October 24- The Cumberland Gap Panthers played host to the Claiborne Bulldogs on senior night. The celebration of seniors happened before the game, and then it was time for the annual rivalry game. No one had a clue how this game would play out. A three-win team versus a zero-win team was how the two teams came into the 2025 version of the River Rivalry.
Claiborne tried to catch the Panthers off guard on the initial kickoff. They tried an onside kick which the Panthers quickly jumped on. The first Gap drive started on the Bulldogs 48. The Panthers moved the ball well, but the drive ended on a missed field goal.
The Bulldogs first drive also ended prematurely in a fumble recovery by the Panthers at their own 48. The Panthers’ second drive ended in a punt to Bulldogs’ own 37.
Claiborne’s second drive saw Aden Roark do a lot of the work on the ground. Kaden Williams caught a pass for a first down and one play later the first quarter had ended, scoreless.
A Kaden Lovin pass to Kris Ford gave the Bulldogs a first and goal. Roark did the rest and scored from five yards out. The Bulldogs led following the point after, 7-0.
The ensuing kickoff was also onside, and the Panthers pounced on it on their own 49. The Bulldogs’ defense forced a fourth and nine, but Kole Carter completed a pass to Benson Hensley for a first down on the nine-yard line. Claiborne’s defense then forced a fourth and goal at the Bulldogs three. Owen Stone jumped in front of and intercepted a Carter pass to end the threat.
Claiborne had it on their own 20 for their next drive and, with a balanced approach, had it to the Panthers 35-yard line. The drive was set up by Kris Ford and Roark. Quarterback, Lovin then kept for nine yards to the Panthers 18. Roark then crushed the football through the defense down to the three. Lovin took it the rest of the way on the keeper for the touchdown, but the point after was no good, 13-0 Bulldogs.
The Panthers then started on their own 40, but the drive ended in a punt. Noah Burke returned the punt down the right side, but a penalty left the ball on the Bulldogs own 26. A Lovin pass to Breaton Ford was completed for a first down on the Panthers 45. Roark completed the drive with another rushing touchdown that was helped by unsportsmanlike penalties against the Panthers. The two-point conversion fell short, but the Bulldogs had extended their lead to 19.
Cumberland Gap had one last chance before the half ended, but time counted down to all zeros with Claiborne leading 19-0. Both bands performed during the halftime break.
Claiborne had possession of the ball to start the second half, and Roark moved the ball down the field through giant holes made by the Bulldogs offensive line. At the 7:55 mark, Roark finished the drive off with a touchdown The conversion pass was successful to Corbin Whitaker. Claiborne then led 27-0.
The ensuing squib kickoff was recovered by Colton Brewer putting the Bulldog’s offense back out on the field at the 45. The drive went down into the Panthers’ red zone, but the Panthers defended very well, and the Claiborne drive ended in a missed field goal.
Carter and Gibson began the Panthers next drive gaining yards through the air and Hensley added a big first down catch to move the chains. However, the Claiborne defense was making the Panthers earn every yard. The third quarter ended with the Bulldogs leading 27-0.
Facing a fourth and six, Cumberland Gap failed to convert when Owen Stone moved up and made a play in the backfield. CHS began their next drive on the Panthers 47. This drive ended in a Lovin to Ford pass for a 24-yard touchdown. The point after was good, and the Bulldogs led 34-0.
After an unsportsmanlike penalty against the Panthers, Cumberland Gap began backed up on their own 24. Carter competed a pass to Hensley on the sideline setting up a third and five. Noah Meyer gained about one yard making it forth and four. Hunter Ellison then carried the ball but didn’t make it to the yard to gain. It was a turnover on downs to the Bulldogs.
Claiborne ‘s offense took over on the Panthers 24 as the running time clock ticked down.
Both Elijah Poore and Spencer Brewer got to run the ball late and the clock went to zero and the Bulldogs had won their first of the year and the first in the Coach Lee era, 34-0.
The Whitaker Insurance Defensive Player of the Game was Braxton Stubblefield.
The Danny England Motors Offensive Player of the Game was once again Aden Roark.
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