Pikeville used a big second half to take charge and the Panthers went on to beat bitter-rival Hazard, 45-12, in the Class 1A, District 8 championship game played at Hillard Howard Field on Friday night.
Quarterback Isaac McNamee passed for 115 yards and two touchdowns and Jackson Hensley hauled in one TD pass and returned a punt 61 yards for another score as the Panthers improved to 11-0.
Running backs Jon Collum and Carson Wright added rushing touchdowns and Cody Raines had a 55-yard punt return for a score.
Seth Pugh picked off a late second-quarter pass to keep the Panthers up at halftime, 14-6. Peyton Blair also had a pick.
Pikeville will host Nicholas County (9-3) in the regional championship on Nov. 22. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
At Pikeville
(Class 1A playoffs)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
HZ (7-5)….0 6 0 6 – 12
PK (11-0)…7 7 14 17 – 45
Scoring:
First Quarter
PK – Jon Collum, 2-yard run (Tanner Hamilton kick), 5:37
Second Quarter
HZ – Tyson Turner, 34-yard fumble return (kick failed), 11:26
PK – Jackson Hensley, 37-yard pass from Isaac McNamee (Tanner Hamilton kick), 5:09
Third Quarter
PK – Zac Lockhart, 38-yard pass from Isaac McNamee (Tanner Hamilton kick), 4:24
PK – Cody Raines, 55-yard punt return (Tanner Hamilton kick), 1:56
Fourth Quarter
PK – Jackson Hensley, 61-yard punt return (Tanner Hamilton kick), 11:32
PK – Tanner Hamilton, 34-yard field goal, 6:01
PK – Carson Wright, 12-yard run (Tanner Hamilton kick), 1:00
HZ – Jondon Olinger, 35-pass from Garrett Miller (no conversion), :00
Next up: Pikeville (11-0) vs. Nicholas County (9-3), regional championship, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 22.