Paintsville’s brutal ground attack has landed the Tigers in next Friday’s Class 1A state football championship against bitter-rival Pikeville at Kroger Field.
Running back John Walker Phelps rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns to help power the Tigers to a 44-20 victory over previously unbeaten Kentucky Country Day at The Mo on Friday night.
Quarterback Jake Hyden added 138 yards and two rushing scores as the Tigers amassed 489 yards, all on the ground while improving to 11-3.
Running back Zach Thompson added a pair of short touchdown runs.
At Louisville
(Class 1A state semifinals)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
PV (11-3)…..6 12 13 13 – 44
KCD (13-1)..7 7 0 6 – 20
Scoring:
First Quarter
PV – John Walker Phelps, 2-yard run (kick failed)
KD – Dorian Heard, 2-yard run (Zach Schonwelter kick)
Second Quarter
PV – John Walker Phelps, 45-yard run (run failed)
KD – Drew Russell, 61-yard run (Zach Schonwelter kick)
PV – Jake Hyden, 40-yard run (run failed)
Third Quarter
PV – Zach Thompson, 1-yard run (kick failed)
PV – John Walker Phelps, 68-yard run (Seth Trador kick)
Fourth Quarter
PV – Jake Hyden, 1-yard run (Seth Trador kick)
PV – Zach Thompson, 5-yard run (kick failed)
KD – Dorian Heard, 1-yard run (run failed)
Next up: Paintsville (11-3) vs. Pikeville (13-0), Class 1A state championship, Kroger Field, 2 p.m., Dec. 6.