(Photo by Steele Photography, Carter County Times)
By Brayleigh Boggs
Carter County Times
Under the Friday night lights, the East Carter Raiders turned in one of their most complete performances of the young season, toppling the Boyd County Lions 34–20 in front of a packed crowd. The victory pushed both programs to 2–1 on the year, but more importantly, it showed East Carter’s ability to balance offensive firepower with gritty defensive stops.
The game opened with East Carter setting the tone on the ground. Quarterback Thomas Burton (1) directed a deliberate march downfield, mixing quick completions to wideout Chase McGuffin (2) with steady runs from Gavin Elliott (10). The drive ended with Elliott powering in from short range, putting the Raiders on the board first. Boyd County, undeterred, countered on its very next possession. Quarterback Evan Williams (11) connected with senior wideout Cayden Butler (23) on a well-timed slant route, and Butler did the rest, sprinting into the end zone to even the score at 7–7.
The second quarter belonged to East Carter. Burton (1) and McGuffin (2) continued to torment the Lions’ secondary, this time linking up for a touchdown that put the Raiders back in front. The Raiders’ defense stiffened on the following series, with linebacker Landon Kitchen (6) spearheading a red-zone stand that forced Boyd County into a rare punt. Given another chance, East Carter seized control. Elliott (10) broke through a crease in the line and galloped untouched for a long touchdown run, extending the halftime margin to 21–7 and sending the Raiders into the locker room with momentum squarely in their corner.
Boyd County showed resilience out of the break. Williams (11) kept the Lions moving, aided by tight end Ian Branham (5), who hauled in a short pass and barreled across the goal line to cut the deficit to 21–14. For a moment, the Lions had new life. But East Carter responded with poise. Burton (1) converted multiple third downs, leaning on McGuffin (2) and Kitchen (6), before finding Layne Gilliam (9) for a 15-yard touchdown strike that rebuilt the cushion to 28–14.
The Lions clawed back once more early in the fourth. Williams (11) orchestrated another scoring drive, this one capped in tight quarters, to make it 28–20 and keep the home fans on edge. With the game still in reach, Boyd County pushed the ball near midfield, only to see their momentum stall. Kitchen (6) came through with a game-changing stop on fourth down, and from there, the Raiders slammed the door. Elliott (10) delivered the final blow, bulldozing through the middle for his second rushing touchdown of the night. The night closed with an interception by Levi Ruffin (44) to shut out the Lions. The final score was 34–20, and East Carter’s defense held strong until the final whistle.
McGuffin proved to be the difference maker on the edge, turning in a series of clutch receptions and forcing Boyd County to adjust coverages all evening. Elliott’s bruising runs and timely bursts gave the Raiders balance. At the same time, Kitchen was a presence on both sides of the ball, delivering critical stops and steadying the offense in short-yardage situations. For Boyd County, Butler emerged as the most consistent threat, while Branham’s physical play gave the Lions a needed spark in the third quarter.
In the end, East Carter’s blend of composure and versatility carried the night. The Raiders left Boyd County with a statement win, while the Lions walked away with lessons learned from their first loss of the season. Both teams will turn the page quickly, and East Carter will continue with their season, heading to Greenup County to face the Musketeers next week.
Contact the writer at news@cartercountytimes.com
