Corbin Holds Off Johnson Central in Emotional 4A Region Title Win

IMG_8756by:Daniel Hager•11/19/22•

DanielHagerKSR

For the first time since 2018, the Corbin Redhounds are advancing to the 4A State Semi-Finals. After two consecutive postseason losses to Johnson Central, Corbin finally got the best of the Golden Eagles with a 35-21 victory in the Kroger KSR Game of the Week.

Defensive First Half

The first half of this game, as you would expect, was a defensive battle. Entering the playoff matchup Corbin had shutout its last six opponents, and Johnson Central had allowed seven or less points in five of their last six games.

The first quarter was filled with punts and failed fourth down conversions. The score stood at 0-0 entering quarter No. 2.

The first big offensive play came early in the second quarter when Corbin sophomore quarterback Kade Elam broke loose for a 30-yard rush. Just three plays later, Elam scrambled to his right. While being tackled to the ground, he somehow got off a short pass to junior receiver Carter Stewart, who broke a tackle and went 25 yards for the first score of the game.

The second quarter was full of Corbin penalties. Roughing the snapper, false starts and facemasks kept giving the Golden Eagles opportunity after opportunity. After a facemask call on another Corbin fourth down goal-line stop, Central finally converted and found the end zone on sophomore Zack McCourt’s 26th rushing touchdown of the season.

The sloppy play continued for the home team. Another Corbin penalty negated a Cameron Combs 40-yard rushing touchdown, much to the chagrin of the Redhound fans.

With time winding down in the first half, sophomore Kade Elam found senior Brody Wells down field for a 25-yard touchdown, ensuring a halftime lead for the Redhounds.

Offense Opens Up in Second Half

Coming out of the half, Corbin drove straight down the field and scored on another Elam-to-Wells touchdown, this time from 35-yards out. For just a sophomore, Elam was very impressive. The kid lives for the moment.

“We’ve had a great scout team all week and it was truly a team effort,” a humble Elam said about his performance.

As soon as it looked as if the Redhounds were going to run away with this one, Johnson Central climbed right back in. Just seconds into the fourth quarter, Central senior Mason Lawson broke through the Corbin D-Line from just five yards out to make it a one-score game.

Snapshots from the Kroger KSR Game of the Week

Kroger is a staple in your hometown community just like high school football. There’s nothing quite like Friday nights in the Bluegrass. We are honored to share this journey with Kroger and you for the third consecutive season. 

Corbin Senior Combs Takes Over the Fourth

After a somewhat quiet night, senior Cameron Combs took over the fourth quarter of this game. The Bellarmine baseball commit was not ready for his high school football career to be over Friday night.

Combs had two 20+ yard rushes and two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, helping cement Corbin’s first 4A Regional Championship since 2018.

“It was the offensive line that helped me, they kept pushing the entire game,” an emotional Combs said after the game. “We had some adversity but kept grinding through to the fourth quarter. We kept pounding it and out-physicalled them.”

Vindication for Coach Greer

Corbin led 35-21 with only a minute remaining and sealed the game thanks to two sacks from senior Israel Summers. A loud roar erupted from the Redhound faithful as the team rushed the field. It was a very emotional scene. Three years of hard work from coach Tom Greer’s team had finally paid off, and it meant the world to seniors such as Brody Wells.

“It has been since 2018 [that Corbin won a Regional Title] and it’s been too long for our football program,” coach Greer said after the game. “We’ve got 85 football players that play for the ‘C’… they play for Christ, and they play for Corbin.”

Greer served as the Corbin defensive coordinator for five seasons before stepping down from the position in 2019. After a year out of coaching, he was named the new Corbin head coach in 2020 after Justin Haddix departed for Boyle County.

Greer is Corbin. Coach was born and raised in the town and was an integral part of their 1980 and 1982 state championship teams. The Redhounds haven’t won a State Championship since that ’82 run.

“Love,” is one word that Coach Greer said personified this team. “We love one another. We love being around each other. There’s no ‘I’s’ in this team. It’s truly about the C.”

Corbin will take on Franklin County in the Class 4A Semi-finals next week. The Redhounds trounced the Flyers 40-20 earlier this season.

Past Kroger KSR Games of the Week

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2024-04-26