13 times for 58 yards.

1994

PIKE COUNTY BOWL X PRESTONSBURG 26, PIKEVILLE 21

Prestonsburg ruined the return of Pikeville Coach Hillard Howard

when Blackcat quarterback Thomas Ratliff scored on a short run with two seconds left on the clock to boost Prestonsburg to a 26-21 win before an estimated crowd of 6,000.

However, it was a controversial win for the Blackcats. The side judge appeared to mark the ball just short of the goal line.

“I don’t think he was in,” said Howard after the game. thought the o ciating was poor.

Brent Coleman led the Panthers as he ran for 126 yards.

Howard had turned the program over to Bill Allara the past two seasons and was in his first game back at the Pikeville helm.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY 46, BELFRY 21

Belfry committed nine costly turnovers and was blown out by a talented Montgomery County team, 46-21.

“We just destroyed ourselves with mistakes one after another, Belfry Coach Philip Haywood said after the game.

The Indians chewed up the Pirate defense, rushing for 333 yards and passing for another 49.

1993

PIKE COUNTY BOWL IX

PIKEVILLE 26, LEXINGTON CATHOLIC 13

The Panthers rushed for 320 total yards and beat Lexington Catholic 26-13.

Pikeville senior running back J.I. Joplin was the games’ hero as he ran for 158 yards on 16 carries. oplin had rumbled for 41 and nine-yard touchdowns runs.

DANVILLE 53, BELFRY 14

Powerful Danville increased its winning streak to 30 games as it thrashed Belfry 53-14.

Danville smashed through the Pirates defense, rolling up 350 total yards and limiting Belfry to only 57 rushing yards on 50 attempts.

1992

PIKE COUNTY BOWL VIII

PIKEVILLE 20, BREATHITT COUNTY 13

Pikeville quarterback J.P. Blair completed 9-of-14 passes for 180 yards to lead the Panthers to a 20-13 win over Breathitt County.

One of Blair’s completions was a 79-yard touchdown strike to J.I. Joplin the longest pass reception in the history of the Pike County Bowl.

The score gave the Panthers a 20-7 lead in the fourth quarter.

See HISTORY, Page 33

Chase Goodman led the Pikeville defense with 10 solo tackles and a sack.

BELFRY 21, ROCKCASTLE COUNTY 6

Belfry junior quarterback Jason tacy fired two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Pirates past Rockcastle County, a team ranked third in the state among 2A teams.

Rockcastle could only muster 128 yards on the ground on 28 carries.

Stacy completed six passes for 90 yards and ran in a 72-yard touchdown in the game’s first play from scrimmage.

“How about that!” Belfry Coach Philip Haywood said. “Overall, we showed a lot of poise.”

1991

PIKE COUNTY BOWL VII

PIKEVILLE 27, LINCOLN COUNTY 14

J.J. Bailey ran all over Class 3A Lincoln County, rushing for 240 yards, to lead Panthers to a 27-14 win.

“He is a phenomenal back,” PHS Coach Bill Allara said. “He can make

things happen.”

Pikeville rushed for 362 yards. Jason Blackburn was the defensive hero, recording 16 tackles.

BELFRY 21, FORT CAMPBELL 14

Belfry downed Fort Campbell 2114 to complete the first Pike County Bowl sweep in three years. Pikeville had beaten Lincoln County earlier in the day.

With the score tied, 14-14, the Pirates went on a 13-play, 83-yard drive, culminating with a four-yard Kevin Varney touchdown run with 4:13 left in the game to put Belfry up for good.

Chris Phillips rushed for 164 yards on 14 carries. QB Shawn Hager passed for 51 yards and ran for another 31 to earn game MVP honors. Matt Varney had 16 tackles.

1990

PIKE COUNTY BOWL VI BEECHWOOD 27, PIKEVILLE 13

Beechwood had 247 yards on the ground and beat the defending threetime Class 1A state champion Panthers, 27-13.

PHS was only able to rush for 185 yards on 33 carries, led by Shane Allara, who ran for 69 yards.

Pikeville closed the gap to 21-

13 in the fourth quarter when Allara scampered for a 25-yard touchdown run with 9:59 left, but that was as close as the Panthers would get.

BELFRY 38, FT. THOMAS HIGHLANDS 7

Belfry crushed the top-ranked 3A team in the state, Fort Thomas Highlands, 38-7.

The Pirates defense was suffocating as it only allows 121 total yards. Belfry rolled up 353 total yards — including 292 on the ground.

Dale Oliver led the Pirates with 101 yards on only seven carries and added a 45-yard touchdown run. J.J. Hylton had 11 tries for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Dennis Fouch chipped in with 64 yards rushing.

Belfry led 17-7 at the half and 31-7 at the end of three quarters.

“I’m surprised by the score,” Belfry Coach Philip Haywood said.

1989

PIKE COUNTY BOWL V

PIKEVILLE 21, RACELAND 7

Pikeville, the defending Class 1A state champion, spotted the Rams a 7-0 lead, but 21 unanswered points spelled doom for Raceland.

Pikeville’s Steve Bailey scored all three Panther touchdowns on runs

of 29, seven and five and rushed for 145 yards on 16 carries.

Shane Allara added 104 yards on the ground.

BELL COUNTY 17, BELFRY 0

The Pirates suffered their first loss in the history of the Pike County Bowl as they fell short 17-0 to Bell County.

Belfry threatened to score on several occasions but could not get into the end zone.

The Pirates were held to 135 yards rushing. Russell Carter led the way as he carried the ball eight times for 51 yards.

1988

PIKE COUNTY BOWL IV PIKEVILLE 37, NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC 0

Pikeville, the defending Class 1A state champion, recorded its 15th win in a row with a 37-0 dismantling of Newport Central Catholic.

The Panthers only yielded 79 yards on the ground.

“We played awfully well overall,” PHS Coach Hillard Howard said. “Our defense was outstanding. We came into this thing ready.”

See HISTORY, Page 34

Greg Hackney led Pikeville’s ground attack with a bowl-record 215 yards. He also scored three TDs.

BELFRY 16, CLARK COUNTY 13

Belfry’s Chris Wingard, a transfer student from a North Carolina high school, booted a 27-yard field goal on the game’s final play to lift the Pirates past Clark County, 16-13. Wingard, a 5-foot-7, 117-pounder, used to play soccer in the Tarheel State.

ike cott led Belfry’s offense with 145 yards on 17 attempts. He also caught two passes for 60 more yards.

’m real proud of our kids, Belfry Coach Philip Haywood said. They played their hearts out.

1987

PIKE COUNTY BOWL III

BEECHWOOD 21, PIKEVILLE 20 (SUSPENDED)

In the most bizarre game in Pike County Bowl history, a lightning storm at halftime forced the game’s suspension with Beechwood leading Pikeville 21-20.

After one hour of heavy rain, the game was ... well, rained out.

The two teams hooked up again in the Class 1A state playoffs and the Panthers went on to win that one 5228 to advance to the state championship game.

Leading Pikeville’s defense that year was senior defensive back Chris McNamee, former Pike Central coach and current coach at PHS.

BELFRY 14, CORBIN 10

Corbin took a 10-0 lead but Belfry railed to win 14-10.

The Pirates stopped the Redhounds on a key fourth-and-one play at the five-yard line and capitalized on their emotions when Pirate Keith May ran 85 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter to cut the lead to 10-7.

Mike Scott’s 44-yard touchdown

run in the fourth quarter was the difference. May and Scott rushed for 94 and 60 yards respectively.

Chris Ratliff had 10 tackles.

1986

PIKE COUNTY BOWL II

PARIS 28, PIKEVILLE 15

Paris, the No. 1-rated team in Class 1A, got past Pikeville 28-15 in the second Pike County Bowl. The Panthers were limited to only 173 yards rushing.

BELFRY 21, HARRISON COUNTY 14

Down 14-7, Belfry mounted a comeback. Two third-quarter touchdowns were the difference as the Pirates got past Harrison County, 21-14, before about 5,000 fans.

Dwayne Francisco rushed 19 times for 72 yards and completed 4-of7 passes for 41 yards. Anthony Tackett ran for 78 yards, while Mike Scott rushed for another 66.

1985

PIKE COUNTY BOWL I

27, CUMBERLAND 21

The first-ever Pike County Bowl ended in controversy, but Pikeville won the game 27-21 over Cumberland.

Cumberland quarterback reddie aggard’s pass to Darren ones fell short in the end zone on a fourthand-goal play with 1:20 left, but one o cial signaled touchdown.

After an o cials’ discussion, the touchdown call was reversed and Pikeville got the ball on downs. The Panthers ate up the rest of the clock and held on for the win.

A videotape showed ones had in fact trapped the ball.

Keith Washington, a junior, rushed for 112 yards to lead PHS.

BELFRY 7, SOMERSET 6

Belfry trailed 6-0, but scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to take the win.

Anthony Tackett was the game’s VP, as he carried the ball 13 times for 154 yards for Belfry.

Community Trust Bank/WYMT-TV

Pike County Bowl

Queens of Years past

2022 – Cassidy Slater, Pikeville High School

2021 – Mary Abigail Coleman, Pike Central High School

2019 – Bailey Drew Birchfield, Pike Central High School

2018 – Kassidy Tackett, Shelby Valley High School

2017 – Kassidy Morgan Childers, Pike Central High School

2016 – Kaley Long, Belfry High School

2015 – Courtney Maynard, Pikeville High School

2014 – Ashleigh Wallace, Henry Clay High School

2013 – Abigail Lucille May, Henry Clay High School

2012 – Madison Brooke Tackett, Pikeville High School

2011 – Molly Carol Bates, Pikeville High School

2010 – Andrea Jade Pavlik, Shelby Valley High School

2009 – Hannah Elizabeth Thompson, Pike County Central High School

2008 – Jasmine Kalia Hall, Phelps High School

2007 – Gina Rochelle Perronie, Holy Cross High School

2006 – Kenisha LaKaye Webb, Pike County Central High School

2005 – Brittany Lea Deskins, Shelby Valley High School

2004 – Savannah Katelyn Slone, Pike County Central High School

2003 – Sarah Elizabeth Billiter, Shelby Valley High School

2002 – Katherine Marie Reasor, Pikeville High School

2001 – Alison Michele Justice, Pike County Central High School

2000 – Kyla Danett Ahn, Elkhorn City High School

1999 – Sarah Ruth Bliffen, Pike County Central High School

1998 – Candace Fields, Belfry High School

1997 – Jennifer Lynn Surgalski, Paul Blazer High School

1996 – Kelli Jo Johnson, Shelby Valley High School

1995 – Lori Ann Clark, Paris High School

1994 – LeeAnne Edmonds, Pike County Central High School

1993 – Melissa Lynn Pinson, Pikeville High School

1992 – Pepper Hayes Thacker, Phelps High School

1991 – Amy Maria Hunt, Johns Creek High School

1990 – Karen Brooks Wells, Beechwood High School

1989 – Vanessa Renee Gibson, Virgie High School

1988 – Shawna M. Gastright, Newport Central Catholic High School

1987 – Melissa L. Goodman, Virgie High School

1986 – Jackie Meade Thompson, Johns Creek High School

1985 – Marta Lee O'Brien, Belfry High School

adel n Robinson

2022 Pike County Bowl ueen assid later

a y la e is the eighteen-year-old daughter of Paul and Valerie later of Pikeville, entucky. Cassidy graduated from Pikeville High chool in ay of 2022 where she maintained a 4.0

lly leman is the seven-teen-year-old daughter of Christian and im Coleman of tanville, entucky. he is a senior at Pikeville High chool and maintains a 3.97 grade point average.

n her spare time, olly attends mission trips with ew Beginnings youth group. he also enjoys going to the beach, spending time with her friends, playing outdoor games such as cornhole with

aylee . G is the seven-teen-year-old daughter of onathan and hawn Gibbs of ippa, entucky. he is a senior at ohnson Central High chool and maintains a 4.0 grade point average.

aylee believes that spending quality time with family and friends is the most rewarding aspect of her life. n her free time, she enjoys serving her community. Tak-

lly m n is the seven-teen-year-old daughter of ark and issy Compton of Prestonsburg, entucky. he is a senior at Prestonsburg High chool and maintains a 3.697 grade point average.

a elyn G. n n is the six-teen-year-old daughter of Amanda Robinson of helbiana, entucky. he is a senior at East Ridge High chool and maintains a 3.8 grade point average.

When adelyn isn’t studying or participating in extracurricular activities, she attends church at nity reewill Baptist of Rockhouse. There, she enjoys participating in the events hosted by ix10 Youth inistry. he also enjoys spending time

GPA.

Cassidy is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education at the niversity of Tennessee. Her post-secondary plans are to obtain aster

her family, and painting or drawing any chance she gets.

olly’s honors include: AG Above and Beyond award, Political cience Academic award, Pre-Calculus Above and Beyond award, ntroduction to Biology Academic Award, English and CTE nominee for excellence award, and a class representative for Homecoming and Varsity court. olly is also a member of a two-time ation-

ing initiative to serve her community and better the lives of those around her is something that she cares for deeply. aylee enjoys doing charity work, dog sitting, hiking, shopping, and spending time with her friends.

aylee’s honors include: Principal’s cholar, Honor Roll, 25 ACT member, College Ready , Distinguished on tate ummative

olly works a part-time job at a local boutique store within the city of Prestonsburg. n her spare time, olly volunteers at her local church and loves spending time with mimi, her fur baby.

olly’s honors include:

with loved ones.

adelyn’s honors include: Gifted and Talented cience, Honor Roll, Trigonometry Award Honorable ention, ational Cheerleading Association ational Qualifier, irst Priority Volleyball Classic Bracket Winner, and a 2023 ERH Graduation sher.

adelyn is a four-year member of her school’s varsity volleyball team, a two-year member of varsity cheerleading, a one-year member

and Rank degrees in additional specialized areas of education, in order to to expand her opportunities to impact children.

Cassidy is a member of 1TE campus student min-

al Champion and 2022 tate Champion cheer squad.

olly is a varsity cheer and varsity softball member.

olly is also a member of Teens Who Care, Panther Partner entors, CA, H , Beta Club, and pep club. olly is her school’s yearbook editor and on student council.

he is a member of ew Beginning’s youth group where she serves as a leader. olly attends church at mmanuel

Assessments, recipient of the President’s Gold Community ervice Award, P uture Problem olving District Champion, P tate Champion, and placed 11th in the P nternational competition. aylee has also been chosen as a 2023 Governor’s cholar.

aylee is President of nited for HOPE, uture Problem olving, ational

ndustry certified in Allied Health and has been a member of the honor roll for the past three years.

olly is a member of her school cheer squad, inkCrew, H , AG, Pep Club, and attends church at High-

of East entucky Volleyball Academy Regional Team, a one-year member of Bluegrass Volleyball Academy Regional Team, and a one-year member of the Bluegrass Volleyball Academy ational Team. pon graduating from East Ridge High chool, adelyn plans to attend the niversity of Pikeville and apply to Optometry school.

adelyn has been dependent on glasses and contacts since the age of three and her eyesight has gotten significantly

istry and cheers on the Vols as a niversity of Tennessee Cheerleader.

Cassidy is looking forward to seeing what God has in store for the next chapter of her life.

Baptist Church.

pon graduating, olly plans to attend the niversity of entucky to obtain a bachelors degree. he then plans to further her education and become a physical therapist. olly wants to be in a position where she can help people and see the progress they make through her aid.

Honor ociety, HO A- uture Health Professionals, Women Who ead, and tudent Council.

pon graduating, aylee plans to attend college, and pursue a career path and become a speech pathologist. aylee wants to help people that struggle in this area of their life.

land Avenue reewill Church.

pon graduating, olly plans to attend college in preparation to begin a career in elementary education.

worse overtime. adelyn has been treated by a neuro-ophthalmologist for an enlarged optic nerve. adelyn says that over the years, she has left many doctor appointments feeling frustrated and defeated. adelyn’s desire is to help others like her with poor vision. he is determined to build a practice where her patients, especially young ones, feel loved, supported, and cared for because the diagnostic process can be grueling and exhausting.

a lee ibbs

oll o pton

Natalie is the nineteenyear-old daughter of Chad and Shawna Fite of Hardy, Kentucky. She is a senior at Belfry High School and maintains a 4.1 grade point average.

Natalie’s demanding schedule includes academic and athletic commitments, as well as partnering with her sister, Hannah, in the operation of a small cake business,

Addison N. Baber is the seven-teen-year-old daughter of Barry and Bobbi Baber of Winchester, Kentucky. She is a senior at George Rogers Clark High School and maintains a 4.125 grade point average.

Addison is the former 2021 Junior Teen Miss Kentucky and is currently a camp counselor for the Win-

CakeFites. Natalie bakes, prepares cakes for decoration, and manages the finances of the business.

Natalie also enjoys spending time with her little brother, Nolan, other family, and friends, as well as traveling, boating on the lake, attending collegiate and professional sporting events.

Natalie was inducted into the Pike County BOE Hall of Fame with a composite ACT score of 32. She is an alumna of the 2023 Governor’s Scholar Program. Natalie’s team won the 2022 Congressional App Challenge for the 5th Congressional District. As a result, she was invited to visit Washington D.C., and presented her app in the U.S. Capitol building to Representative Hal Rogers and others. Her app, “sm;)e” was created from the ground up, including coding, debugging, and overall functionality.

Natalie’s team also advanced to the state competition for her region’s

Haley G. Huffman is the seven-teen-year-old daughter of David and Tawanna Huffman of Virgie, Kentucky. Haley is a senior at Shelby Valley High School where she maintains a 4.0 grade point average.

Haley is a member of the dance team, participates in several school affiliated clubs, and owns a small business where she makes crafts,

Kylie J. McCoy is the seven-teen-year-old daughter of Joshua McCoy and Ashley Dotson of Phelps, Kentucky. Kylie is a senior at Phelps High School where she maintains a 3.9 grade point average.

Kylie holds a part-time job at a local grocery store, attends church at Freeburn Church of God, and spends much of her time with her family. One of Kylie’s favorite

chester-Clark County parks and recreation. Addison likes to spend her free time golfing, playing trivia, spending time with her family, and reading books by the pool.

Addison’s honors include: Beta Club community service officer, NHS inductee, DAR recipient, 4.0 GPA award, and GRC Girls Golf academic award.

Engineering and Science Fair. Her FBLA team placed in regional and state competitions and competed in the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, GA. She was among a small group of students visited by the administration of the University of Kentucky and the Pigman Foundation founders, where she presented projects to them. Her STLP team was a state finalist, and she has been an awardee of the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) for three years. Natalie is a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. She has been a class officer each year of high school. Natalie has appeared on her school’s AllA-Honor Roll every year. Natalie has been named to the All-District and All-Region teams multiple times, was named Kentucky Softball Player of the Week in May of 2021, and finished her sophomore

clothing, and all custom gifts. Haley enjoys spending time with her friends and family, attending sport events, and traveling and exploring new places.

Haley has consistently remained on her school’s honor roll for strait A’s, was voted SVHS Junior Miss Class and FCCLA First Vice President of Region 11. Haley has been inducted into National Hon-

hobbies is volunteering and giving back to her community. Kylie says that the Phelps community has done so much for her and her family, so whenever she sees an opportunity to give back, she takes advantage of the opportunity.

Kylie has earned the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Academic All-State award, Best Writer award, Most Creative Writing award, HOSA award, Team

Addison is a member of the girls’ varsity golf team, Beta club, National Honor Society, and GRC smoke signals student media. Addison also participates in musical theatre and pageants.

Addison plans to maintain her 4.0 throughout her senior year of high school and receive a collegiate golf scholarship and study com-

year ranked by the KHSAA as 17th in the state for highest batting average. Since becoming eligible, she has been selected for the KHSAA Academic All-State First Team every year.

Natalie also played high school volleyball for two years. She is a member of an invitation-only travel softball team and has been on the high school varsity softball team for five years, as she was the starting varsity catcher while still in middle school.

Natalie is an active member of the spirit team, academic team, Library Student Council, JAG, FCA, FBLA, and STLP. Natalie is a Link Crew Leader at her school, Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook staff, and a “Pirette” for the Belfry Football Team. Natalie also participates in many community service activities. She was a chaperone for the 2022 Mountain Jamboree for Life benefiting the Pregnancy Care

ors Society and was nominated for Congress of Future Medical Leader Award of Excellence.

Haley is a member of the Shelby Valley Dance Team, and is involved in National Honors Society, Beta Club, FCCLA, and SVHS Link Crew. Haley competes in pageants and was the 2022 Miss Pikeville candidate in the Miss Kentucky USA pageant.

Recognition – Spirit, and Leadership award for Varsity Cheerleading.

Kylie is a four-year member of the cheer squad and is now the Varsity Cheerleading captain. Kylie is also involved in multiple clubs such as, Honor Society, BETA, JAG, and Link Crew.

Kylie plans to attend UPIKE and seek a bachelors degree in nursing. Kylies longterm career goal is to become

munications. Addison plans to pursue a career in broadcast and work in entertainment or sports news. She also plans to continue advancing in her modeling and pageant career.

Addison says that she has grown a love for journalism through her school’s student media; pageants have grown Addison’s love for public speaking.

Center. Natalie has also traveled to nearby elementary schools during Read Across America to read Dr. Seuss’s books to younger students. She spends a lot of time fundraising for the clubs in which she is involved and tutoring students from her school that struggle with math, English, or science. Natalie and her sister often donate desserts from the CakeFites business for charitable purposes.

Natalie’s future plans are to pursue a pre-medicine track at the University of Kentucky. Both of her parents are graduates of programs at the University, and their positive experiences there make attending UK a natural choice. Natalie’s parents have been her inspiration, and she aspires to help people as they have. Natalie’s ultimate goal in life is to be happy and to help the people around her.

Haley has been crowned the Miss Hillbilly Days Queen the past two years. Haley plans to attend the University of Pikeville and major in secondary education. Haley wants to inspire and influence the minds of her towns youth and future generations and make a difference. Haley’s main goal is to make her friends, family, and hometown proud.

an oncology nurse, where she can impact and care for the lives of people like her brother. Kylie’s six-year-old brother was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma. Kylie will never forget how the nurses treated and cared for him. Kylie wants to impact someone’s life in the way her brother’s nurses did for him.

Addison Nicole Baber

Natalie Camille Fite

Haley Huffman

Kylie McCoy

n . un an is the seven-teen-year-old daughter of Brad and elissa Duncan of nez, entucky. Addison is a senior at artin Co. High chool where she maintains a 4.0 grade point average.

n Addison’s free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and family, going to the lake, and sewing and painting.

Addison has a long list of honors that include: Rogers Explorer, tudent of the Week, Honor Roll for A’s, uperintendent award, Power of One award for amily Career

and Community eaders of America, ational ociety of High chool cholars, and takes honor classes. Addison is also an Academy of uture Physicians and cientist nominee for the Congress of uture edical eaders Award of Excellence, has received the entucky Educational Excellence cholarship, and is Distinguished on the entucky tate Assessment.

Addison is a member of the artin County High chool occer Team, Dance Team, and oftball Team. Addison is also a member of Pep Club, . . . .E club, amily, Career, and Community eaders of America, ational Beta Club, Drama Club, Heirloom Quilt ociety, and Eagles cholars.

pon graduating from artin County High chool, Addison plans to attend orehead tate niversity and major in Biology. Her longterm goal is to become a nurse practitioner and practice in artin County. Addison wants to pursue this career so that she can help the people in artin County.

Hannah has taken numerous dual credit and AP courses throughout high school and has managed to maintain all A’s throughout her high school career. This has made her a part of the All A Honor Roll and a member of ational Honor ociety. Hannah was a junior usher at graduation and has been elected to represent her class many times for homecoming and varsity courts. Hannah is a three-year all-district basketball team member, a two-year All-region basketball member and is a member of the 1,000-point club in basketball.

Hanna . ay is the eightteen-year-old daughter of arry ay and Paula ay of imper, entucky. Hannah is a senior at Pike County Central High chool where she maintains a 4.0 grade point average.

Hannah enjoys going to church and spending time with her friends and family in her limited free time. Hannah also enjoys doing community service acts such as: filling backpacks, working holiday events, and helping organize and run food drives. Hannah also enjoys reading and painting.

Hannah participates in the following extracurriculars: Varsity Basketball, Varsity oftball, ational Honors ociety, T P, Beta Club, Rotary Club, ink Crew, and a member of CA. Hannah is also a member of advisory council, and a student representative, and student council.

pon graduating from Pike County Central High chool, Hannah plans to attend the niversity of Pikeville and attend their optometry school. Hannah plans to obtain a bachelors degree in biochemistry biological sciences with the intention of becoming an optometrist.

Addison ncan

anna ristie a

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2022 Schedule

2023 Schedule

By Randy White Regional Sports Editor

It was a tough 2022 campaign for Phelps.

The Hornets had to fight numbers to have a team and once it did, the Hornets showed flashes of being good, last season. The numbers game was just too much though as Phelps didn’t have enough bodies to sustain through a whole game.

Phelps didn’t participate in district play last year and will not participate in district play once again this season.

The Hornets lost four seniors from last year’s squad.

Running back Tyler Mitchum is no longer on Phelps’ roster this season either.

Phelps does return Jacob Kender and Jacob Francis from last season.

Kender played a lot at quarterback and ran the ball well.

Francis ran the ball well some and he played on defense as well. He came up with a big fumble recovery against Hurley last season.

Phelps didn’t win a game last year, but hopes with a full roster they can change

their fortunes this season.

The Hornets will not participate in the Pike County Bowl for the second straight season.

The Hornets usually took on East Ridge in the Pike County Bowl in recent memory. The Hornets requested to drop out of the Pike County Bowl the last two seasons.

Phelps will open its season Week 2 at Twin Valley (Va.) at 7:30 p.m. The Hornets will host Jackson County in Week 3 in their home opener. The Hornets will stay at home in Week 4 as they are set to host Bland-Rocky Gap (Va.)

Phelps is scheduled to hit the road during their next two games September 15 at Knott Central and September 22 at Tolsia (W. Va.).

After a Bye Week, Phelps is set to host Montcalm (W. Va.) October 5 at 6:30 p.m. The Hornets are set to visit Fairview October 13 at 7:30 p.m.

The Hornets are set to end the season with two home games. Phelps will host Morgan County October 20 at 7:30 p.m. and will follow with the season ender against Jenkins October 27 at 7:30 p.m.

2022 Schedule

2023 Schedule

Rand White

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By Mike Muncy Sports Writer

Martin County football is slowly building a renaissance in Inez.

And it’s hard to not to be excited if you’re a fan of the Cardinals, especially when you follow the trends of play.

It seems as if new life has been brought to the football team since 2019 when Martin County High School opened up, replacing Sheldon Clark High School.

From 2010-18 the Cardinals never posted a winning record. From 2019-22 they’ve only finished with a losing record once, a much abbreviated 2020 season that saw three covid-canceled games, with Martin County finishing 3-4.

In 2021 and ‘22 however the Cardinals have been on the upswing making it through the first round of playoffs with relative ease.

A strong running game has highlighted their efforts, with Brock Messer leading the way last season for 1,532 yards and Dawson Mills rushing for 952. Madden Miller wasn’t far behind with 791 yards, all solid numbers.

Martin County has a lot to look forward to as Messer returns for his senior season as does Miller.

His 1,500 yard season last year was his breakout season, as he had only rushed for 47 yards in 2021 buried deep in a depth chart full of strong running backs.

Overall the Cardinals field nine seniors this year including Messer.

They also return Tate Crum who plays center on the offensive line.

Crum received the All-District Offensive Lineman award in the 2022 season and has multiple college offers.

Those two are joined by fellow seniors Joey Robinson, Madden Miller, Noah Mollette, Rafe Price, Bristol Wells, Timothy Horn, and Jacob Gauze.

Under center this year will see a new face as sophomore Jackson Miller looks to take over quarterback duties for the Cardinals.

A twice-broken collarbone in his freshman campaign sidelined Miller limiting his participation to just one game.

He replaces Weston Jude who passed for just 184 yards and four TDs last season.

The Cardinals open up the season on August 18 against Hazard at home. The following week they invade the Pike County Bowl as they face off against Pike County Central at 6:00 p.m.

The Pike County Bowl will be the first matchup between the two teams in recent memory.

By Randy White Regional Sports Editor

Last season when Matt Anderson was healthy and in the game, everyone knew what the Pike Central Hawks’ offense was going to do.

The opposing defenses focused on stopping Anderson and dared the Hawks to throw the ball.

That won’t be the case this season as the Hawks will have a bit of a new look on offense thanks to freshman quarterback Jamere Knuckles.

During seven-on-sevens, Knuckles looked good throwing the ball.

The Hawks will be young this season as they only have six seniors on the team.

Look for former quarterback Daymon Scammell to be involved in the offense whether it’s running or catching the ball.

The Hawks struggled at times on defense last season as well.

Pike Central will need to take a step forward defensively if they want to improve from last season’s 3-7 record.

Pike Central lost three of its top four tacklers from a season ago, so there will have to be new players to step up for the Hawks on the defensive side of the ball as well.

Malachi Anderson will be the top returning tackler on the team.

Pike Central also returns its top defensive back in Lane Adams. Adams led

the team in interceptions last season with two. He was just a freshman, so he could step up and take on an even bigger role this season.

Pike Central will also embark on a big change this season as the Hawks drop from Class 3A to Class 2A.

The Hawks will no longer be in Belfry’s district and having to deal with the Pirates.

Instead, Pike Central will be in Class 2A District 8 along with Shelby Valley, East Ridge and Betsy Layne.

That will also affect the Hawks’ schedule in the fact they no longer will play Shelby Valley in the Pike County Bowl.

Pike Central is scheduled to open the season August 18 at home against West Carter. The Hawks follow by playing in its first Pike County Bowl at Belfry August 25 against Martin County at 6:00 p.m. Pike Central will host Class A Harlan at 7:30 p.m. September 1 before hitting the road on September 8 as the Hawks are set to visit Powell County at 7:30 p.m. Pike Central will host Prestonsburg at 7:30 p.m. September 15 and then visit Floyd Central at 7:30 p.m. on September 22.

The Hawks will be on their Bye Week on September 29 and be back in action October 6 at Shelby Valley in their first district game of the season. The Hawks will follow with district games at home against East Ridge and then visit Betsy Layne before finishing regular season play at home against Paintsville October 30 at 7:30 p.m.

2022 Schedule

2023 Schedule

Rand ite Regional ports ditor

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By Randy White Regional Sports Editor

After winning the 2020 Class A state championship at Paintsville, Joe Chirico left the Tigers to take on a new challenge.

Chirico took over as the coach at George Rogers Clark in 2021.

This will be Chirico’s third season at GRC and his second time back coaching in the hills of Eastern Kentucky since he left. His GRC team visited Martin County in the 2021 season.

Chirico is hoping that Cardinals take a leap forward in his third season.

In his first season, the Cardinals finished with a 3-9 record and first round exit from the Class 6A playoffs.

Last season, GRC finished the season with a 7-4 record, but once again were knocked out of the Class 6A playoffs in the first round.

GRC only lost eight seniors from last year’s squad, so they should be primed for an even better season than last year.

Quarterback Tyelik Maxwell graduated, but backup QB James Davis will be back for the Cardinals. Davis was 15 for 23 passing last season for 232 and three TDs with two interceptions. He also rushed for 47 yards on nine carries.

Leading rusher Kalen Washington re-

turns for his junior season. Washington finished last season with 1,001 rushing yards and 16 TDs.

Leading receiver Zaydin Turner returns for his senior season as well. Turner 34 catches for 450 yards and seven TDs last season.

On the defensive side, Hayden Heath returns to lead the Cardinals. Heath led GRC with 88 tackles and four sacks last season.

The Cardinals are set to open he season at home August 18 at 8:00 p.m. in the Clark County Bowl against Central Hardin. In Week 2, GRC will visit Belfry at 8:30 p.m. in the 38th Pike County Bowl. In Week 3, GRC will host Pulaski County. The Cardinals follow by visiting Henry Clay in Week 4. GRC bounces back with a home game against Ballard September 15 and visit Montgomery County in Week 6.

The Cardinals get their Bye Week in 7 September 29.

They bounce back with an home game at district rival Bryan Station Week 8. The Cardinals are set to host district rival Madison Central October 13. Then visit district rival Fredrick Douglass October 20 as they wrap up regular season district play. GRC is scheduled to end the regular season at home against Franklin County October 27.

By Randy White Regional Sports Editor

Belfry was young last season. It showed as they had some growing pains.

But the Pirates return a lot of young talent that now has a year of experience.

The Pirates’ are looking to get back to the top of 3A this season.

The Pirates lost 11 seniors from last year’s squad.

Belfry will have to replace those guys and that is a lot of talent, especially in the trenches.

But the Pirates return several key skill guys.

Belfry sophomore quarterback Chase Varney will be back under center with a whole season running Belfry’s offense.

Belfry is a run heavy team, but did pass more last season with Chase Varney as signal caller. He was 30 for 77 passing for 605 yards and six TDs with three interceptions. That’s a good foundation to build on.

Belfry returns five of its top six rushers as well.

Caden Woolum led the Pirates in rushing with 978 yards and 16 TDs on 88 carries last season. He will return for his senior season. Fullback Dre Young finished second on the team in rushing with 876 yards rushing and 10 TDs; Young will be back for his senior season as well. Last season, Ace Caudill was a freshman and he showed flashes of brilliance running the ball; he finished last season with 607 yards rushing and three TDs on 69 carries.

Cayden Varney returns for his sophomore season as well. He rushed for 140

yards and a TD on just 28 carries. He caught two passes for 16 yards and a TD last year as well.

Chase Varney also rushed for 111 yards and four TDs on 45 carries.

Woolum is the top returning receiver. He had seven catches for 230 yards and three TDs last season. Caudill had two catches for 28 yards.

Young is the top returning tackler on the team. He finished with 59 tackles and three sacks last season.

With the re-districting that happened this season, Belfry will see some new faces on the schedule as Pike Central and Floyd Central are no longer district opponents.

The Pirates open the season at Class 2A Breathitt County August 18 at 7:30 p.m. Belfry then hosts Class 6A George Rogers Clark Friday, August 25 in the 38th Annual Pike County Bowl. The Pirates follow by moving up its usual final regular season opponent Johnson Central to Week 3. The Pirates and the Golden Eagles will play at Belfry September 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the ARH Bowl.

Belfry will follow by hosting Class 5A Southwestern Week 4 and host county rival Pikeville Week 5; both games are set for 7:30 p.m. kickoffs.

Belfry will open Class 3A District 8 play September 22 at Magoffin County. The Pirates then host Lawrence County in district action September 29 at 7:30 p.m. The Pirates will be on their Bye Week during Week 8. Then they return to district action October 13 at Powell County and wrap up district action October 20 at home against Powell County. The Pirates will wrap up regular season play Friday, October 27 at Letcher Central.

2022 Schedule

2023 Schedule

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By Randy White Regional Sports Editor

East Ridge has been much improved the last couple of seasons.

A lot of that had to do with Dylan Burdine leading the offense and the defense rallying around the offense.

This season Burdine along with 13 other seniors are gone.

That means the Warriors are looking for new leaders on both sides of the ball.

One player who could step up and lead the way for the Warriors on offense is Isaiah Adkins.

Adkins had an outstanding season last year as he rushed for 1,105 yards and 15 TDs on 104 carries. He also caught 21 passes for 243 yards and four TDs.

The Warriors will have a lot of holes to fill on offense.

East Ridge’s backup QB was Zack Mason. He was senior and also the Warriors’ top receiver.

The Warriors also lost their top five tacklers on defense. Bobby Taylor had 52 tackles and a sack last season. He is the top returning tackler on the team.

East Ridge will have to find a lot of new players. If Adkins can carry the load on offense, it might help ease a new QB

into the system.

The cupboard isn’t bare, but a lot of the heavy nutrients from last season just aren’t there.

East Ridge did move into a new district in Class 2A District 8. The Warriors will be in the same district as Shelby Valley, Pike Central and Betsy Layne.

Pike Central and Betsy Layne will be new to Class 2A this season.

The Warriors are set to open the season August 18 at home against Morgan County at 7:30 p.m. The Warriors bounce back and will take on Prestonsburg Saturday, August 26 at Pikeville at 6:30 p.m. East Ridge will hit the road to take on River View in Week 3. The Warriors will have their Bye Week in Week 4. In Week 5, East Ridge will host Tug Valley at 7:30 p.m. at home. The Warriors are scheduled to host Jenkins at September 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Armed Forces First Responders Bowl. East Ridge will host Paintsville the final Friday in September.

In Week 8, the Warriors will host Betsy Layne in their district opener on October 6. East Ridge will stay in district action Week 9 at Pike Central and wrap up district action October 20 at Shelby Valley. The Warriors will wrap up regular season play October 27 at Knott Central.

By Steve LeMaster Sports Writer

Prestonsburg showed improvement throughout the 2022 high school football season, compiling an 8-3 record and making an appearance in the KHSAA Class 2A Playoffs.

But the Blackcats lost leading rusher Ethan Jarvis and several additional talented players to graduation. Jarvis excelled for Prestonsburg throughout the 2022 high school football season. Leading Prestonsburg on the ground in 2022, Jarvis rushed 233 times for 1,816 yards and 29 TDs.

However, despite the departure of Jarvis and others via graduation, Prestonsburg will be looking to carry momentum over from its winning campaign.

Leading receiver Dalton Elliott is back to lead the Blackcats. As a sophomore, Elliott hauled in 22 receptions for 395 yards and nine TDs. Ranking as Prestonsburg’s third-leading rusher, Elliott took 41 carries for 273 yards and two TDs as he finished second in scoring for the Blackcats. Elliott is among the area’s top athletes. Alex Harris is another experienced running back for Prestonsburg, which is set to compete in Class 2A District 7. Another running back, Jacob Rose, will contribute to Prestonsburg’s rushing attack.

Returning to the gridiron, Nic Kidd is expected to bolster Prestonsburg’s offensive attack as an additional running back.

Up front, center Logan Hall is back to anchor the Blackcats’ offensive line. Additional offensive linemen for Prestonsburg will include Josh Elkins, Daniel Adams and Nick Adams.

Freshman quarterback Bryce Holbrook is preparing for his first varsity season at Prestonsburg and will look to make an immediate impact.

Sophomore Brady Allen is a returning quarterback for Prestonsburg, which lost starting QB Reece Hamilton to graduation.

Defensively, Prestonsburg returns three of its top five tacklers. Leading tackler Logan Stumbo is back for Prestonsburg after registering a team-high 88 tackles in 2022. Following behind Stumbo, second-leading tackler Bryce Patton, who delivered 75 tackles, will help to lead the Blackcats defensively.

Ranking fifth for Prestonsburg in the key defensive category last season, Harris posted 51 tackles.

Prestonsburg added newcomers Cole Laferty and Westin Harris to its defensive unit.

Elliott, Harris, Rose, Elkins, Baron Craft, Colin Hatfield and Drake Hatfield will also contribute defensively for the Blackcats.

Prestonsburg posted wins over Betsy Layne, Magoffin County, Phelps, Powell County, Floyd Central, East Ridge, West Carter and Bath County in 2022. Under the direction of Coach Brandon Brewer, Prestonsburg will be looking to put together its second straight winning season.

2022 Schedule

2023 Schedule

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By Randy White Regional Sports Editor

Pikeville is the two-time defending Class A state champions.

The Panthers will return a lot of talent, but the roster will look a lot different after losing 17 seniors from last year’s team.

Pikeville lost a lot of talent off of last year’s squad, but the cupboard isn’t bare for the Panthers.

There will be some growing pains because the Panthers will have to replace a lot of starters on both sides of the ball.

Quarterback Isaac Duty returns and so does receiver Tayvian Boykins on offense.

On defense, Sam Wright will be back in the secondary and Brenden Anthony will be one of the few linebackers returning with experience.

Look for Anthony to run the ball some on offense as well.

The Panthers will have to find several new starters on both of the offensive and defensive lines.

Pikeville will also have to find a new running back as well.

But Coach Chris McNamee and his staff have been in this situation before.

Pikeville should be in the mix and be considered one of Class A’s top teams again this season.

Duty and Boykins will be the leaders on offense.

Last season at quarterback, Duty finished the season 98 for 144 passing for 1,506 yards and 21 TDs with one interception.

Boykins played a little bit of everything on offense and could do so again as he was the Panthers’ Swiss Army knife. Boykins was five for 11 passing for 70

yards. He was second on the team in rushing with 475 yards and seven TDs on 48 carries. He also was second on the team in receiving with 30 catches for 375 yards and three TDs. Boykins is a threat to score the ball any time he touches it and will be a big piece of the offense for the Panthers this season.

Running the ball, Blake Caudill and Anthony could both see increased carries. Caudill rushed for 192 yards and three TDs on 20 carries last season and Anthony rushed for 171 yards and five TDs on 24 carries.

Duty only rushed for 140 yards last season. He could increase that some if he has to scramble more.

The Panthers will have some positions to fill, but they should have plenty of talent.

Pikeville also has a tough schedule once again and it could play a factor in the Panthers’ playoff seeding.

The Panthers open the season at Class 5A powerhouse Pulaski County in the Cumberland Falls Pigskin Classic on August, 18 and then return home to host Johnson Central in the 38th Pike County Bowl.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier after that as the Panthers travel to Class 2A powerhouse and state champion contender Lexington Christian September, 2 at 8:00 p.m. The Panthers return for a Class A championship rematch from last season against Raceland and then travel to Class 3A rival Belfry September 15 at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers then visit powerhouse Dohn Community (Cincinnati, Ohio) on October 5. The Panthers then host district rival Paintsville October 13 and then travel to district rival Hazard on October 20. The Panthers wrap up regular season play October 27 at Class 4A Boyd County.

2022 Schedule

2023 Schedule

By Mike Muncy Sports Writer

Johnson Central football is always good. It has a culture of dominance and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.

The 2016 and 2019 Class 4A champions went through a transitional phase last season with Jesse Peck taking over the head of the coaching staff after the passing of Coach Jim Matney.

In Peck’s first season, the Golden Eagles went 10-3 coming up short in the region championship round of the playoffs to Corbin.

This season, Johnson Central has all the pieces to make it back to Kroger Field in December.

They return a lot of key players and play-makers.

Quarterback Jacob Grimm returns for his senior season and has shown he’s a proven leader.

Running back Carter Conley returns for his senior year after suffering an injury last season and missing some game time.

Last year, Zack McCoart rushed for 1,721 yards and 26 TDs as a sophomore. He’s been rock-solid his past two seasons, leading the team in rushing in 2021-22. Gaining some size in the off-season could spell disaster for opponents against an already menacing rushing attack.

Of course every year with high school football you lose a lot to graduation, as well.

The Golden Eagles offense will look different without running-backs Chase Price and Mason Lawson. They also lose linemen Dylan Boner, Devon Kliebert

and Tate Tackett. On special teams they lose longtime kicker Sawyer Crum.

Coach Peck is confident in his new crop of lineman, though.

The Golden Eagles have 19 players listed as both offensive and defensive lineman and Peck says this year’s crop of bigmen are just as good as any.

This year could see a lot of seniors step up as the 2023 Golden Eagle squad features a lot of experienced players. 19, to be exact.

Leading tackler on defense last season, Ryan Rice, is one of those seniors. He netted 70 tackles last season and two sacks with one fumble recovery and one interception. He returns for his senior season and looks to wreck havoc as the key to the Golden Eagles defense.

Dalton Matney enters his sophomore season after a stellar freshman year on defense. He had 51 total tackles and one and 1/2 sacks last year. He’s listed as a running back for Johnson Central this year, so we may see him on the offensive side of the ball some more.

The schedule for Johnson Central has been shaken up this year as well with new opponents like Madison Central kicking things off on August 18.

The Golden Eagles also will take part in the 38th Pike County Bowl this year, in what’s sure to be an all-time classic matchup against the defending Class A champions Pikeville.

Johnson Central plays Corbin in a regular season matchup on September 29 on the road which should provide a good indication where both teams are heading into the playoffs.

Another Pike County team, Belfry, will host the Golden Eagles on September 1.

2022 Schedule

2023 Schedule