Bell County got the season started on a positive note Thursday during the SEKC Gridorama at Knox Central. In the second year since his return to Log Mountain, the Dudley Hilton-led Bobcats shutout the Panthers 19-0 in the scrimmage.

“We’re playing hard, that’s the biggest difference from last year,” Bell County coach Dudley Hilton said. “This is my second year with them, and they had a good year in the weight room. I’m not saying we’re there, we’ve got to keep working hard.”

With the starters playing only two quarters, it was Colby Frazier handling the bulk of the carries tallying 36 yards on eight attempts. Keagan Lefevers and Tanner Asher combined for double-digit carries as well.

For Knox, it was Jacob Brown who finished the night leading the Panthers with 52 yards on the ground.

“The defense looked good,” Hilton added. “This is coach Marple’s second year, and I hope we’re better defensively.

“We’ve just got to keep playing together. The game of football is a team sport if there ever was one. If they don’t stick together and work together then they can only go so far. I don’t think they know that part of it yet.”

Bell County made their presence known early in the scrimmage. On their first drive of the game, the Bobcats went 70 yards in 10 plays. The drive was capped with a 28-yard touchdown run by Asher with 5:53 to play in the first. Frazier added the extra point to give Bell a 7-0 lead.

After holding Knox Central in check, a 67-yard bomb from London Stephney to Jason Jones helped set up a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Lefevers to increase the Bobcat lead to 13-0 with 9:55 remaining in the second.

Bell County added their final touchdown of the scrimmage after the second team took the field. Noah Caldwell scored on a 7-yard run to give the Bobcats the 19-point victory.

Up Next

Bell County opens the season on Friday when they travel up U.S. 25E to battle rival Middlesboro.

Knox Central begins the year with a home game against Letcher County Central.

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Jay Compton with the Pineville Sun contributed to this report