HAZARD — With the game seemingly headed to overtime, Harlan County’s defense came through down the stretch to end a two-game losing streak against the Bulldogs.

Harlan County was driving for the go-ahead score when an interception gave Hazard the ball on the 1. Hazard senior halfback Reece Fletcher took the handoff, but junior linebacker Gavin Ewald tackled him in the end zone for a safety as the Bears escaped with a 22-20 victory.

Harlan County rushed for 212 yards on 50 carries. The Bulldogs gained 128 yards on the ground with 25 rushes. The Bulldogs gained 128 yards on the ground on 25 rushes.

The Black Bears opened the scoring at the 7:17 mark of the opening quarter as senior running back Tyler Casolari went in from the 1.

Hazard fought back with a four-play, 74-yard drive as quarterback Garrett Miller connected with Mason Collins for a 33-yard TD with 5:50 remaining in the quarter.

With 11:05 left in the first half, the Black Bears capitalized on a Hazard fumble and Matthew Brown scored from the 2-yard line. Harlan County took a 14-6 lead into the half.

Hazard opened the third quarter and marched 94 yards on 11 plays as Fletcher scored on a 1-yard run with 7:02 to play.

With the Bulldogs backed up to their own 6, Brown took the punt and raced 15 yards to the Hazard 23. Five plays later, Casolari scored from the 5 with 6:06 left in the game.

Hazard’s Trajon Campbell found the end zone six plays later on a 41-yard run. Miller scored the two-point conversion on a keeper to even the score at 20-20.

Harlan County (2-0) plays host to Martin County (2-0) on Friday. Hazard (0-1) travels to Prestonsburg (0-2) on Friday.

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Harlan County 6. 8. 0. 8 — 22

Hazard 6. 0. 6. 8 — 20

HC — Casolari 1 run (kick failed)

Haz — Collins 37 pass from Miller (kick failed)

HC — M. Brown 1 run (Casolari run)

Haz — Fletcher 1 run (pass failed)

HC — Casolari 5 run (run failed)

Haz — Campbell 41 pass from Miller (Miller run)

HC — Ewald tackles Fletcher in end zone for safety

HCHS HHS

First downs 13 14

Rushing-Yds 50-212 25-128

Passing 22 176

Comp-Att-Int 3-7-1 8-13-0

Penalties 13-71 7-67

RUSHING—Harlan County, M.Brown 6-72, Hopkins 14-71, Landis 13-34, Turner 2-16, Wilson 8-11, Casolari 7-8. Hazard, Campbell 12-68, Fletcher 8-40, Miller 4-15, Turner 1-5.

PASSING—Harlan County, Wilson 3-7-0-22. Hazard, Miller 8-13-2-176.

RECEIVING—Harlan County, J. Brown 2-11, Smallwood 1-11. Hazard, Ford 4-35, Collins 3-100, Campbell 1-41