Pike County Central made the most of seven Lawrence County turnovers as the Hawks advanced to the Class 3A district championship game with a 39-23 win over the Bulldogs at the Hawks Nest on Friday night.
Quarterback Tyler Hunt rushed for 140 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns and he passed for a third as the Hawks moved to 8-3. Running back Matt Anderson added 95 yards on nine rushes and two scores.
Central rushed for 398 yards. Noah Iricks added 95 yards on seven carries and Issac Hunt finished with 58 yards on six rushes.
Keegan Bentley had a 74-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and then hauled in a 21-yard TD pass play.
Nate Roberts and Iricks had 12 tackles each and Aaron Slone had 11. Alex Perez had two fumble recoveries while Shawn May, Logan Sanders, Slone and Iricks had one each. Adrien Anthony finished with nine tackles while Tanner and Isaac Hunt added seven each.
Pike Central will travel to Pond Creek to face Belfry (7-3) in the district championship matchup at CAM Stadium on Nov. 15. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
At Buckleys Creek
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
LC (4-7)…..7 10 6 0 – 23
PC (8-3)…21 0 12 6 – 39
Scoring:
First Quarter
LC – Ethan Fields, 13-yard pass from Baden Gillispie (S.J. Lycans kick)
PC – Keegan Bentley, 74-yard kickoff return (Isaac Hunt kick)
PC – Matt Anderson, 45-yard run (Tyler Hunt run)
PC – Matt Anderson, 12-yard run (kick failed)
Second Quarter
LC – Safety
LC – Baden Gillispie, 3-yard run (Blue Fletcher run)
Third Quarter
PC – Tyler Hunt, 4-yard run (kick failed)
LC – Andrew Tackett, 4-yard run (run failed)
PC – Keegan Bentley, 21-yard pass from Tyler Hunt (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
PC – Tyler Hunt, 1-yard run (run failed)
Next up: Pike Central (8-3) at Belfry (7-3), Class 3A playoffs, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15.
PHOTO CREDIT: Randy White/ANE