‘The real deal.’ Corbin gets the win and Kentucky gets the twins as No. 2 shuts out No. 1.
The Corbin Redhounds thrilled most of the estimated 7,000 fans on hand Friday night with a dramatic goal-line stand to clinch their 6-0 victory over Frederick Douglass in their home opener at the newly remodeled Campbell Field.
Then, Corbin’s four-star defensive standouts Jacob and Jerod Smith thrilled thousands more University of Kentucky football fans by announcing their commitment flip from Michigan to UK after the game.
“We want to publicly announce we are officially flipping to the University of Kentucky,” said Jerod Smith, who stood alongside his brother wearing blue and white Kentucky gloves amid a throng of media and fans.
Moments earlier, Jerod Smith pressured the throw of Frederick Douglass quarterback Jaxon Strautman on a fourth-and-goal at the Redhounds’ 5-yard line with 19 seconds left in the game. Strautman got the pass off over Smith’s outstretched hands, but it fell short of receiver Darion Talbert at the goal line.
“It was two really, really good defensive teams,” Corbin coach Tom Greer said. “You know, every Tuesday and Wednesday, we put on pads and practice goal-line stands and it paid off for us tonight. … It was first-and-goal from the 5 (with 1:41 on the clock) and we made four big plays and did a good job.”
Rumors of the Smith twins wavering on their commitment to Michigan have been floating around recruiting circles for weeks. They declined to talk to the media when they were in Lexington earlier this month for Corbin’s 30-10 win over Lexington Catholic, but they were jubilant Friday in making the switch official.
Jacob Smith had six tackles and an interception against Douglass. Jerod Smith notched four tackles, two of them for a loss, and was credited with three pass breakups and the crucial quarterback hurry on the Broncos’ final play.
“The twins are the real deal,” Douglass coach Nathan McPeek said. “I think they are some of the best football players I’ve coached against and there’s been a lot of good ones, like Covington Catholic’s Michael Mayer and obviously Archbishop Hoban had a lot of great players. But they are right there.”
Corbin’s Greer said he doesn’t get involved in his players’ college decisions, but acknowledged he was glad they picked UK because that would make for a shorter trip to go see them play when they get to the next level.
“They’ll both do a great job at Kentucky,” Greer said.
Greer also confirmed that sophomore linebacker/wide receiver Eli Pietrowski received an official offer from UK on Friday night.
The huge crowd gathered for Friday’s game got to see part of the $9.3 million renovation to Campbell Field that included new artificial turf, a new scoreboard and a new end zone seating, concession and restroom area.
They also got to see two of the best defenses in the state go at it. While Douglass outgained Corbin slightly, 240 yards to 218, it also committed three crucial turnovers — two via interception and one via a fourth quarter fumble that ended a promising six-play drive to the Redhounds’ 12-yard line.
The game’s only score came after a poor Douglass punt gave Corbin the ball at the Broncos’ 44-yard line with 3:40 left in the first half. Corbin quarterback Kade Elam capped a nine-play drive with a 1-yard TD plunge for the 6-0 lead. The extra-point attempt was blocked.
Douglass (2-2) came into the game ranked as the No. 1 team in the state, according to the Herald-Leader’s latest Cantrall Ratings.
Corbin (4-0) was No. 2.
“We just couldn’t get loose a couple of times,” McPeek said. “We made some mistakes offensively, but defensively, we were lights out. … It was kind of an old school football game. … We were a fingertip pass away from tying the game.”
An “old school football game” befitted the night as Corbin used the occasion to celebrate 100 years of Corbin football and wore throwback maroon uniforms to commemorate the team’s original colors before the Redhounds’ familiar red and white took hold.
“We had alumni from the ‘30s and ‘40s all the way up,” Greer said. “Gosh, it was an unbelievable crowd and it was a good win for our school and this whole town and community.”
This story was originally published September 16, 2023 at 6:57 AM.
