Raceland received the opening kickoff and went three and out with a punt.  On Pikeville's first possession Brenden Anthony went 58 yards for a touchdown to give Pikeville a 7-0 lead with 926 left in the 1st quarter.  Raceland went right back down the field but threw an INT on a double pass intercepted by Pikeville's Sam Wright on a heads up, athletic play in the end zone.  The teams traded some possessions and the score at the end of the first quarter was 7-0. The second quarter was mostly uneventful with Raceland being stopped on downs once in the red zone.  Pikeville leads at the half 7-0.

Pikeville received the second half kickoff and both teams exchanged punts before Brenden Anthony broke loose for a 61 yard TD run, his second rushing TD of the game to put Pikeville up 14-0 with 156 left in the 3rd quarter. With 145 left in the game Brenden Anthony hit Bradyn Hall on a 27 yard TD pass to put the Panthers up 21-0 and close out the scoring.

Raceland played a solid game but made too many mistakes to beat a team the caliber of Pikeville. Pikeville came out and played Pikeville Panther football and Brenden Anthony was the difference in the Class 1A State Championship game. 

Congrats Pikeville!  Congrats Coach McNamee!

 

Anthony was a BEAST!!!!  Give that kid the MVP trophy!!!

Just now, FrankNicodemus said:

Anthony was a BEAST!!!!  Give that kid the MVP trophy!!!

I agree, that is an easy decision. 

 

 

 

From the KHSAA:

The UK HealthCare Sports Medicine Class 1A Football State Final concluded at Kroger Field at the University of Kentucky in Lexington on Friday.

Pikeville earned its third consecutive and eighth overall state championship in school history with a 21-0 win over Raceland.

• Box Score (PDF)
• Bracket (KHSAA/Riherds Scoreboard)
• Mingua Beef Jerky Most Valuable Player

For more information on the 2023 UK HealthCare Sports Medicine Football State Finals, visit: https://khsaa.org/11-29-23-uk-healthcare-sports-medicine-football-state-finals-to-kick-off-at-kroger-field/

Congratulations on the state championship to Pikeville and to Raceland on another great season. I really believe when Raceland fumbled giving them the longer conversation yards late in the second quarter was big because of how good their drive was before it. With saying that, Pikeville was nails all game on defense. Plays like that can make or break a big game.

Congrats Pikeville! 

Pikeville dynasty rolls on and as a Belfry fan it pains me... but I think this now puts Pikeville on the door step of claiming the King of the Mountains for all-time program supremacy.

Pikeville and Belfry now each have (8) State Titles. The lone thread Belfry hangs on to is they have (7) Runner-Ups to Pikeville's (4). With that said, if the Panthers can get one more Championship Trophy you have to give them the overall edge.

 

Side Note: That's also really dang impressive accomplishment for a rural Appalachian County to have (16) titles and a combined 27 Finals Appearances between two programs.

4 minutes ago, ATLCat said:

Side Note: That's also really dang impressive accomplishment for a rural Appalachian County to have (16) titles and a combined 27 Finals Appearances between two programs.

This, times 100!!

Congratulations Pikeville.  Their lines on both sides were really impressive.  Good season for Raceland too!

Brenden Anthony was the story here. He missed the regular season tilt when Raceland edged the Panthers but he was truly the difference maker today as he was the best player on the field on both sides of the football. Horse.

Raceland fought valiantly. They are truly a great small school football program that should probably have a trophy or two in their case if not for their highwater mark as a program coinciding with Pikeville's high water mark. It just is unfortunate that Pikeville's high water mark is a little higher and the Rams have been unable to avoid them or the misfortune of not having their best teams when someone else has been able to actually knock Pikeville off in November. .

6 minutes ago, ATLCat said:

Brenden Anthony was the story here. He missed the regular season tilt when Raceland edged the Panthers but he was truly the difference maker today as he was the best player on the field on both sides of the football. Horse.

This was Anthony's coming out party to the rest of the state: 25 carries for 237 yards and two touchdowns, threw a touchdown pass, and led an overbearing defensive effort by Pikeville with double digit tackles and a sack. As justified an MVP as you'll see.

13 minutes ago, DevilMayCare said:

This was Anthony's coming out party to the rest of the state: 25 carries for 237 yards and two touchdowns, threw a touchdown pass, and led an overbearing defensive effort by Pikeville with double digit tackles and a sack. As justified an MVP as you'll see.

Impressed the heck out of me!!!!