October 13- It was senior night at Claiborne High School. Soccer, band, cheer and football seniors were honored before the game began. At the kickoff, Claiborne’s Brayden Painter playing in his first game of the year opened with a good return, Ryan Olsen, a few plays later, scored the first TD at 4:44 on the opening drive. The point after was good, 7-0. The first quarter ended with the Blue Devils driving deep in Bulldogs territory. Unicoi found paydirt on the first play of the second quarter. The point after was good, 7-7.
With 9:52 remaining in the first half, Painter broke loose and scored. The Bulldogs failed on the point after but led 13-7. Claiborne then forced a punt and sent the offense back out, starting at their own 40-yard line. At 3:31, left in the half, QB Zay Gerrells kept and scored, and after a good PAT, the score was increased to 20-7.
The Devils fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, and Claiborne recovered on the 40-yard line of the Blue Devils. One play later, Claiborne found the endzone at 3:12 with Cole Jones. The point after failed, 26-7. The Blue Devils were driving at the end of the first half, but the Bulldog defense forced a turnover on downs. At the half, the score was 26-7 with the Bulldogs leading. The Blue Battalion performed at the half.
Claiborne kicked off to start the rainy second half. A pass play was completed then fumbled by Unicoi, but it went right into the hands of a Blue Devil for their second TD of the night. The PAT was good, 26-14. The Blue Devils went for and recovered the onside kick with 10:30 left in the third. They later scored two unanswered touchdowns to take the lead at 28-26.
The Bulldogs scored two plays later when Jones broke another long run, but CHS failed on the conversion, retaking the lead, 32-28.
The third quarter ended with Unicoi threatening but the same score, 32-28. The first play of the fourth was another Blue Devil touchdown, but the point after was missed, 34-32 Devils. Claiborne had to punt on the next possession, and the Blue Devils needed a stop defensively; however, Unicoi found the endzone again with 7:03 remaining in the game. The point after was good, 41-32.
The Bulldogs then had to go for it on fourth and long, but pressure on Gerrells forced an errant and incomplete pass and a turnover on downs. With a short field, the Blue Devils attacked via the ground game, but the drive ended in the Bulldogs red zone with an incomplete pass. Claiborne took over at their own 14-yard line, but the Bulldogs turned it over on downs right back to the Blue Devils with 1:40 left in the game. The seconds ticked off the clock and the Blue Devils went home with a 41-32 win.
Bulldog Nation would like everyone to send prayers and good thoughts to Painter who had to be transported to the hospital via ambulance due to a shoulder injury sustained early in the second half. Claiborne and Cumberland Gap will kick off next Friday in the annual rivalry game. Football Friday brought to you by Whitaker Insurance Agency.
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