Corbin Pulls Away From North Laurel for 42-14 Victory

The final score suggested another comfortable Corbin victory. For three quarters Friday night at Campbell Field, it was anything but comfortable.

North Laurel erased two Corbin leads and briefly moved in front early in the second half before the Redhounds took control down the stretch, scoring the final 28 points of the game to defeat the Jaguars, 42 to 14. The victory improved Corbin to 2 and 0 on the season and gave the Redhounds their second home victory in as many weeks following a 38 to 14 win over Western Hills in the season opener.

Corbin entered the game after an impressive opening week performance, but North Laurel showed early that the Redhounds would have a considerably different challenge in their second game. The Jaguars came to Corbin after opening their season with a 42 to 7 victory over Perry County Central and spent much of Friday night matching the Redhounds possession for possession.

Neither offense was able to produce points through most of the opening quarter. Corbin finally broke through with only 23 seconds remaining when Trey Person scored on a 16 yard touchdown run. The extra point gave the Redhounds a 7 to 0 lead, but North Laurel needed little time to answer.

The Jaguars produced one of their biggest plays of the night early in the second quarter. Quarterback Jude McWhorter found Cam Anderson for a 70 yard touchdown pass, and the extra point tied the game at 7 with 9:47 remaining in the first half. North Laurel had weathered Corbin’s opening score and made it clear that the Redhounds were going to have to earn their second victory of the season.

The score remained tied until the closing minute of the half. Corbin put together a late drive and moved close to the North Laurel goal line before quarterback Mason Salmons scored on a 3 yard touchdown run with 43 seconds remaining. The extra point was unsuccessful, leaving the Redhounds with a 13 to 7 advantage at halftime.

Any expectation that Corbin might take control immediately after the break disappeared less than two minutes into the third quarter.

McWhorter and Anderson connected again, this time on a 64 yard touchdown pass with 10:49 remaining in the period. The extra point gave North Laurel a 14 to 13 lead and put Corbin behind for the first time that night. After entering the game as a substantial favorite and coming off a convincing opening week victory, the Redhounds suddenly found themselves chasing the Jaguars on their home field.

The lead did not last long.

Corbin answered with a drive of its own, and Salmons finished it with a 1 yard touchdown run. The Redhounds converted the two point attempt and regained the lead, 21 to 14, with 7:49 remaining in the third quarter.

North Laurel refused to go away. The Jaguars kept Corbin within one possession for the remainder of the period, and the Redhounds carried only a seven point advantage into the fourth quarter. Through three quarters, a game that would eventually finish with a 28 point margin remained very much undecided.

The fourth quarter changed everything.

Corbin’s running game began to wear down a North Laurel defense that had spent most of the night keeping the Redhounds within reach. Person, who had scored Corbin’s first touchdown of the game, found the end zone again on a 16 yard run with 8:55 remaining. The touchdown extended the lead to 27 to 14 and finally gave the Redhounds some breathing room.

North Laurel had spent three quarters answering Corbin whenever the Redhounds threatened to pull away. This time the Jaguars could not respond.

Corbin continued to lean on its ground game, and Person delivered the decisive blow with 3:33 remaining. The Corbin running back broke loose for a 42 yard touchdown, his third scoring run of the night. The Redhounds added the two point conversion to increase the lead to 35 to 14 and put the game beyond North Laurel’s reach.

Corbin was not finished.

Clay Akins added the final touchdown on a 28 yard run with 1:33 remaining. The extra point produced the final margin, completing a 21 point fourth quarter and a run of 28 unanswered points after North Laurel had taken the lead early in the second half.

When the game ended, the scoreboard showed Corbin 42 and North Laurel 14. The margin looked comfortable. The path to it had not been.

North Laurel had tied the game in the second quarter, trailed by only six points at halftime and moved ahead 14 to 13 early in the third. Even after Corbin regained the lead, the Jaguars remained within seven points entering the final period. It was only during the final nine minutes that the Redhounds finally created the separation reflected in the final score.

Person provided much of the damage for Corbin, scoring three rushing touchdowns, including runs of 16 and 42 yards in the fourth quarter. Salmons scored twice on short runs, while Akins accounted for the final touchdown. All six of Corbin’s touchdowns came on the ground.

For North Laurel, the combination of McWhorter and Anderson accounted for both touchdowns and gave the Corbin secondary problems with explosive plays. Their first scoring connection covered 70 yards and tied the game in the second quarter. Their second covered 64 yards and briefly gave the Jaguars the lead after halftime.

North Laurel coach Steven Nelson said afterward that he was proud of the way his team competed against a Corbin program widely regarded as one of the stronger teams in Class 4A. The Jaguars were still within seven points at the beginning of the fourth quarter before injuries and fatigue began to take their toll and Corbin took advantage.

The difference late in the game was Corbin’s ability to continue running the football effectively. With the outcome still uncertain, the Redhounds did not need a turnover or a special teams play to change the game. They simply began finding more room on the ground, and North Laurel eventually ran out of answers.

Person’s fourth quarter was particularly important. His second touchdown gave Corbin its first two score advantage of the night. His third effectively ended North Laurel’s chances of a comeback. Akins then added another touchdown in the closing minutes to complete a fourth quarter in which the Redhounds turned a competitive game into a decisive victory.

The performance also provided Corbin with something it had not experienced during the season opener. Western Hills fell behind quickly in the first week and never seriously threatened the Redhounds. North Laurel forced Corbin to play from behind in the second half and made the Redhounds respond in a game that remained close well beyond halftime.

Corbin did respond.

After McWhorter’s 64 yard touchdown pass gave North Laurel a 14 to 13 advantage, the Jaguars did not score again. Corbin answered with four consecutive touchdowns and outscored North Laurel 29 to 0 over the remainder of the game.

The result gave Corbin consecutive victories to begin the 2026 season and continued the Redhounds’ successful start under head coach Luke Salmons. More importantly, the game gave Corbin an early season test that required the Redhounds to adjust after halftime and finish a game rather than simply protect a large early lead.

For much of Friday night, North Laurel looked capable of producing an upset. The Jaguars made explosive plays in the passing game, answered Corbin’s first touchdown and then came out of halftime with another long scoring pass to take the lead. When the fourth quarter began, only seven points separated the teams.

Nine minutes later, the game was essentially over.

Corbin had turned to its running game, Person had taken over and the Redhounds had shown why they entered the season with expectations of again being among the teams playing deep into November.

The 42 points looked good on the scoreboard, but the more important part of Friday night may have been how Corbin got there. The Redhounds were challenged, fell behind and had to respond. They did not play their best football for three quarters, but when the game reached the point where it had to be won, Corbin controlled it.

The final score will show a 28 point victory.

Those who were at Campbell Field know it was much closer than that for most of the night.

Corbin simply made sure it did not stay that way.