Pushovers no more, Warriors run over HCHS in First Priority Bowl

With a 3-0 start to the 2026 season, it's clear that these are not your father's East Ridge Warriors, Never known for its football prowess, East Ridge proved last week's blowout win over Clay County was no fluke. The Warriors avenged a 48-18 loss to Harlan County a year ago by rolling to a 51-32 win Friday in the rematch at the First Priority Bowl at Coal Miners Memorial Stadium. Senior tailback Talon Jordan followed up on a big night against Clay by running for 151 yards and three touchdowns against the Bears. Sophomore quarterback Canaan Ramey added 80 yards on 11 carries with three touchdowns, including a 50-yard interception return for a score. East Ridge appeared to outscheme and outmaneuver the Bears time and time again by overloading one side of the line by bringing an extra lineman to one side with several receivers and backs bunched together. The Bears didn't do themselves any favors with numerous missed tackles on the outside. 'It's nothing we hadn't prepared for all week. This is all on me. I failed this football team these two weeks. We had a lot of things to work on, and it's obvious I didn't do a good job of fixing some things,' Harlan County coach Jacob Saylor said. 'Whether it be tackling, blocking, catching or whatever, this loss is on me and this one stings, I told the boys it's all on me. We got outcoached tonight. We'll go back to work Sunday with film study and be ready for Bell County next week.' The Bears were limited to only 98 yards on the ground on 40 carries. Junior quarterback Brayden Morris completed 15 of 18 passes for 158 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Freshman receiver Caysen Farley had seven catches for 109 yards with a 66-yard kickoff return. 'He's a player. He's young and learning the offense,' Saylor said. 'Once he fully grasps this offense we can use him even more. We had a game plan for him tonight to get the edge.' East Ridge grabbed control early when a high snap went over Brayden Morris' head on a punt attempt for a loss of 35 yards to the HC 3. Jordan scored on the next play then caught a pass from Ramey for the two-point conversion. After stopping the Bears on fourth down, the Warriors scored again when Jordan went 51 yards on the next play for a score. Ramey's run pushed the lead to 16-0 with 7:54 left in the opening period. 'We watched film and knew how good they are. They could have beat Clay 80-0. Our kids knew what they were getting into,' Saylor said. A 66-yard kickoff return by Farley turned the momentum back to the Bears. Morris went in from the 7 two plays later, then added the two-point conversion to cut the lead in half. Harlan County drove 66 yards in eight plays before Morris went in from the 4. Jonah Sharp, Farley and Morris each picked up first downs in the drive. Morris was stopped on the two-point attempt and East Ridge stayed on top. Ramey scored on a 35-yard run on the opening play of the second quarter as the Warriors led 22-14. HCHS answered again as Morris found Kayden Adams across the middle for a 23-yard TD with 4:24 left in the first half. Rylan Hamilton took the ensuing kickoff back 65 yards for a score, then Jordan went in for a two-point conversion and a 30-20 lead with 4:19 left in the half. 'That's two weeks in a row that special teams have come back to bite us,' Saylor said. 'We do practice it, but maybe we don't practice it enough.' East Ridge blew the game by opening with three touchdowns in the third quarter. Ramey and Jordan each had 1-yard TD runs and Ramey took back an interception 50 yards for a score and a 51-20 lead. Farley provided the only highlight for the Bears in the quarter as he took a pass near the sideline from Morris and went 52 yards for a touchdown. The Bears added another touchdown in the fourth quarter as Colby Shepherd went in from the 11 after three Morris to Farley passes put HC in scoring position. Harlan County (1-1) returns to action Friday at home against Bell County. ——— East Ridge 16 14 21 0 — 51 Harlan County 14 6 6 6— 32 ER—Jordan 3 run (Jordan pass from Ramey) ER—Jordan 51 run (Ramey run) HC—Morris 7 run (Morris run) HC— Morris 4 run (run failed) ER— Ramey 35 run (run failed) HC—Adams 23 pass from Morris (run failed) ER—Hamilton 65 kickoff return (Jordan run) ER— Ramey 1 run (run failed) ER—Jordan 1 run (Ratliff pass from Ramey) ER—Ramey 50 interception return (Wilson kick) HC — Farley 53 pass from Morris (run failed) HC — Shepherd 11 run (run failed)