Eagles Down the Patriots 32-14
HINDMAN – October 18, 2020 – ROD DAVIDSON
The Leslie County Eagles traveled to Hindman on Friday Night, to take on the Knott County Central Patriots in a district matchup. Leslie County entered the game with a record of 1-3, but only a couple of plays away from being 3-1. Knott County Central came in at 1-0 with a 16-12 win over Betsy Layne, and the rest of their games had been cancelled due to Covid Protocol.
The Patriots and Eagles both found the end zone only once in the first half, with both defenses making big plays. Knott County Central generated offense first with a 26-yard strike from Kizer Slone to Kyle Hofsess giving the Patriots an early 8-0 lead. The Eagles ground game struggled earlier with wet field conditions neutralizing their speed, and the Patriots putting as many as 9 defenders in the box. However, Leslie County answered when Brannon Stubblefield broke free for a 32-yard touchdown run, pulling the Eagles within 2 after a failed conversion. At the end of the first half, Knott County Central led 8-6, and looking to pull the upset.
Leslie County’s offense exploded in the third quarter, when senior QB Zack Parker heated up and the big offensive line started to dominate the Patriots. Zack Parker connected on a 37-yard pass to Dalton Baker, igniting the offense. Three plays later Parker found Baker again for an 18-yard touchdown pass, giving the Eagles their first lead of the game 12-8. Four minutes later Parker once again found the end zone, this time on an 8-yard run, extending Leslie County’s lead 18-8 with 4:43 left in the third quarter.
Leslie County carried the momentum into the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns in a little over a minute. The first coming at the 11:52 mark, when Zack Parker found Jacob Caldwell on a 28-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead 25-8. Then with 10:43 remaining Trent Asher reversed field and exploded into the end zone for a 14-yard score, giving Leslie County a 32-8 lead.
Leslie County ended the night rushing for 205 yards, and passing for 139 yards, for a total of 344 yards. The defense held Knott County Central to 55 yards on the ground, and 105 yards through the air, for a total of 160 yards, and forcing 2 turnovers. The special teams also had a huge night, forcing 2 turnovers, giving the Eagles a short field to work with.
Leslie County defeated Knott County Central 32-14, moving to 2-1 in district play, and 2-3 overall. Knott County Central will drop to 0-1 in the district, and 1-1 overall. For the Patriots, the road doesn’t get any easier, as they travel to Middlesboro next weekend, to face a 4-1 Yellowjacket team.
The Leslie County Eagles will host the undefeated Breathitt County Bobcats, in a district matchup next week. The Bobcats come into Hyden with a record of 4-0 overall, and 1-0 in the district. The two teams last met in 2019 in Jackson, with the Bobcats winning 56-6.
STATS
LESLIE COUNTY
Passing: Z. Parker 7-11 139 2 0
Rushing: T. Asher 16 144 1, B. Stubblefield 8 57 1, D. Baker 4 27 0, T. Osborne 1 4 0, Z. Parker 2 4 1, P. Spurlock 3 3 0, W. Gay 1 –1 0, J. Shell 1 –3 0.
Receiving: D. Baker 3 63 1, J. Caldwell 4 62 1, T. Asher 1 14 0.
KNOTT COUNTY CENTRAL
Passing: K. Slone 6-15 105 2 1
Rushing: P. Slone 4 8 0, K. Slone 9 -28 0, E. Combs 4 16 0, N. Miller 4 46 0, B. Whitaker 2 4 0, W. Weinberg 5 4 0, M. Howell 1 5 0.
Receiving: L. Smith 3 22 1, K. Hofsess 2 36 1, P. Slone 1 –3 0.