Two-time defending champion Pikeville had its hands full at Campbellsville in the Class 1A state semifinal showdown on Friday night.
In the end, the Panthers found the will to win, beating the Eagles, 28-21, in their first road playoff game in six years.
Pikeville, now 11-2, will face Raceland (11-3) at Kroger Field on December 1. Kickoff is set for noon. It will be the second meeting this season between the two eastern powers.
Running back Brenden Anthony carried 26 times for 257 yards and three touchdowns, including the eventual game winner, an 82-yard run with 6 minutes, 41 seconds to play. He also returned an interception 40 yards to paydirt.
Quarterback Isaac Duty passed for 112 yards – including five passes to Tayvian Boykins for 91 yards.
At Campbellsville
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
PK (11-2)…….0 6 15 7 – 28
CV (11-2)….…0 0 14 7 – 21
Scoring:
First Quarter
No scoring
Second Quarter
PK – Brenden Anthony, 4-yard run (kick failed), 10:31
Third Quarter
PK – Brenden Anthony, 22-yard run (Tayvian Boykins pass from Isaac Duty), 10:27
PK – Brenden Anthony, 40-yard INT (Keyton Looney kick), 8:58
CV – Gabriel Noyola, 75-yard kickoff return (Nathan Contreras kick), 8:47
CV – Daniel Forbes, 12-yard run (Nathan Contreras kick), 3:36
Fourth Quarter
PK – Brenden Anthony, 82-yard run (Keyton Looney kick), 6:41
CV – Daniel Forbes, 28-yard pass from Kace Eldridge (Nathan Contreras kick), 5:13
Next up: Pikeville (11-2) vs. Raceland (11-3), Class 1A championship, Kroger Field, Noon, Dec. 1.