PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – The Prestonsburg Blackcats won their first postseason game in seven seasons with a decisive 39-8 victory over East Ridge at Blackcat Stadium/Josh Francis Field on Friday.
Senior running back Dalton Elliott scored three touchdowns while sophomore quarterback Bryce Holbrook threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for a score as the Blackcats (10-1) proved to be too much for the visiting Warriors.
Prestonsburg took advantage of two East Ridge (2-9) fumbles, converting those turnovers into points, as the Blackcats won their first playoff game since 2017.
The win sets up the rematch fans have been anticipating as Prestonsburg will host county rival Betsy Layne in the second round of the KHSAA state football playoffs this coming Friday. The Bobcats were able to defeat Knott Co. Central 40-18 in their opening round contest.
Prestonsburg wasted no time in finding the endzone when Holbrook connected with junior wide receiver Kain Patton on a 14-yard touchdown pass, followed by the extra point kick by Colin Hatfield, to give the Blackcats a 7-0 lead on the game’s opening drive.
The Warriors first drive had a promising start as sophomore Cole Ratliff took the first snap from scrimmage from their single wing formation for a 32-yard run into Prestonsburg territory. However, East Ridge would fumble the football at the Prestonsburg 37-yard line, turning the ball over to the Blackcats.
Prestonsburg would put together a five play, 63-yard drive capped off with a touchdown run by Elliott, extending the Blackcats lead to 13-0 with 5:13 remaining in the first quarter.
Down by a pair of scores, East Ridge elected to gamble on 4th-and-12 at their own 38-yard line and were able to gain a first down, giving the Blackcats excellent field position to setup their third unanswered touchdown as Holbrook would scramble 25-yards to put Prestonsburg ahead 19-0 at the start of the second quarter.
On the next drive, East Ridge would pick up a huge 12-yard run by junior Gabriel May, yet Prestonsburg sophomore Clay Runyon stripped the ball from May’s hands, causing a turnover at the10:21 mark in the second quarter.
Prestonsburg’s Alex Harris would take the first snap 33-yards nearly untouched for the Blackcats’ fourth touchdown of the night. Hatfield ran a successful two-point conversion. Prestonsburg ahead 27-0.
East Ridge again came up empty on their next drive, turning the ball over on downs to the Blackcats. It would only take one play for Elliott to jet for a 26-yard touchdown run to extend the Prestonsburg lead 33-0 with 7:56 left before the half.
Prestonsburg would convert one more score before the end of the second quarter as Holbrook connected with Elliott on a 7-yard pass. Prestonsburg led 39-0 at the half.
East Ridge put together their only touchdown drive of the game under a running clock situation with around three minutes left in the game when Ratliff scored, making the final tally 39-8 after Ratliff also converted the two-point conversion.
Harris led the Blackcats with 116 yards rushing on only three attempts and one touchdown. Elliott racked up 89 yards on five carries and two scores. Holbrook had three carries for 31 yards and a single touchdown.
Ratliff was a workhorse for East Ridge carrying the ball 24 times for 121 yards and 1 touchdown.
(Photo credit: Dennis Walker)
