Coach McPherson talks with his team
After a school closure forced the cancellation of the Cumberland Gap vs Union County game for next Friday night, the Panthers found another opponent to play on short notice during their scheduled bye week. That opponent was the Mountain Lions of Pineville, Kentucky.
Cumberland Gap ignited the powder keg of what would turn out to be an offensive barn burner on the opening kickoff as Dylan Ellison returned the ball 78 Yards for a touchdown. The two point rush was good by Ethan Slusher giving the Panthers an early 8 – 0 lead.
Less than a minute later #1 of Pineville found the end zone from 26 yards out for his first of three touchdowns on the night. The point after was good by #17 and the score was 8 – 7 in favor of the Panthers with 10:52 left in the first quarter.
The Panthers held onto the ball for most of the remainder of the first quarter before punting the ball away after a series of penalties stopped their drive. #1 of Pineville found the end zone again from 31 yards out. The point after was good by #17 and the Mountain Lions took a 14 – 8 lead that would hold till the end of the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter #13 of Pineville found his way to the end zone on a QB keeper from four yards out. The two point try was no good and the Mountain Lions had pushed their lead out to 14, 22 – 8.
With a game that could very well be on the verge of getting out of hand the Panthers needed to find some life. Cumberland Gap put together another long drive and was facing a 4th and Goal from the four yard line with 5:13 on the clock when Lance Owens found Logan Napier in the end zone. The two point rush by Slusher was good and the Panthers had brought the game back within 6, 22 – 16.
Again, on another quick strike, #1 of Pineville got loose for a 46 yard run. #17 found the middle of the goalpost with the extra point try and Pineville was back up 29 – 16 with 3:07 left in the first half.
Ellison took another long kickoff return and gave the Panthers the ball at the Mountain Lion 34 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage Owens found Napier wide open along the sideline for their second touchdown connection of the night. The two point try was no good and score was 29 – 22 in favor of Pineville.
Cumberland Gap quickly forced a turnover by #13 of Pineville as he was trying to escape the pocket. The Panthers took over with 2:28 left in the half and tried to find the end zone again but would be denied. The score at the half was Cumberland Gap 22 – Pineville 29.
You thought that first half was eventful, well tighten your chinstrap because it’s about to get wild! At the 9:45 mark in the third #13 of Pineville found #3 from 26 yards out. The point after by #17 was good and it’s was back to a 14 point lead, 22 – 36.
Slusher found his way into the end zone from six yards out with 3:29 left in the third quarter. Owens found Napier again for the two point conversion. That brought the score to 36 – 30 in favor of the Mountain Lions.
With 40 seconds left on the clock in the third, #13 of Pineville found the end zone once again. The point after by #17 was good. The score was now 43 – 30 which would again hold till the end of the third quarter but the Panthers had already put together a quick drive down to the Mountain Lion 25 yard line as the quarter ended.
The Panther O-Line helped Slusher come to life in the 4th quarter. They opened holes and he was meeting everyone he came across with power. Slusher found the end zone from 15 yards out with 11:11 left in the fourth. The two point try was no good and the score was now 36 – 43 Mountain Lions.
The Defense came out energized on the ensuing Pineville drive and swarmed to the ball which ended up with an interception by Brayden Painter.
Owens took the ball on the QB keeper and just got into the end zone from 17 yards out. The two point conversion by Slusher gave the Panthers a one point lead, 44 – 43, with 6:13 left in the game.
Pineville scored again this time on a four yard run by #3. The two point try was no good and the Mountain Lions were now up 49 – 44.
Slusher found his way to the end zone once again after a hard downhill run while dragging defenders. The two point try was no good and with 32 seconds left in the game the score was Cumberland Gap – 50 Pineville – 49.
Pineville got back to work down by one with 32 seconds left. With the offense set up in a Hail Mary type package and the Gap playing tight defense, #13 couldn’t find anyone open and scrambled out of the pocket for a huge gain to the Panther 30 yard line. With eight seconds left on the clock #13 found #20 deep in the back of the end zone behind the defense and gave Pineville the walk off win.
The final from Pineville: Panthers – 50 Mountain Lions 55. Photos and article by B. Payne
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