Paintsville’s defense faced its biggest obstacle this football season with Williamsburg just six yards away from taking the lead in the closing minutes of their Class 1A regional championship game at Memorial Field on Friday night.
The Tigers stopped the Yellowjackets on fourth down and three and then march down the field running out the final three minutes of play to earn a 36-34 victory.
Running back John Walker Phelps, playing despite suffering from flu symptoms, helped will his team to victory. He rushed for 206 yards and two second-half touchdowns on 29 carries to send Paintsville (10-3) into the state semifinals next Friday night at Kentucky Country Day (13-0).
Quarterback Jake Hyden added 102 yards rushing and two first-half touchdowns on 19 carries.
Nick Keeton recovered a fumble in the end zone to open the scoring for Paintsville in the first period.
At Paintsville
(Class 1A regional championship)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
WB (10-3)…..7 6 13 8 – 34
PV (10-3)….12 8 16 0 – 36
Scoring:
First Quarter
WB – Gavon Thomas, 12-yard pass from Dalton Ponder (Sydney Bowen kick), 8:22
PV – Nick Keeton, fumble recovery in end zone (Seth Trador kick), 7:15
PV – Jake Hyden, 10-yard run (kick failed), 2:29
Second Quarter
WB – Caleb Rose, 14-yard pass from Dalton Ponder (kick blocked), 8:50
PV – Jake Hyden, 1-yard run (John Walker Phelps run), :30
Third Quarter
WB – Gavon Thomas, 80-yard kickoff return (Sydney Bowen kick), 11:45
PV – John Walker Phelps, 4-yard run (Zach Thompson run), 8:56
WB – Caleb Rose, 8-yard pass from Dalton Ponder (pass failed), 4:48
PV – John Walker Phelps, 31-yard run (Jake Hyden run), 2:57
Fourth Quarter
WB – Dalton Ponder, 1-yard run (Devonte Powell pass from Dalton Ponder), 11:43
Next up: Paintsville (10-3) at Kentucky Country Day (13-0), Class 1A state semifinals, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 29.