CORBIN — Corbin’s bid for a trip to the Class 4A state championship ended one point short Friday, as the Redhounds dropped a 34–33 thriller to Boyle County in a game filled with momentum swings, explosive plays, and a controversial late call.
Corbin finishes the season with a 10–4 record, while Boyle County (13–1) advances to next week’s Class 4A state title game.
Boyle County struck first after JiDyn Smith-Hisel capped an early drive with a 10-yard touchdown run at the 5:18 mark of the opening quarter.
The Rebels carried that 7–0 lead into the second period before both offenses began to light up the scoreboard.
Corbin answered on the first play of the second quarter when Cam Estep broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 7–7.
Boyle County responded quickly, regaining the lead on a 44-yard touchdown run by Smith-Hisel with 7:25 left in the half.
The Redhounds evened the score again less than two minutes later.
Quarterback Mason Salmons hit Cole Stevens in stride for a 57-yard touchdown pass at the 5:39 mark, making it 14 apiece.
Boyle grabbed the momentum back late in the half as quarterback Jhet Raleigh connected with Seneca Driver for a 44-yard touchdown pass with 1:36 remaining, giving the Rebels a 21–14 lead.
Corbin threatened in the final seconds of the half, but Boyle’s Brady Edwards intercepted a pass on the goal line and returned it to the Corbin 17 as time expired.
At the break, Corbin had totaled 161 yards (76 rushing, 85 passing) with six first downs, while Boyle County recorded 215 yards (89 rushing, 128 passing) and 11 first downs.
Corbin opened the second half with another explosive play, tying the game at 21–21 when Estep outran the Boyle County defense for a 54-yard touchdown run with 10:41 left in the third quarter.
The Rebels regained the lead at the 8:38 mark when Raleigh found Driver again, this time for a 33-yard touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good, keeping the Rebels’ lead at 27–21.
Corbin responded with a grinding drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Salmons with 4:04 remaining in the third quarter.
The Redhounds saw the extra point get blocked, one of two costly blocked kicks in the second half, which kept the game tied at 27–27 entering the final quarter of play.
Boyle County struck first in the fourth quarter when Driver scored on a 6-yard run with 9:26 remaining, pushing the Rebels ahead 34–27.
Estep continued his standout performance, breaking loose for a 26-yard touchdown run with 3:19 left to narrow the gap to 34–33. But for the second time in the half, the extra point attempt was blocked, leaving Corbin trailing by one.
The Redhounds attempted an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but Boyle County recovered at the Corbin 46-yard line with 3:17 remaining.
On the next play, the Rebels mishandled the snap, and the loose ball appeared to be recovered by Corbin’s Mason Salmons at the Rebel 38-yard line.
But it was decided that an inadvertent whistle was blown, allowing Boyle County to maintain possession of the ball.
The Rebels ran out the clock from there, securing the win and ending Corbin’s postseason run.
