Cumberland Gap traveled to Thomas Walker on August 26th to take on the Pioneers. It was an absolute perfect night for football with that nice fall breeze in the air.
After a quick turnover on downs by Thomas Walker Allen Brooks took the first handoff 76 yards around the left side of the line for a Panthers touchdown. The two-point try was no good and Cumberland Gap led 6-0 with 8:10 left in the first.
Thomas Walker then put together a long drive that ended with an interception in the end zone by Brayden Painter of the Panthers at the 3:32 mark of the first quarter.
The first quarter would come to an end with Cumberland Gap leading 6-0 over Thomas Walker.
On the first play of the second quarter, Panthers Kole Welch broke loose for a long touchdown run. The two-point try was successful on a keeper by Painter. Cumberland Gap led by a score of 14-0 with 11:02 remaining in the first half.
Thomas Walker marched back down the field and Darin Gulley took the quarterback keeper 14 yards for a Pioneer touchdown. The two -point try was unsuccessful and with 8:16 left in the half Cumberland Gap led 14-6.
Brayden Painter answered when he found room on the left side of the line and rolled 51 yards untouched for a Cumberland Gap touchdown. The two-point try was unsuccessful and with 6:38 left in the half the Panthers led the Pioneers 20-6.
Gulley again took his team down the field and this time found his receiver in stride for a 32-yard Pioneer touchdown. The two-point try was again unsuccessful and the Panthers held a 20-12 lead with 2:36 left in the half.
The Panthers answered quickly as Painter hit Welch for a 72-yard touchdown down the middle of the field. The two-point try was no good and with 2:18 left in the second quarter Cumberland Gap led Thomas Walker 26-12.
Thomas Walker responded with a drive that chewed up all the remaining time in the first half and ended with a four-yard touchdown run by Dylan McCurry as the clock hit 0:00 in the first half. The two-point pass by Gulley was successful and the Pioneers drew within 6 at the half.
Our score at halftime was Cumberland Gap 26 and Thomas Walker 20.
Cumberland Gap took the opening possession of the second half and marched down the field where Welch again found the end zone, this time from two yards out. The two-point rush by Painter was good and the Panthers were then up 34-20 over Thomas Walker with 6:12 left in the third.
Dylan McCurry then punched it in for the Pioneers from two yards out. The two-point rush was successful, and the score stood at 34-28 in favor of Cumberland Gap with 3:33 left in the third.
The score after three quarters of action still had Cumberland Gap on top 34-28 over Thomas Walker.
Cumberland Gap again found the end zone as Kyle Figueroa got in from four yards out. Jacob Brown got the two-point rush and the Panthers had pushed the score out to 42-28 over the Pioneers with 7:52 left in the fourth quarter.
Isaiah Daniels got in on the action and ripped the ball away from Thomas Walker on their next possession. Cumberland Gap turned that next drive into six more points after Painter got loose down the right sideline for a 53-yard score. Jacob Brown again got the two-point try and with 4:16 the Panthers led the Pioneers 50-28.
Daniels immediately followed his fumble recovery up with an inception of Gulley on the first play of the Pioneers next possession, but the Panthers fumbled away the ball on their possession.
Thomas Walker burst into the end zone late as Dylan McCurry got in from three yards out. Gulley took in the two-point try and with 42 seconds left Cumberland Gap led 50-36.
The Panthers took the field in the victory formation and kneeled on the ball securing the 50-36 victory over Thomas Walker and moved to 1-1 in the season.
– Brandon Payne
