Senior running back Chase Price rushed for 170 yards on 16 carries and scored three touchdowns as visiting Johnson Central shutout Harlan County 43-0 in district football action on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s the first time the Black Bears have been shut out in 18 games under second-year coach Amos McCreary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Golden Eagles didn’t score until their third possession of the game when Price went in from the 2-yard line at the 2:17 mark of the opening quarter. Sawyer Crum added the first of five extra points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnson Central scored two touchdowns in the second period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With 6:24 remaining before halftime, Grimmhad an 18-yard keeper for a TD. Crum’s kick made it 14-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the 1:06 mark of the second period, Price added a 4-yard touchdown run and Crum’s kick gave the Eagles 21-0 advantage at the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second began when Johnson Central kickoff and the ball bounced off a Harlan County player and Zack McCoart recovered the ball at the HC 44.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four plays later, McCoart scored from the 5-yard line with 10:42 left in the third period. Crum added the extra point and the Eagles led 28-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnson Central’s Chandler Spradlin intercepted a Josh Sergent pass near midfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five plays later, Price scored from the 4 with 5:47 remaining in the third quarter. Price added the two-point conversion to force a running clock as the Golden Eagles took a 36-0 lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final score came with nine minutes left in the final quarter as junior Christian Barnes scored on a 26-yard run. Daniel Casa added the point after for the Eagles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnson Central gained 310 yards of offense, all on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mason Lawson had 33 yards on seven carries for the Golden Eagles. McCoart added 32 yards on nine rushes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Black Bears were held to 46 total yards. Sergent led the team with 17 yards on seven carries and James Howard followed with 16 yards dsvon five rushes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sergent threw two interception for HC. He started on the place of junior QB Ethan Rhymer, who is injured and could miss the rest of the season for the Bears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnson Central (6-2 overall, 3-0 district) will clinch the regular season title with a win at home against Letcher Central on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harlan County (3-5, 0-3) travels to Perry Central on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Commodores fell at Clay County 30-27 on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The winner of the HC-Perry Central game will claim fourth place in the district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last season, the game determined the district’s fourth place with HC missing the KHSAA playoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Black Bear hope to regroup this week and respond with a strong showing in Perry County on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Junior running back Jonah Swanner saw action for Harlan County last night, but wasn’t 100 percent well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
White honored<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the football game started, family and friends of a former 13th Region Official crew was honored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don White was a longtime referee in Harlan County. He was a former school teacher, bus driver, coach, husband, father and friend of many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
White passed away earlier this summer of Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
White’s widow was presented a plague by Friday night’s official crew, led by longtime friend\/referee Darrell Wilson.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"