PRESTONSBURG – Prestonsburg (4-2) will entertain Hazard Friday night in a non-district home game inside Blackcat Stadium. Hazard will carry a deceiving 2-2 record into Prestonsburg for its battle against the Blackcats. The Bulldogs have notched impressive wins over Clintwood, Va. (32-7) and Lexington Christian (43-7) while dropping games to Somerset (0-14) and Breathitt County (34-35). In a road game last week, Breathitt County edged Hazard 35-34.

Prestonsburg has posted back-to-back wins. The Blackcats opened district play last week, defeating Floyd County foe Betsy Layne 53-14. Picked as the preseason favorite in Class 2A, District 8, Prestonsburg also owns wins over Sheldon Clark, Lawrence County and Casey County. Perry County Central – Hazard’s crosstown rival – edged the Blackcats in a season-opener last month. Longtime rival Belfry pulled away to beat an injury-plagued Prestonsburg 48-30 earlier this month.

Through three games, Hazard had rushed for 469 yards. The Bulldogs had passed for 434 yards through the first three games of the season.

Zack Blanton ranked as Hazard’s leading rusher heading into the game versus Breathitt County. Blanton had rushed 18 times for 266 yards and three touchdowns for the Bulldogs.

Hazard quarterback Evan Whitaker had rushed a team-high 33 times for 135 yards. Whitaker has also fared well through the air, completing 27-of-47 passes for 378 yards and one touchdown in three games. Opposing defenses have enjoyed some success against Hazard’s passing attack. The Hazard signal-caller has also thrown two interceptions.

Jordan Olinger had hauled in a team-high 13 receptions for 256 yards and one touchdown through Hazard’s first three games. Austin Johnson had grabbed a dozen catches for 170 yards through those same three games.

Hazard competes in Class A, District 6 along with Harlan, Pineville and Jenkins

In six games, Prestonsburg has outscored opponents 237-149.

Kain Collins and Bryson Williams continue to pace Prestonsburg in rushing.

Prestonsburg quarterback Adam Crisp has already passed for well over 1,000 yards.

Williams, Jarredd Jarrell and Joseph Jamerson have been Crisp’s top targets. Jamerson returned for Prestonsburg last week after being sidelined by an injury that threatened to cut short his senior season.

All four Floyd County high school football teams are in action this week. Allen Central will visit Pineville Friday night while South Floyd entertains Bracken County.

Betsy Layne was facing Paintsville Thursday night in the Brown’s Ford Apple Classic. The Betsy Layne-Paintsville game ended too late to make this edition.