With the state’s leading rushing and Mr. Football winner graduating from the Bell County backfield, the No. 1 question heading into the season for the Bobcats was who would replace Daniel Thomas.
Kaleb Miller, a junior, did a pretty good impression Friday in the Bobcats’ 44-24 win over visiting Whitley County as he ran for 265 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Junior quarterback Blake Burnett provided a complement through the air 108 yards and a touchdown as he connected on three of four passes.
Shane Parker led the Whitley County offense as he ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Cody Bryant added 63 yards on 12 carries.
Miller opened the scoring with a 3-yard TD run in the first quarter followed by a Hunter Everage run for two points. Parker answered for the Colonels, then added the two-point conversion to tie the game. Miller scored again on a 1- yard run and added the two-point conversion for a 16-8 lead.
Everage went in from the 5 to open the second quarter, then Burnett teamed with Hayden Damron for the two-point conversion and a 24-8 lead.
Burnett found Cayden Huff for a 63-yard scoring strike that pushed the lead to 30-8.
Parker raced 46 yards for a touchdown later in the half and added the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 30-16 at halftime.
Miler went in from the 10 for a touchdown in the third quarter, then Burnett teamed with Damron for the two-point conversion.
Nathaniel Saylor’s 23-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter closed the scoring for Bell.
Aaron Rowe went in from the 16, then added the two-point conversion for Whitley’s final points of the night.
Joshua Owens led the Bell defense with 10 tackles, including one for a loss. Blake Evans added nine tackles, and Burnett contributed eight.
Bell County (4-1) plays host to McCreary Central on Friday in its district opener. Whitley County (2-3) will play host to Perry Central on Oct. 11
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Whitley County 8 8 0 8 — 24
Bell County 16 14 8 6 — 44

BC — Miller 3 run (Everage run)
WC — Parker 6 run (Parker run)
BC — Miller 1 run (Miller run)
BC — Everage 5 run (Damron pass from Burnett)
BC — Huff 63 pass from Burnett (run failed)
WC — Parker 46 run (run failed)
BC — Miller 10 run (Damron pass from Burnett)
BC — Saylor 23 run (run failed)
WC — Rowe 16 run (Rowe run)