Bell County’s ground game appears to be hitting its stride as the postseason opens, rolling up 381 yards on the ground Friday in building a 46-0 lead in the first half on the way to a 46-14 rout of visiting Powell County in the opening round of the 3A playoffs.
Junior tailback Kaleb Miller ran for 223 yards on only nine carries, reaching the end zone on five straight possessions as the Bobcats started a running clock in the second quarter.
Hunter Everage, who finished with 84 yards, started the scoring with a 58-yard run in the first quarter. Miller followed with the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Miller followed with a 10-yard touchdown run. Blake Burnett teamed with Hayden Dameron for the two-point conversion and a 16-0 lead.
Miller scored on a 4-yard run later in the half before Burnett teamed with Everage for a 24-0 lead.
Touchdown runs of 26, 47 and 79 yards by Miller in the second quarter closed the scoring. Nathaniel Saylor and Logan Greene added two-point conversions.
Powell scored one touchdown in each the third and fourth quarters.
Brady Skidmore teamed with Tristan West-McKinney for a 15-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Janson Bollin hit the extra point.
Aden Larrison returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Bolin followed with the extra point.
Greene led the Bobcats on defense with eight tackles. Jeremiah Saylor and Dameron added seven each. Cayden Huff had six tackles. Joseph Brigmon forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Joshua Owens also had a fumble recovery. Alexander Goodin forced a fumble. Burnett had an interception.
Powell County ended the season with a 4-7 record.
The 10-1 Bobcats will play host to Lawrence County on Friday in the second round of the playoffs.
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Bell County 46, Powell County 14

Powell County 0 0 7 7 — 14
Bell County 24 22 0 0 — 46

BC — Everage 58 run (Miller run)
BC — Miller 16 run (Dameron pass from Burnett)
BC — Miller 4 run (Everage pass from Burnett)
BC — Miller 26 run (run failed)
BC — Miller 47 run (Saylor run)
BC — Miller 79 run (Greene run)
PC — West-McKinney 15 pass from Skidmore (Bolin kick)
PC — Larrison 53 interception return (Bolin kick)