Kroger KSR Game of the Week Preview: Johnson Central at Corbin

DanielHagerKSR

The KSR crew will travel to Whitley County on Friday night for a third-round 4A playoff rematch between 10-2 Johnson Central and 12-0 Corbin. Johnson Central ended Corbin’s undefeated 2021 season almost one year ago to the day en route to a State Championship runner-up finish to former head coach Justin Haddix and Boyle County.

After losing two of their first four contests to begin the season, the Johnson Central Golden Eagles settled in and have rattled off eight consecutive wins by an average margin of 44-10.

Following St. Xavier’s loss to Male last Friday night, the Corbin Redhounds moved up to #2 in KSR’s latest edition of the Kentucky High School Football Rankings, their highest ranking of the season. Corbin is riding a mighty impressive shutout streak, not allowing a single point to their opponents in six consecutive contests.

Can the Redhounds Stop the Run?

The Corbin defense, led by seniors Zayne Hammack (96 tackles, three TFL, three sacks) and Jacob Baker (75 tackles, five TFL), has been dominant all season. They certainly haven’t forgotten about how last season ended.

In the 2021 playoff loss to the Golden Eagles, the Redhounds absolutely could not stop the Central run game. Senior Matt Crum, junior Chase Price, and freshman Zack McCoart combined for 340 yards rushing and five touchdowns in a dominant 34-13 victory. The Eagles ran for 454 yards in total. Over Corbin’s six-game shutout streak, they have only allowed opponents to run for an average of 76 yards a game. If they want to give their offense some much-needed help that they didn’t receive in last year’s contest, stopping the run is absolutely key.

The Corbin offense is led by sophomore quarterback Kade Elam, who has had a phenomenal season to this point. Elam has thrown for 1,973 yards and rushed for 390 yards, scoring 36 touchdowns in total (24 passing, 12 rushing). The Louisville baseball commit is flanked by senior quarterback converted running back Cameron Combs, who has rushed for 1,049 yards and scored 14 touchdowns.

RAW EMOTION from @ElamKade after the QB sneak for SIX! Corbin pulling away in the third.

Corbin 24 | Franklin 6 | 2:54 3rd pic.twitter.com/viyJT7gtx0
— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) September 3, 2022

Corbin hasn’t advanced to at least the state semifinals since 2018, where they lost by one point to Central in the State Championship game.

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Will Johnson Central Make It Three in a Row?

Friday night’s 4A postseason matchup marks the third consecutive season that the Golden Eagles and Redhounds have met when it matters most.

The Golden Eagles have come out on top on both occasions.

Johnson Central returns two-thirds of their leading rushers from last season’s postseason matchup in senior Chase Price and sophomore Zack McCoart. McCoart followed up his stellar freshman season with another great outing this year, rushing for 1,641 yards and 25 touchdowns. Through two seasons, McCoart has rushed for a combined 2,928 yards and 43 touchdowns. If he continues to improve in his junior and senior seasons, we could be looking at the greatest Johnson Central running back since Kentucky High School football legend J.J. Jude, who holds the state record for career rushing yards (8,633).

In 2020, the Golden Eagles made it to the state semis before losing to Franklin County. Last season, they were knocked out in the State Championship game by Boyle County. Is this the year they break through to win their first state championship since 2019?

X’s and O’s

This game is going to come down to the pivotal battle between the Johnson Central rushing attack and the mighty Corbin defense. The Redhounds can’t afford a repeat of last year’s matchup if they want to advance. It should be a doozy.

Rivalry, playoff football. Can’t wait.

Kroger is a staple in your hometown community just like high school football. There’s nothing quite like Friday nights in the Bluegrass. We are honored to share this journey with Kroger and you for the third consecutive season.