Central senior running back Corey Johnson has rushed for 946 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. C-J file photo.
ELIZABETHTOWN (10-3) AT CENTRAL (8-5)
* Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
* Next week: Winner will face Belfry-Corbin winner in Class 3-A state final at 2 p.m. EST Saturday in Bowling Green.
* Elizabethtown: The Panthers rolled past Caldwell County 35-10 last week to advance to the state semifinals for the second straight year. Running backs Jay Becherer (1,118 yards, 14 TDs), Derek Smith (646 yards, nine TDs) and Kass Disney (525 yards, seven TDs) lead the Panthers’ rushing attack. Becherer played for Collins as a freshman before transferring to E’town. The Panthers’ defense is allowing just 12.8 points per game during the team’s current eight-game winning streak.
* Central: After missing out last year, the Yellowjackets are back in the state semifinals after whipping Lexington Catholic 30-7. Senior running backs Chereioun Jones and Corey Johnson (two TDs) both topped 100 rushing yards, and sophomore Ukari Baker hauled in four receptions for 121 yards and a score. Central was 10-0 vs. E’town from 2007-14 when the teams were district mates, winning by an average of 27.5 points.
MORE COVERAGE | Johnson, Jones provide ‘1-2 punch’ for Yellowjackets
* Quotable: “All of their skill guys are a lot smaller than our guys, but they’re speedy,” Central coach Ty Scroggins said of E’town. “They’re not fast, but they’re quick. We’ve really got to contain (Becherer) and (Disney). If we don’t contain those two kids, it’s going to be a long night for us.”
* Pick: Central 35-21.