The Pikeville Panthers are looking to extend their four-game win streak on Friday night when they travel to Lexington and take on the Sayre Spartans.
Pikeville (4-2) is coming off a 50-14 dismantling of 6A Madison Central. Head Coach Chris McNamee’s squad is led by running back Blake Birchfield. So far this season, Birchfield has 107 rushing attempts for 920 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Last week, Isaac Duty handled the quarterback duties for the Panthers and responded by completing 13-of-16 passes for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Wade Hensley and Tayvian Boykins lead the Pikeville receivers. Hensley has 14 catches for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns. Boykins has caught 16 passes for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Defensively, Carson Wright leads Pikeville with 79 total tackles. Devin DeRossett has 73 tackles. Brendan Anthony has recorded 62 tackles. Luke Ray has registered 60 tackles. Blake Caudill has 5 sacks on the season.
Sayre (4-2) is looking for some revenge after falling to Pikeville, 43-7, last season. The Spartans defeated Williamsburg, 35-21, last weekend.
Sayre’s head coach is former Marshall University standout Chad Pennington. Pennington had a lengthy NFL career with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. The Spartans lost Pennington’s son and Marshall signee Cole Pennington after last season, but Sayre didn’t have to look too far to find his replacement in younger brother Luke.
Luke Pennington has completed 87-of-131 passes for 1,034 yards, 15 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Brock Coffman is Pennington’s top target with 38 catches for 468 yards and 5 touchdowns. Charlie Slabaugh also sees a lot of passes coming his direction with 323 yards and 7 touchdowns on 30 receptions.
Travis Smith leads Sayre’s rushing attack with 78 carries for 382 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The opening kickoff is set for Friday at 7:30 pm in Lexington.
