Photo credit: DUSTY LAYNE
Pikeville running back Blake Birchfield ran for 189 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers cruised to a 36-7 win over the Raceland Rams in the Class 1A state semifinals played at Hillard Howard Field on Friday night.
Quarterback Isaac McNamee passed for 187 yards and two scores as Pikeville improved to 13-2.
Receiver Wade Hensley hauled in five passes for 111 yards and a score. Zac Lockhart added a TD reception. He caught four passes for 74 yards.
Pikeville’s defense kept Raceland off the scoreboard for 45 minutes. The Panthers picked off three passes – one each by Logan Reed, Luke Ray, and Hensley.
Pikeville, playing in their third title game in four years, will face Russellville at Kroger Field in Lexington at noon on Friday.
At Pikeville
(Class 1A state semifinals)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
RL (12-2)…..0 0 0 7 – 7
PK (13-2)…..7 14 15 0 – 36
Scoring:
First Quarter
PK – Blake Birchfield, 53-yard run (Aaron Chang kick), 9:39
Second Quarter
PK – Zac Lockhart, 7-yard pass from Isaac McNamee (Aaron Chang kick), 10:12
PK – Blake Birchfield, 6-yard run (Aaron Chang kick), 1:54
Third Quarter
PK – Wade Hensley, 19-yard pass from Isaac McNamee (Aaron Chang kick), 7:51
PK – Blake Birchfield, 16-yard run (Blake Birchfield run), :49
Fourth Quarter
RL – Logan Lundy, 1-yard run (Peyton Ison kick), 3:16
Next up: Pikeville (13-2) vs. Russellville (12-1), Class 1A state championship, Kroger Field. Lexington, Noon, Dec. 3.