With Tyrese Simmons, Devon Rodrigues and Quintin Mickens graduating from Harlan County’s regional championship team last fall, the Harlan County Black Bears were looking for someone to provide a dose of athleticism.

First-year senior Patrick Bynum appears to have filled that void as a running back/quarterback/receiver/kicker/cornerback. He has played all his roles well, especially in a 39-19 win Friday over visiting South Laurel in the first round of the 5A playoffs. Bynum ran for 182 yards, while picking off three Logan Gentry passes and adding an extra point for good measure.

“Patrick is a great mix to go with our heavy-hitting wishbone package,” Harlan County coach Eddie Creech said. “They are rough and tough, and Patrick gives us the ability to get outside and spread the defense from tailback, receiver or quarterback.”

The Bears found that mix on Friday, rushing for 408 yards as a team. Ben Landis ran for 122 yards and Tyler Casolari contributed 81 as the Bears took over in the second quarter after falling behind 3-0 through one period.

“We know who we are, and I thought the line, tight ends, backs and everyone on offense were very efficient in the running game,” Creech said.

South Laurel marched 66 yards in 15 plays on its opening drive with Conner Wilson hitting a field goal from 23 yards away with 5:04 left in the opening quarter. Wilson actually hit two field goals in the drive, but the first was taken off the board when Harlan County was called for a personal foul penalty. The Cardinals got the ball at the 3 but couldn’t get in on two plays from the 1 as sophomore linebacker Josh Turner broke through to sack Logan Gentry on third down.

“What a goal line stop by our defense,” Creech said. “We basically had to stop them twice. I’m proud of our kids’ effort all the way through. I told them this is a fourth postseason win in two years, but we have until Christmas to celebrate, so it’s time to get ready for Southwestern.”

After being stopped on downs on their only drive of the first quarter, the Bears put together two scoring drives after moving from the wishbone to the Power I, featuring Bynum.

“I wanted to put in earlier in the year, but we got a couple of people banged up,” Creech said. “I try every postseason to keep a little something in my back pocket, and I felt it was the time tonight to give us another look with Jordan Steele at tight end and put Patrick back there behind Garry (Henson) and Lige (Elisha Smallwood).”

Six carries by Bynum covered 62 yards and set up Henson for a 5-yard touchdown run with 9:10 left in the second period. Casolari went in for the two-point conversion.

Harlan County got the ball back a couple of minutes later, setting up an eight-play, 66-yard march featuring runs by Casolari and Landis. Bynum had a 20-yard run in the drive, then scored on a 12-yard run with 3:17 to play in the first half. Landis was stopped on the two-point conversion attempt.

The Bears drove to the South 22 as time expired in the half. Landis, Bynum and Casolari each picked up first downs.

HCHS marched 65 yards in nine plays to open the second half with Landis picking up two first downs and Bynum one. Bynum followed his blockers into the end zone for a 4-yard TD run with 7:08 to play in the third quarter. Bynum’s extra point attempt was blocked.

A sack on fourth down by sophomore linebacker Hunter Blevins put the HCHS offense back in business on the South 28. Bynum and Henson took turns in a five-play drive capped by Henson’s 1-yard run with three minutes to play in the period. Cody Clayborn’s pass on the two-point conversion attempt was knocked down and Harlan County led 26-3.

Bynum scored on the next play as he returned a Gentry pass 35 yards for a touchdown and a 32-3 lead with 2:41 to play in the quarter. Clayborn’s pass on the two-point try was incomplete.

South (5-6) scored twice in the fourth quarter, the first on a 90 yard interception return by Kasey Fields early in the fourth quarter and the second on an 8-yard run by Daterian Brigance in the final minute. Gentry found Jacob Woliver for one two-point conversion and Matthew Dalton for the other. Sophomore fullback Demarco Hopkins scored for the Bears on a 4-yard run with 1:43 left to cap a 10-play, 80-yard drive.

Harlan County (4-6) will play host to Southwestern in the second round on Friday.

———

South Laurel 3 0 0 16 — 19

Harlan County 0 14 18 7 — 39

SL — Wilson 23 field goal

HC — Henson 5 run (Casolari run)

HC — Bynum 12 run (run failed)

HC — Bynum 4 run (kick failed)

HC — Henson 1 run (pass failed)

HC — Bynum 35 interception return (pass failed)

SL — Fields 90 interception return (Woliver pass from Gentry)

HC — Hopkins 4 run (Bynum kick)

SL — Brigance 8 run (Dalton pass from Gentry)

^^^

SLHS HCHS

First downs 11 26

Rushes-yards 30-151 60-408

Passing 92 0

Comp-Att-Int 8-25-4 0-2-1-0

Punts-Avg 2-31 2-29

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0

Penalties-Yards 6-47 4-38

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—South Laurel, Gentry 13-106, Allen 14-23, Brigance 3-22. Harlan County, Bynum 22-182, Landis 18-122, Casolari 15-81, Henson 3-18, Hopkins 2-6.

PASSING—South Laurel, Gentry 8-24-4-92, Allen 0-1-0-0. Harlan County, Claiborn 0-2-1-0.

RECEIVING—South Laurel, Allen 3-57, Brignance 3-18, Woliver 2-17.