HARROGATE, Tenn. | In the end, an open-field stop by junior Carter Slaven saved the day for Scott High.
Slaven stopped Cumberland Gap’s Gabe Daniels short of the goal line on a two-point conversion try after the Panthers’ improbable late touchdown, helping the Highlanders hold on for a 14-12 win in Friday’s non-region road game.
In a game that proved to be something of a slug-fest, Cumberland Gap (4-2) dominated the stat sheet. The Panthers rolled up 369 yards of offense in their quest to build on one of their best starts to a season in years.
But Scott High (3-2) got stops when it mattered most. The Highlander defense held the Panthers to 0 of 4 on fourth down conversion attempts, which proved to be perhaps the biggest difference in the game. On two different occasions, once in each half, the Highlander defense came up with stops inside the 10-yard-line after Cumberland Gap had driven the length of the field. On the game’s opening possession, the Panthers were stopped just short of the goal line on a fourth down try.
Offense was a struggle for Scott. The Highlanders were limited to just 211 yards of offense by Cumberland Gap. They marched 99 yards in 12 plays on a sterling opening drive, but managed only 112 yards and found the end zone just once after that.
It was a game that featured an odd tempo. Scott had the ball just twice in the first half, as Cumberland Gap was able to control the clock and keep the Highlander offense off the field. The first drive went 99 yards for the score, which came on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Gage Privett to Sawyer Barnes. The second drive was a three-and-out, and Scott had only 108 yards of offense at the halftime break. Cumberland Gap, meanwhile, answered Scott’s touchdown with one of its own, and the game was tied at the half.
The Highlanders got the ball to start the second half but the drive ended in an interception on a third-and-long deep ball. Cumberland Gap then broke off a 67-yard run to give itself an opportunity to take the lead, but Scott’s defense came up with another big red zone stop, forcing the ball over on downs at the 6-yard-line.
The Highlander defense came up with yet another stop later, when Cameron Bond pounced on an unforced fumble at Scott High’s 38-yard-line. The Highlanders turned the turnover into points, marching 62 yards to score on a 12-yard run by Jesse Jeffers. Jeffers also added the two-point conversion, giving Scott a 14-6 lead.
The Highlanders then recovered an onside kick, and had an opportunity to put the game away. However, Cumberland Gap forced a punt. Houston Stanley pinned the Panthers at the 10-yard-line with his kick.
Later, the Panthers mimicked the Highlander defense with a big stop at the goal line. On fourth down, Scott High opted not to try for a field goal, and Cumberland Gap stopped Privett short of the end zone. The Panthers then scored on a 76-yard pass to Landon Eldridge, setting up the two-point conversion try to tie the game.
Slaven’s stop left Cumberland Gap needing another defensive stop. The Panthers got that, and had an opportunity to win the game. However, Scott High’s defense came up with a fourth down stop for the fourth time of the game, allowing its offense to simply take a couple of knees and run out the remaining clock.
The win boosted Scott High’s record to 3-2 ahead of a homecoming game showdown with Union County.
