Cumberland Gap traveled to Elizabethton Friday night, October 1st, to face The Warriors of Happy Valley.
The Panthers kicked off to start the game and nearly recovered the kick but that was all the excitement that a back and forth first quarter would provide.
Happy Valley drove down to the one yard line but the Panther defense stepped up and stopped three straight plays at the goal line to force a turnover at the 10:12 mark in the second quarter.
The downfall to a goal line stand is taking over at the one yard line and Lance Owens, under tons of pressure, threw an interception while trying to find an opening in the Warriors defense. Happy Valley quickly turned that interception into six points as Reagan Ensor hit Andrew Little from three yards out. Point after was no good and Happy Valley was up 6-0 with 7:14 in the 2nd.
Cumberland Gap answered back as quickly as possible with Dylan Ellison returning the ensuing kickoff 78 yards for a Panther touchdown. Their two point try was no good and we were tied at 6 with 6:59 in the 2nd.
Ellison nearly picked off a pass from Ensor and on the next play Cumberland Gap recovered a fumble by Happy Valley.
Ethan Slusher found the end zone from six yards out and that broke the seal on what would end up being a huge night from him. The point after was no good and the Panthers now lead 12-6 with 3:31 left in the first half.
Ensor then connected with Blake Garmon from 48 yards out to tie the game up. The two point try was intercepted and we stood at 12 each which would also be the score at the end of the first half.
In the third quarter Slusher had touchdown runs from eight and two yards respectively while also adding both two point conversion runs to push the Panthers further ahead. Cumberland Gap was up 28-12 with 2:32 left in the third.
Gavin Owens picked off a Happy Valley pass across the middle to bring the third quarter to a close.
Slusher capped off his night with a 41 yard rush, untouched along the right side of the field, into the end zone. He took the two point try in and that brought the score to 36-12 in favor of the Panthers.
Cumberland Gap played great on defense and didn’t allow any points in the second half. The boys along the offensive line we key in allowing Slusher to have such a strong night.
Slusher finished the night with four touchdowns and he converted on three two point conversions.
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