Football

After two weeks of rest, the Williamsburg Yellow Jackets went to Pineville ready to add another mark to their win column Williamsburg defeated the Mountain Lions 48-6. Quarterback Reece Hatcher threw the ball for 164 yards. Between senior Landin Michael Miller and junior Lane Jeffries, the team averaged 23.4 yards per reception. Miller received the ball four times to gain 84 yards. Jeffries caught three passes for 80 yards. “We ran the ball well and played solid defense,” said Williamsburg Head Coach Jerry Herron. “We controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. was able to run the ball very effectively.” The team rushed the ball for 169 yards. Jeffries...

The Corbin Redhounds improved to 4-2 on the season after a 28-18 win over Johnson Central Friday night. It was the Redhounds first game back after their open week. “ always good to have an open week after playing two of the top teams in the state back-to-back weeks,” said Head Coach Luke Salmons. “We were able to work on us and improve on things.” Salmons said his team’s game plan going into Friday night’s matchup was simple – “to win.” “We knew going to Johnson is always a challenge,” said Salmons. “We played hard and came out strong.” That strength put points on the board within the first three minutes of the...

The Whitley County football program coaching change comes during a milestone season for the Colonels. Football first kicked off for Whitley County in 1966. The school has an overall record of 298 wins and 357 losses during its 60 year history. In recent years, Whitley County’s football program has not had a winning season since 2019 under Jep Irwin. Since 2019, the team has been under the leadership of four different head coaches, including Donahue. Of those coaches, Matt Rhymer had the longest tenure coming in at three and a half seasons.

By the second half of Lynn Camp’s game against Middlesboro, only 11 players remained healthy enough to continue playing for the Wildcats. The team suffered at least three untimely injuries throughout the course of the game. “I cannot tell you how proud I am of our guys,” said Lynn Camp Head Coach Allen Mitchell. “I told the guys at halftime that I love to be their coach because, you know, we got down to just a few kids, but they played their butts off.” The Wildcats open week is coming at the right time this season. The team’s next contest is slated for Oct. 9 against the Williamsburg Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets are...

Coach J.B. Donahue is no stranger to the 13th Region. He graduated from Harlan High School in 1982 before making his way to Williamsburg to attend Cumberland College. Donahue would eventually return home to Harlan where he would lead the Green Dragons for 24 seasons. During that time, he compiled 138 wins including three district titles. In addition to his high school coaching experience, he also worked as an assistant coach at the University of the Cumberlands and Union Commonwealth University. Matt Rhymer is one of his former players. As for this season, Donahue says, “Our game plan for the remainder of this season is to prepare each week to perform our best. We...

Whitley County Head Football Coach Matt Rhymer has "stepped down".  The announcement was posted on Whitley County High School's Facebook page Monday morning.  "Having a winning football program at Whitley County High School is a priority," said Athletic Director Bryan Stewart. "I understand the importance it has to our current players, our former players, our school, and our entire community." Whitley County is currently 0-6 on the season after a 42-6 loss to North Laurel on Friday.  According to the school's announcement, J.B. Donahue, a former head coach at Harlan Independent and assistant coach at the University of the Cumberlands and Union Commonwealth University, will serve as interim head coach throughout the remainder...

“I really feel like we had our best week of practice last week, and it really showed on the field,” said Lynn Camp Football Head Coach Allen Mitchell. “Even though the score is probably not indicative of how the game went, I really feel like we experienced a lot of growth for the first time.” The Wildcats lost 26-0 on the road to Jackson County on Sept. 18. Mitchell said that growth was evident in his team’s attention to detail. “The biggest thing with our guys is not the lack of ability, but it’s been attention to details - the little things that make you so much better,” Mitchell explained. “Sometimes with...

Whitley County football is still on the hunt for its first win of the season after the Colonels lost 55-8 to the South Laurel Cardinals on Sept. 11. Whitley County is now 0-4 on the season. Head Coach Matt Rhymer said South Laurel is good team, and ideal field position in the game set them up for success against his own defense. “You know their first three touchdowns, their drive started on the plus side of the field, so that made it really challenging for our defense,” said Rhymer. “Situational football was not ideal for us this past week.” On offense, senior Landen Rose scored the Colonels only points for the night –...

Lynn Camp football is now 1-3 on the season after a 48-6 loss to Thomas Walker on Friday. “Honestly, a little disappointed in our level of play,” said Head Coach Allen Mitchell. “I really felt like that we would go over there and play our best game of the year, and you know, I've got to do a better job of preparing our guys.” “We played poorly,” Mitchell explained. “I've got to find the right buttons to push to get us going on Friday night.” The Wildcats rushed for 47 yards on 22 carries Friday night. Freshman quarterback Josh   Jody recorded the Wildcats only touchdown of the night. “We're having some individual growth,...

Photos by Melissa Hudson The Williamsburg Yellow Jackets were unable to “get in sync” against the Sayre Spartans falling 57-18. “We just turned the ball over to much,” said Williamsburg Head Coach Jerry Herron. “ put ourselves in a bad spot and just never really got in sync.” With several players on the roster injured, the team’s bye-week comes at the right time for the Yellow Jackets. “Biggest thing we’re trying to do right now is just to get healthy,” said Herron. While the varsity team won’t take the field, Herron said the team has a junior varsity game lined up to get the younger players reps ahead of the second half of the...