Tigers defeat Warriors 34-26

STAFF REPORT

BSN

PAINTSVILLE — Returning to the win column, Paintsville defeated East Ridge 34-26 at Memorial Field on Friday, Oct. 4.

The win allowed Paintsville to halt a losing skid at five games.

Paintsville improved to 2-5 after posting the win.

With the loss, East Ridge dropped to 2-4.

The Tigers rushed 37 times for 200 yards and four touchdowns. Cedric Stewart paced Paintsville, rushing 20 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns.

Contributing on the ground for Paintsville, Brody Howell added a 33-yard touchdown run.

Anderson Lauffer paced Paintsville through the air, completing seven passes for 101 yards and one touchdown. Chipping in on the ground for the Tigers, Lauffer rushed nine times for 29 yards.

Stewart, Parker Helton and Colton Short each hauled in multiple passes for the Tigers. Short was on the receiving end of Lauffer’s scoring strike.

Defensively for Paintsville, Lucas Howard recorded a game-high 16 tackles. Behind Howard, Howell posted nine tackles for the Tigers.

East Ridge thrived on the ground, rushing 44 times for 283 yards and four touchdowns. Talon Hopkins paced East Ridge, rushing 11 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Another productive rusher for East Ridge, Keaton Puckett took 19 carries for 123 yards and one touchdown.

Paintsville is scheduled to visit Hazard for its Class 1A, District 8 opener on Friday, Oct. 11.