Cumberland Gap traveled across the Claiborne County line into Union County on October 22nd to take on the Patriots. Cumberland Gap broke opening the scoring at the 7:12 mark in the first quarter as Ethan Slusher got into the end zone from nine yards out. The two point try was unsuccessful and the Panthers led 6-0.
Union County answered back as Peyton Ray took the quarterback keeper 15 yards for a touchdown. The two point rush by Derrick Cooper was good and the Patriots led 8-6 with 2:53 remaining in the first.
Early in the second quarter Ray found Josh Chesney for a 45 yard Patriots touchdown. The two point try was unsuccessful and Union County had pushed the score out to 14-6.
Cumberland Gap put together a drive that ended with Lance Owens keeping the ball on a perfect fake and rolling untouched for a 34 yard touchdown. Owens found Logan Napier on the two point try and the game was back tied at 14 with 7:57 left in the first half.
Cooper found a seam along the sideline after taking the handoff and 60 yards later he put another Union County score on the board. The two point run by Joseph Stratton was successful and the Patriots were back up 22-14.
Jacob Brown answered back with a score of his own from 18 yards out for the Panthers. Owens ran the two point try in and the score was once again tied at 22.
Cumberland Gap had a goal line stand on defense as the first half came to an end and the score remained tied at 22 going into the locker rooms.
Brayden Painter recovered an onside kick for the Gap to start the second half but the ensuing drive stalled out and Cumberland Gap had a turnover on downs at the Union County 19 yard line.
Sam Seals recovered a Union County fumble for the Panthers and that led to another touchdown by Cumberland Gap. Owens capitalized off the turnover as he got loose on another keeper from 41 yards. Slusher carried in the two point try and gave the Panthers a 30-22 lead with 6:11 left in the third quarter.
Stratton answered back with a 15 yard touchdown run. Cooper got the two point conversion run and tied the game back at 30, which would be our score at the end of the third quarter.
Slusher got back into the end zone on a seven yard run and then carried in the two point conversion try to give the Panthers a 38-30 lead at the 9:54 mark in the fourth quarter.
After a Union County turnover on downs Bryson Ellis took a handoff up the middle and fought off two hard tackles on the way to a 69 yard touchdown run. Owens connected with Napier again on the two point try that put the Panthers up 46-30 with 2:41 left in the game.
Owens picked off a pass by Ray of Union County and then he took a knee in the victory formation on offense to seal the victory for Cumberland Gap. – BP
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