Photo credit: Dusty Layne
Pikeville was finally able to wash away the bitter taste of its 21-12 district championship loss to bitter-rival Hazard one year ago.
Running back Blake Birchfield rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Isaac McNamee passed for another score as the Panthers overcame an early deficit to beat the Bulldogs, 28-6, at Hillard Howard Field on Friday night.
Birchfield had runs of 19, 28 and 42 yards. McNamee hit Wade Hensley with a 12-yard scoring strike.
Pikeville, now 11-2, will host Williamsburg this coming Friday night in the regional title game. Kickoff is 7:30 pm
At Pikeville
(District championship)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
HZ (7-5)…..6 0 0 0 – 6
PK (11-2)…6 8 7 7 – 28
Scoring:
First Quarter
HZ – Andrew Ford, 9-yard pass from Max Pelfrey (kick failed), 6:39
PK – Blake Birchfield, 19-yard run (kick failed), :00
Second Quarter
PK –Blake Birchfield, 28-yard run (Grant Scott, pass from Isaac McNamee), 2:56
Third Quarter
Wade Hensley, 12-yard pass from Isaac McNamee (Aaron Chang kick), 2:51
Fourth Quarter
PK – Blake Birchfield, 42-yard run (Aaron Chang kick), 5:56
Next up: Pikeville (11-2) vs. Williamsburg (8-3), 7:30 pm, Nov. 19.