Tigers to kick off season at Pikeville

STAFF REPORT

BSN

PAINTSVILLE — Following multiple schedule changes, Paintsville is slated to kick off the 2021 high school football season at Class A rival Pikeville on Friday, Aug. 20.

The Tigers and Panthers did not meet during the 2020 high school football season.

Paintsville is the reigning Class A state champion. The Tigers defeated Kentucky Country Day 38-7 in the 2020 Class A title game, finishing the championship-clinching campaign 10-2.

Junior running back/defensive back Harris Phelps is the top player back for the Tigers. As a sophomore in 2020, Phelps rushed 182 times for 1,406 yards and 19 touchdowns.

After suffering an upset loss to Hazard in the second round of the Class A Playoffs, Pikeville concluded the 2020 season 6-3.

Senior quarterback Isaac McNamee will continue to lead the Panthers. As a junior, McNamee completed 98 of 160 passes for 1,583 yards and 20 touchdowns while throwing eight interceptions. Along with McNamee, leading receiver Zac Lockhart is back for the Panthers. Lockhart hauled in 52 receptions for 961 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2020.

In addition to Pikeville, Paintsville is scheduled to face Beechwood, Somerset, Knox Central, Perry County Central, Fairview, Betsy Layne, Raceland and Pike County Central in the 2021 high school football season.

Kickoff for the Paintsville-Pikeville football game is set for 7:30 p.m