An all-day rainfall and muddy field conditions did not slow down Paintsville’s high-octane ground game as the Tigers ran past Hazard, 39-7, in the Class 1A regional championship game played at Memorial Field on Friday night.
The Tigers, now 8-2, will host Newport Central Catholic (8-2) on Dec. 11 with a berth in the state title game on the line.
Running back Harris Phelps rushed for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 22 carries. Quarterback Karsten Poe followed with 92 yards and two scores while Luke Hyden added 91 yards and two touchdowns on 12 rushes.
At Paintsville
(Class 1A regional championship)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
HZ (4-6)…0 0 0 7 – 7
PV (8-2)..13 12 0 14 – 39
Scoring:
First Quarter
PV – Harris Phelps, 5-yard run (Braydon Combs), 9:26
PV – Harris Phelps, 21-yard run (kick failed), 8:19
Second Quarter
PV – Karsten Poe, 27-yard run (run failed), 3:37
PV – Luke Hyden, 7-yard run (pass failed), 1:14
Third Quarter
No scoring
Fourth Quarter
PV – Karsten Poe, 10-yard run (Brayden Combs kick), 11:53
PV – Luke Hyden, 16-yard run (Brayden Combs kick), 8:23
HZ – Max Johnson, 3-yard run (Jonah Helms kick), 1:55
Next up: Paintsville (8-2) vs. Newport Central Catholic (8-2), Nov. 11.