JACKSON – October 4, 2020 – BRENDON D. MILLER
After a cancellation by Paintsville earlier in the week, the Breathitt Middle Bobcats welcomed the Hazard Middle Bulldogs to Mike Holcomb Athletic Complex on Saturday for their third game of the season. Hazard brought a talented group to the Riverbank and tested the Bobcats who eventually toughed out a 20-14 win to move to 3-0 on the season.
Full photo gallery of game: https://bluegrasssportsnation.com/breathitt-middle-v-hazard-image-gallery-10-3-20/
Hazard took the opening kickoff and marched down the field for the opening score. Bulldog quarterback Max Pelfrey hit wideout Samuel Shoptaw on a 24 yard catch and run for Bulldog paydirt. The conversion run was stopped and Hazard led 6-0.
Breathitt answered back after a long drive with 1:42 in the first Quarter on a 10 yard run by Kory Combs to even the score at 6. The conversion pass by Combs was unsuccessful.
Defense ruled in the second quarter as neither team was able to score. Breathitt drove into the red zone twice during the quarter, but both times the Bulldog defense held and turned the ball over on downs. At the half, the score remained knotted at 6-6.
The score remained tied until near the end of the third, when Hazard went for a 4th and 9 from their own 34 and were stuffed by a big play by Sawyer Hall for a loss and turned the ball over to the Bobcats at the 32. A dead ball personal foul on the Bulldogs gave the ball to the Bobcats on the 17. On the third play of the possession, and first of the 4th quarter, Combs scored his second touchdown of the day rumbling untouched from the 6. The conversion run was no good and Breathitt led 12-6 and would set up an exciting 4th quarter.
The Bulldogs converted a 4th and 18 from their own 37 on a pass from Pelfrey to #10 for 33 yards. Pelfrey would then hook up with Shoptaw for their 2nd TD of the game from 20 yards to tie the score at 12. Pelfrey and Shoptaw again connected on the conversion as Shoptaw took a swing pass and broke a tackle to dive just inside the pylon and put the Bulldogs ahead 14-12 with around 5:00 to go.
Breathitt took the ensuing kickoff at their own 38 and lined up and did what they have done so far in the season, and powered the ball down the field behind their offensive line of Chris Neace, Ethan Bowling (in for injured Waylon Abner), Carson Miller, Sawyer Hall and Ty Clemons. Combs shed multiple tacklers on the first play for a 22 yard run. Combs then pounded another 5 yards with a Bulldog holding on to his facemask, and the penalty moved the ball to the Hazard 19. Combs reeled off 6 more and then Jayden Gibson took it to the house from 13 yards breaking three tackles at the line to race into the endzone. A surge from the Bobcat offensive line put Combs into the endzone on the conversion to put the Bobcats up 20-14, with about two minutes to play.
Hazard got a break with a poor kickoff that traveled only 11 yards giving them the ball at their 49. The Bulldogs got a receiver wide open behind the secondary on the first play but were unable to connect and were stuffed for a four yard loss on 2nd down. After an incomplete pass on third down, Pelfrey was picked off by Leland Hays at the Bobcat 46. Hays returned the ball back to the Hazard 8 yard line where Pelfrey hustled back and stripped the ball from Hays to give the ball back to the Bulldogs with 1:12 to go.
Breathitt closed it out with another interception on the next play by young Alex Strong who skyed in front of Shoptaw for the clincher.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
HMS – Samuel Shoptaw pass from Max Pelfrey 24 yards (Run Failed)
BMS – Kory Combs 10 yard run (Pass Failed)
2nd Quarter – 3rd Quarter
No Scoring
4th Quarter
BMS – Combs 6 yard run (Run Failed)
HMS – Shoptaw from Pelfrey 20 yards (Showpaw pass from Pelfrey)
BMS – Jayden Gibson 13 yard run (Combs Run)
UP NEXT
Breathitt will host Corbin on Thursday Night at Mike Holcomb Athletic Complex. Kickoff is set for 6:00. BSN tenatively intends to webcast the game.
