Running back Avery Bodner was the MVP of the 2022 Class 4A state title game when Boyle County beat Corbin. (Chris Zollner Photo)
Who will win Friday night’s showdown in Danville between Class 4A powers Corbin and Boyle County?
The two teams met in the state title game last year with Boyle winning. Both are unbeaten this year and both have multiple future Division I players on the roster.
The teams have played three common opponents — Frederick Douglass, Lexington Catholic and Taylor County. Boyle won those three games by a combined score of 132-31 while Corbin beat the same teams by a combined 85-24.
Frederick Douglass lost 6-0 at Corbin Sept. 15 and lost 28-7 to visiting Boyle on Oct. 27.
“We obviously had a much tougher game with Corbin and did not play very well against Boyle,” Douglass coach Nathan McPeek said. “I thought going into the Boyle game that both teams had strengths and weaknesses. But playing Boyle, I kind of underestimate the speed they have. We have good speed and athletes but the culture they have had with (coaches) Chuck Smith and Larry French that Justin Haddix has added to makes them play so hard and that’s tough to match.
“On the flip side, the (Smith) twins completely dominated our game against Corbin. They are so talented and play so hard.”
The twins are Kentucky commits Jerod and Jacob Smith. The 6-4, 230-pound Jerod has 60 tackles, including 20 tackles for loss and eight sacks, along with two fumble recoveries. Jacob, a 6-3, 265-pound lineman, has 60 tackles, including 20 for loss and eight sacks.
“It is just a shame they are playing in the third round. It’s going to be a heck of a game,” McPeek said. “Boyle has a lot of weapons offensively to throw at them. Corbin has to find ways of scoring and running the ball against a Boyle defense that not a lot of people talk about.
“On offense, Boyle does a lot of motion to confuse you and has really good players. The offensive line is big and strong but the twins will make plays. Corbin has to match some scores with them. I’ll be very surprised if it is a low scoring game.”
Quarterback Sage Dawson, an Air Force commit, has completed 115 of 161 passes for 2,223 yards and 28 scores with only two interceptions. He also rushed for 236 yards and three scores.
Junior Montavin Quisenberry has 34 catches for 737 yards and 12 touchdowns and has 40 rushes for 425 yards and 13 scores. He has also returned two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns.On defense, Quisenberry had two interceptions and 38 tackles. He has nine scholarship offers, including Kentucky, Michigan and Ole Miss.
Senior Avery Bodner has 108 rushes for 1,009 yards and 16 scores and 22 catches for 306 yards and four scores. He also has a team-high 63 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss, and one interception
“Quisenberry is a great player and athlete but I think Bodner is what makes Boyle who they are. He had 31 carries on us and then flipped over and played linebacker,” McPeek said. “Do not underestimate how good a high school player he is and he plays so hard
“Quisneberry has a lot of speed and is a great athlete and they do a good job getting him in the open field. Sage can run and throw. The (Demauriah) Brown kid (who transferred) from Danville is really good too (he has 27 catches for 486 yards and five scores and a team-high three interceptions).”
Geordon Brown has also emerged a big-play threat for Boyle and now has 16 catches for 512 yards and eight scores.
McPeek said linebacker Jerod Smith batted down a lot of pass attempts for Corbin and made big plays at big times just like his brother.
“We moved the ball and had 260 yards of offense but Corbin made plays in the red zone against us,” McPeek said. “Boyle has to go into the game knowing those guys will make plays against them.
“They are probably two of the best teams in the state in any class. I think it will be an insane atmosphere and a state championship level game.”
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Boyle has announced that parking lots will not open until 4:30 p.m. for Friday’s game and gates will open for fans to enter the stadium at 5:30 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
