Published: November 13, 2009 10:16 am      

Ground Battle

By Les Dixon / Sports Editor

If you’re a high school fan that’s going to watch the Corbin/Shelby Valley game, you might be able to get home earlier than expected.

Why?

Because both teams love to run the ball and the game could be over in less than two hours.

Both Corbin and Shelby Valley have combined to rush for 7,439 yards this season and both are looking for their running games to put the other teams’ defense on their heels.

“The fans could be home early — that’s for sure,” Corbin coach Steve Jewell said. “It’s obvious that the running game is both teams’ bread and butter and everyone knows that.

“We just hope to be able to establish the run and take control of the game early,” he added. “That’s the key. We’ve got to take advantage of being at home and get our fans involved early.”

Shelby Valley enters the game averaging 401 yards a game on the ground and is led by the running attack of BJ Roberts and Dillon Hughs.

Roberts has 1,682 rushing yards and a team-best 21 touchdowns, while Dillon Hughs has rushed for 1,397 yards and 12 touchdowns. Quarterback Cody Varney has eight rushing touchdowns and 623 rushing yards.

“This game is going to be a difficult one,” Jewell admitted. “It’s a much different level than playing a four seed game. They are a two seed and they’ve got a very good team.

“They’ve only lost three games and they have 16 seniors, so they have experience,” he added. “I’ll tell you this, I am very impressed with their running attack.”

The Redhounds and the Wildcats have played Knott Central and Leslie County this season and both teams came up with easy wins.

“They have a good team, but the good thing is that we’re as healthy as we’ve been this season,” Jewell said. “Saxon Okuma has an ankle sprain and he will be a game time decision, but other than that, we’re OK.

“If he can’t go, it will hurt us,” he added. “It’s going to hurt us depth-wise at the backer spot and we’ll have to count on either Matthew Taylor or Roman Mitchell for the PATs.”

For Shelby Valley to win, they’re going to have to find a way to contain Corbin’s Caleb Watkins, Ryan Fritts and Taylor. The Redhounds are averaging 274 yards rushing and are led by Watkins’ 1,498 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. Fritts has 505 yards on the ground, while Taylor has 563.

Both Watkins and Fritts set out last week’s win over Morgan County, but Jewell said he expected the talented duo to play in today’s game.

“They’ll be ready to go,” he said. “That’s for sure.”