RACELAND —
Zach Litteral saved his best stiff arm for a teammate.
The Raceland junior running back weaved in behind Daylin Beach when he literally pushed Beach in the back toward an oncoming Pikeville tackler, sending him sprawling onto the field.
No hard feelings. Just hard running.
Beach and Litteral tag-teamed to lead a rushing attack that left Pikeville helpless in a 54-14 rout on Friday at Ram Stadium.
The duo combined for 309 yards on 33 carries and accounted for all but 10 of Raceland’s points. Beach enjoyed a five-touchdown day while Litteral scored twice and carried for a two-point conversion.
“They both play bigger than they are,” said Raceland coach T.J. Maynard of Beach (6-foot, 175 pounds) and Litteral (5-5, 147). “Daylin’s got such great vision. He accelerates out of a cut so well. And Zach just runs so darn hard.”
As Pikeville coach Chris McNamee saw the opposing rushing yards swell to a final tally of 427, he arrived at a conclusion.
“We’re going to have to go back and work,” he said. “(Raceland) did what they wanted. It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Pikeville (1-2) is the defending Class 1A, Region 7 champion, but the Panthers graduated 15 seniors from 2011.
Still, that label was enough to motivate Maynard’s bunch.
“They got us twice last year,” said the Rams’ coach, referring to a 21-20 regular-season loss and a 54-21 postseason defeat. “We challenged our kids. They’re regional champs until somebody knocks them off.”
Raceland (2-1) had a solid showing against Ashland last Friday, trailing just 21-19 at halftime, but six turnovers loomed over the Rams like a nasty black storm cloud.
They went from six to zero, as they were able to recover both of their fumbles on Friday.
Said Beach: “After I fumbled two balls (last week), I was zoned in more.
“We played our hearts out,” added the playmaking junior. “We had a great week of practice, and this was a good way to end a great week of practice.”
Raceland junior quarterback Adam Elkins didn’t even attempt a pass until the second quarter. He connected with Beach for Beach’s only non-rushing TD late in the second quarter. Elkins finished 6 of 9 for 76 yards and a TD.
In all, Raceland piled on 21 points in the second period to take a 28-7 advantage into intermission.
Chase Hall, who led Pikeville with 95 yards on the ground, scored from 16 yards out to close the gap to 14 midway through the third quarter.
Raceland responded with four unanswered rushing scores — Litteral from 29, Beach from seven, Beach from 42 and Josh Young from seven yards away.
Pikeville sophomore left-handed quarterback Austin Charles left the game early in the fourth quarter with neck and back soreness. He spent several minutes lying on the field, but had full movement, before being transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
“He got kind of jammed up. I’m hoping it was more precautionary than anything,” McNamee said. “He does a good job as a sophomore.”
Charles heaved a pretty pass to hook up with Cody Estep for a 69-yard score just six minutes into the game, but it was all Rams from there.
AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.
Local Sports
Rams find pathway over Pikeville
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Locals struggle to make impact
Some days you are the windshield and some days you are the bug.
It is a saying that proved to be all too true for Rowan County on Friday night at the KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships at the University of Louisville’s Owsley Frazier Cardinal Park. -
Rough Ending
Fairview senior Kennedy Womack wasn’t her consistent self in Saturday morning’s state tennis semifinals at the University of Kentucky’s Hilary Boone Tennis Complex.
As a result, the top seed fell to Lexington Sayre sophomore Madeline Rolph 6-1, 6-0.
Womack was obviously disappointed with her finish, especially after losing in last year’s state finals, but she was happy for her good friend Rolph. -
FLYING HIGH
If Fairview could have fielded a combined track and field team at Saturday’s Class A State Track and Field Championships, the Eagles and Lady Eagles would have had a record day. Instead, the Fairview girls had to “settle” for fifth, while the boys’ claimed 10th.
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Womack eliminated in semifinals
Top-seeded Kennedy Womack was eliminated in the semifinals of the State Tournament on Saturday at the University of Kentucky tennis courts.
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Big-inning Dawgs
It looked for a while that a questionable call may have determined the outcome of the game, but in the end, it was just an afterthought.
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Boyd County finds senior spark
Losers of four straight, Boyd County was searching for something positive Friday night before beginning postseason play Monday night.
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Doubles teams head to semis at state tourney
With rain staying away, the KHSAA State Tennis Tournament got into full swing on Friday afternoon.
Semifinals and finals will be held today at the University of Kentucky Boone/Downing Tennis Complex for boys and girls singles competitions. -
McKnight hurdling to Georgetown
Fairview’s Paige McKnight is known for jumping hurdles. She cleared a pretty big one on Thursday.
In front of friends and family at Fairview Elementary School, McKnight signed a letter of intent to run track for Georgetown College. -
Several area schools will be represented at State Track and Field championships
Local track and field athletes are ready to try to carry region competition success onto the state stage.
Several area schools will be represented at this weekend’s State Track and Field championships at the University of Louisville. The Class 2A meet is set for today at 3:15 p.m. and Class A competition is scheduled to begin on Saturday at 8:15 a.m. -
EAST KENTUCKY BASKETBALL HISTORY: Reflections on 'The Shot'
Paintsville High School legend J.R. VanHoose is also an eastern Kentucky basketball sports historian. This is one in an ongoing series of stories.
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