Corbin is an incredibly proud program, but their win over Highlands was a rather stunning upset.  Maybe not so much that Corbin won, but how dominant they looked on their way to a 35-21 victory.  Their win streak reached seven with the upset, and they're into the state semifinals for the second straight year.  They will look to advance to their first state final since 2022.  Across the field will be a familiar playoff foe and nemesis - the top ranked Boyle County Rebels.  Boyle County hosted Covington Catholic, who beat them in shocking fashion last year.  For three quarters, the game was touch and go, with Boyle up 20-14.  Then, the floodgates opened.  TWENTY NINE unanswered points later, the clock was running and Boyle County won 49-14.  Boyle County is back in the semifinals after a year away, and will be seeking their sixth state title appearance in the past seven years.

During the Riherds era these teams have met five times, with the last four coming in the playoffs.  Boyle County has won four of those five meetings, falling in the 2018 3A playoffs, but getting the better of Corbin in the 3A finals in 2017, the 4A finals in 2022, and in the third round in 2023 (which frankly may as well have been the finals).  

Boyle County is #1 in the class, while Corbin is #7.  The Rebels have the look of an unstoppable freight train, but Corbin just shocked the state with their last win.  Can they do it again? Or are we back to Boyle County visiting their home away from home at Kroger Field?

Give me the Rebels. 

Is the Paducah - Logan game over yet?  If Logan wins they will come to Boyle.  

3 minutes ago, Rebel said:

Is the Paducah - Logan game over yet?  If Logan wins they will come to Boyle.  

Boyle County is the top RPI team.  Johnson Central is out, Franklin County is #3, therefore the second highest RPI.  The last remaining game is Paducah Tilghman and Logan County, both of which are higher than Corbin. It's Corbin at Boyle County.

1 minute ago, DragonFire said:

Boyle County is the top RPI team.  Johnson Central is out, Franklin County is #3, therefore the second highest RPI.  The last remaining game is Paducah Tilghman and Logan County, both of which are higher than Corbin. It's Corbin at Boyle County.

My bad I thought Corbin was higher than Logan.  Seen that wasn;t the case after looking at the KHSAA website.

This game is going to bring a CROWD! 

8 hours ago, charlesw88 said:

This game is going to bring a CROWD! 

It better. I don’t know about Corbin but Boyles kids work way too hard all year for people to sit at home and watch on Tv. They need to come and support these kids with butts in the seats. 

The 12-1 Boyle County Rebels host the 10-3 Corbin Redhounds with a trip to the title game for 4A on the line.

Corbin is coming off an epic road win over Highlands 35-21, a game they controlled from start to finish. They dominated in the trenches, had some big time, momentum changing plays early on, and executed their game plan perfectly.

That win earns them a dance with the mighty Rebels, their only blemish being an early season loss to Lexington Catholic. Boyle crushed their Northern Kentucky foe, Covington Catholic, by a tune of 49-14.

Boyle is the better team on paper and it really is decisive, though we saw what that same concept got Highlands. These teams have a few common opponents, sharing in some blowout wins over Whitley County, Lincoln County and Russell County. The one common opponent they diverge on is telling as the Rebels convincingly beat Douglass while Corbin fell by a decisive margin.

Boyle has one of the most powerful and balanced offenses in the state, basically evening out in passing and rushing yards, both exceeding 175 per game.

Corbin was able to dictate things on the road at Highlands. It is hard to foresee them being able to do the same at Boyle.

Actually, Boyle is 5-4 vs Corbin all-time with the first meeting in the 1977 playoffs (a Corbin win).  Boyle has won 5 of the last 6 meetings.  They are heavy teams have met in the state championship game twice- 2017 Boyle won 40-21 and 2022 Boyle won 32-26.  The last meeting was an epic game in 2023 in the regional championship at Boyle with Boyle winning 21-14.  Been some really good games!

On another note, Coach Justin Haddix (after beating Covington Catholic Friday night) now has a ridiculous 77-5 record at Boyle in his 6th year.  Overall, he is 167-43 in his 15th season with stints at Perry County Central and Corbin.  If he makes the state championship game this year he will have led teams to the championship game in 7 out the last 8 years (2 at Corbin and 5 at Boyle), and has 4 state championships (5 if they were to win it this year).  Pretty impressive!!

Give me the Rebels big here. Hopefully Haddix runs the score up. 49-7 Boyle. 

23 hours ago, Paul Dean said:

Actually, Boyle is 5-4 vs Corbin all-time with the first meeting in the 1977 playoffs (a Corbin win).  Boyle has won 5 of the last 6 meetings.  They are heavy teams have met in the state championship game twice- 2017 Boyle won 40-21 and 2022 Boyle won 32-26.  The last meeting was an epic game in 2023 in the regional championship at Boyle with Boyle winning 21-14.  Been some really good games!

On another note, Coach Justin Haddix (after beating Covington Catholic Friday night) now has a ridiculous 77-5 record at Boyle in his 6th year.  Overall, he is 167-43 in his 15th season with stints at Perry County Central and Corbin.  If he makes the state championship game this year he will have led teams to the championship game in 7 out the last 8 years (2 at Corbin and 5 at Boyle), and has 4 state championships (5 if they were to win it this year).  Pretty impressive!!

That record is ridiculous.   WOW!!!

Boyle Co. 35-14.

Rebels!! 

Boyle gets my vote, but I didn't come to that conclusion easily.

Before last week, it was hard to say just how much Corbin has grown since the three game, mid-season skid. Taking the fight to Highlands in Fort Thomas tells me the Hounds have the moxy to do the same to Boyle in 'Title Town'. They're not afraid to trade punches with anyone and they've gone toe-to-toe with the Rebels twice in the last three years. They have a lot of pride down there.

I think it comes down to a chess match between Haddix and Salmons. Who can suss out and exploit any and all weaknesses? Who's thinking two or three steps ahead?

Salmons is a great coach who may win a lot of games - and maybe someday end the championship drought - at Corbin, but Haddix is a chess grandmaster.

Rebels will win by 3 or 4 touchdowns. Can't stop a runaway train. 28-7 Rebels