LONDON — South Laurel continued its red-hot start to the season Friday night, rolling past Knox Central, 48-6, behind a dominant offensive showing led by quarterback Mason Griffin and running back Wes Dowell.
Griffin passed for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns while Dowell piled up three scores — two on the ground and one through the air — as the Cardinals improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2023. The win also marked South Laurel’s second straight over the Panthers, who fell to 1-2.
South Laurel struck first late in the opening quarter when Griffin connected with Dowell on a 36-yard touchdown strike to put the Cardinals ahead, 7-0.
Knox Central answered in the second quarter, as Jonathan Hobbs powered in from a yard out to cut the deficit to 7-6. But from there, it was all Cardinals.
Dowell added two rushing scores in the frame — from five and six yards out — and Griffin found Carter Kelley on a 14-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the half to stretch South Laurel’s advantage to 28-6 at the break.
The Cardinals kept rolling in the second half. Dowell broke free for a 26-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the third quarter, and Griffin added his third touchdown toss with a 14-yard floater to Garrison Brown that extended the margin to 42-6.
South Laurel closed out the night with one more exclamation point as Noah Ison sprinted more than 50 yards for a touchdown as time expired, sealing the 48-6 rout.
“We are extremely proud of our football team and the way they started the season,” South Laurel coach John Hines said. “We’ve played really good out of the gate although there are still many things we can do to steadily improve. Mason Griffin has been outstanding as has Wes Dowell, Carter Kelley, Garrison Brown, Elijah Roark, GunnarWilliams and Ethan Leach. All those guys have caught passes in the first three games. The offensive line has played extremely well and continues to improve. Johnson Inman, (Ethan Rose) Logan Hayre, Gunner Queen, and Tanner Hammons have set the standard on the offensive line.
“The defense is being led by sophomore linebacker Malachi Smith,” he added. “He’s our leading tackler. Outside linebackers, Liam Newton and Tim Thompson as well as freshman Quinn Strunk have made some big plays on the edge. The D line is being led by Braxten Carrol, Bridger Ray and Ethan Leach. The secondary has played extremely well in the first three games also. It was heartbreaking to lose senior cornerback, Waylon Hensley to an injury, but the guys have carried on, and are playing well. Caleb Roark, sophomore, has been thrust into the lineup at cornerback, Garrison Brown, Carter Kelley, Wes Dowell, and Bo Walters have all played extremely well.
“Our kicking game has been solid,” Hines continued. “Junior Kicker Cullen Dalrymple
made nine extra points in the Clay County game, and has only missed two on the entire season.
We’re excited about the crowds that we’ve had coming to the games, and we sure look forward to a big crowd this Friday night at Gilliam Stadium as we entertain Whitley County. We are also excited about our JV team. They are off to a hot start with a big win over Madison South, and will hit the field again Monday night at Middlesboro.”
