[Dragonsdad]

Harlan County Sports: Football: Dragons rally for overtime win over Middlesboro
Friday, September 9
Dragons rally for overtime win over Middlesboro


By JOHN HENSON

Harlan County Sports.com

MIDDLESBORO — A defense that gave up 42 points and a special teams unit that failed on three extra points would not normally be due for praise. But both came through in the clutch Friday for the visiting Harlan Green Dragons as they rallied for a thrilling 48-42 overtime win over Middlesboro.

After blowing an early 21-7 lead, the Green Dragons found themselves down by nine with seven minutes left. A 5-yard touchdown pass on fourth down cut the deficit to three. The Dragons then recovered a well-executed kick onside kick and Eric Young hit a 22-yard field goal with 1:22 left to tie the game.

Middlesboro almost won in regulation as senior quarterback Chase Roark drove the Jackets down the field. A pass to Deshawn Harris gave Middlesboro a first down on the Harlan 3 with time for one play. Freshman Cole Frazier, who hit all six extra point attempts, missed a 20-yard field goal attempt, sending the game into overtime.

Harlan needed only one play to reach the end zone as Cody Logan went 10 yards up the middle. The Dragons again missed an extra point, meaning Middlesboro could win with a touchdown and kick.

The Harlan defense stepped up when it counted most giving up no yards on four plays to preserve the win.




Junior quarterback Ty Saragas had another big game for the 2-1 Dragons as he completed 22 of 35 attempts for 368 yards. Roark connected on 19 of 47 passes for 283 yards. The Dragons had three interceptions, but Roark was hurt even more by numerous dropped passes.







Harlan's defense came up with the first score of the game as Dalton Overbay pressured Roark into a mistake. Dakota Morris stepped in front of pass and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown.

Middlesboro answered with a drive covering 65 yards in eight plays. Roark found Zach Riddle for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Frazier's extra point put the Jackets up 7-6.

A 41-yard catch by junior receiver David Allen was the big play in a Harlan drive that ended on a 1-yard run by Saragas, who teamed with senior Vince Bianchi for the two-point conversion to put Harlan up 14-7 with 6:01 to play in the first quarter.

Harlan added one more drive before the quarter ended, marching 67 yards in eight plays. Bianchi caught a pass from Saragas, then dodged three Middlesboro defenders on the way to a 19-yard touchdown pass. Ryland Atkins' extra point gave the Dragons a 21-7 lead with 31 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Middlesboro battled back in the second quarter as Roark directed an eight-play, 58-yard drive capped by Mike's 19-yard run wit 7:46 left in the period. Frazier hit the extra point to cut the deficit to 21-14.

The Jackets needed only three plays to score again after recovering an onside kick on the Harlan 33. A 32-yard pass from Roark to Austin Poindexter set up Roark's 1-yard touchdown run. Frazier's kick tied the game at 21 with 7:05 left in the half.

Harlan avoided disaster when David Allen recovered Young's fumble on the kickoff. The Dragons regained the momentum as Morris ran 24 yards and Logan went 43 for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was blocked, but the Dragons had regained the lead, at 27-21, and the momentum.

Roark took it back as he covered 54 yards on four carries against the tiring Harlan defense. Roark covered the final 10 yards through the air as he found Poindexter for the touchdown. Frazier's extra point put the Jackets up 28-27 with 2:15 to play in the second quarter.

Harlan needed only two plays to answer as Young had an 11-yard catch and Bianchi took a pass away from two defenders for a 69-yard touchdown. Saragas' pass on the two-point attempt was incomplete but the Dragons were back on top at 33-28 with 1:55 left in the half.

Poindexter and Deshawn Harris had catches as Middlesboro quickly covered 82 yards in six plays on its second drive of the second half. Junior fullback Dalton Hughett ran 23 yards to the Harlan 15. After a personal foul penalty on the Dragons, Hughett went the final 9 yards for a touchdown with 5:00 left in the third quarter. Frazier hit the extra point for a 35-33 Middlesboro lead.

The teams traded interceptions in the third quarter as Roark threw two and Saragas one.

Harlan drove deep into Middlesboro territory early in the fourth quarter with the help of a screen pass from Saragas to Morris that covered 28 yards. The drive stalled at the Middlesboro and Young was wide left on a 31-yard field goal attempt with 8:38 to play in the game.

Middlesboro needed only four plays to reach the end zone. Tanner Mike had a 36-yard run to set up a perfect 41-yard touchdown strike from Roark to RIddle with 7:04 left in the game. Frazier hit the extra point for a 42-33 lead.

Haran converted two huge fourth-down plays on a scoring drive that covered 58 yards in eight plays. Saragas teamed with Morris for a 56-yard play, then found Bianchi on a fourth-and-goal pass from the 5 with four minutes left. Young's extra point was blocked and the Dragons trailed 42-39.

A perfectly executed onside kick gave the Dragons the ball back as Young kicked it and recovered on the MIddlesboro 49. Morris and WIlliams each picked up first downs on the ground and Bianchi had a one-catch before going out of bounds. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the 5, Donahue elected to go for the tying field goal and Young connected from 22 yards away with 1:22 left.







Harlan 21 12 0 9 6— 48

Middlesboro 7 21 7 7 0— 42



H — Morris 55 interception return (kick blocked)

M — Riddle 16 pass from Roark (Frazier kick)

H — Saragas 1 run (Bianchi pass from Saragas)

H — Bianchi 16 pass from Saragas (Atkins kick)

M — Mike 19 run (Frazier kick)

M — Roark 1 run (Frazier kick)

H — Logan 43 run (kick blocked)

M — Poindexter 10 pass from Roark (Frazier kick)

H — Bianchi 69 pass from Saragas (pass failed)

M — Hughett 9 run (Frazier kick)

M — Riddle 41 pass from Roark (Frazier kick)

H — Bianchi 5 pass from Saragas (kick blocked)

H — Young 22 field goal

H — Logan 10 run (kick failed)





HHS MHS



First downs 23 25



Rushes-yards 33-156 24-189



Passing 368 283



Comp-Att-Int 22-35-1 19-47-3



Punts-Avg 3-38 3-52



Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0



Penalties-Yards 11-115 7-75



INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS



RUSHING—Harlan, Logan 7-90, Williams 14-43, Morris 3-13, Overbay 3-6, Anderson 3-2, Saragas 1-2, Allen 1-1, Turbyfill 1-(-1). Middlesboro, Mike 10-85, Roark 9-60, Hughett 5-44.



PASSING—Harlan, Saragas 22-35-1-368. Middlesboro, Roark 19-47-3-283.



RECEIVING—Harlan, Bianchi 6-114, Morris 5-89, Allen 5-71, Young 3-72, Logan 2-0, Jones 1-32. Middlesboro, Poindexter 4-67, Foister 4-67, Harris 4-45, Mike 4-33, Riddle 3-71.