After a dominating performance in the finals of this year’s Kentucky Middle School Football Association (KYMSFA) Division 2 state tournament, the Corbin eighth grade Redhounds have added the tenth state championship trophy to the school’s trophy case.
The eighth grade Hounds defeated Rockcastle County, 26-8, in the state championship game this past Saturday, Nov. 15, at Lexington Christian Academy. The team also bested Knox County, McCreary County and Johnson County in this year’s Division 2 tournament, allowing them to finish the season with an overall record of 11-2.
“We had a great month in our practices,” said Head Coach Jody Mouser. “They know how to prepare, and they were ready. This is a really great group, a mature bunch, and I could tell that everyone was focused.”
Last Saturday’s state championship game featured several big plays by running back Jake Salmons. Rockcastle County’s first offensive possession of the afternoon was cut short thanks to a Salmons interception, and a few minutes later he ran in a touchdown for the first score of the contest.
Salmons then broke off a long-distance touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. After the extra point from Hays Steely, the Hounds were able to take a commanding 13-0 lead.
Quarterback James Nunley ran in another score for Corbin in the fourth quarter to make it 19-0, and then a Cameron Crusenberry interception set up a Micah House TD run with 1:36 to go in the game. Another Steely extra point made it 26-0 in favor of the Redhounds.
Rockcastle prevented the shutout with a touchdown and two-point conversion with just seconds left on the clock, but at the end of the day the Rockets had to settle for state runner-up honors while Corbin added to their growing list of state championship titles.
“It was a great overall team win,” Mouser said. “I am just proud that they could finish it. It’s been really fun, and it’s flown by. I told the kids that time is a thief, and they’ll blink and be seniors playing in their last games. I told them to enjoy every moment, and to go get another one when they get to high school. This is a great group, and if they stick together, I think they’ll have that chance.”
Mouser also thanked his assistant coaches for their efforts this season, and he thanked the Corbin community for their continued support.
“We had a great crowd there,” Mouser said of the large group of fans who made the trip to Lexington to watch Saturday’s championship game. “It was awesome. I think the kids could really feel that energy out on the field.”
Members of the 2025 Corbin Middle School eighth grade football team are: Eli Hinkle, Jake Salmons, Ryder Broughton, Jonah Cima, James Nunley, Grayson Gibbs, Dalton Rife, Campbell Romines, Gunner Broughton, Keagon Gray, Lucus Pratt, Cameron Crusenberry, Tag Walker, Beau Hash, Jaxon Taylor, Maddox May, Lincoln Crawford, Lance Barton, Micah House, Judd Bunch, Hagen Anders, Gunner Duff, Gatlin Godsey, Draven Dean, Eric Monhollen, Jaxon Monday, Braylen Tuttle, Mason Hanlon, John Lawson, Conner Spencer, Parker Cox, Cole Hammack, Kasen Reams, Brodie Robins, Caden Stradley, John Warren, Aiden Meek, Kaden Stamper, Dagon Noble, Axel Kiskaden, Hays Steely and Kenny Woods.
