Following hard-tought losses to Letcher Central and Bell County, where comeback attempts fell short, the New Harlan Patriots grabbed a big early lead on the way to a 26-6 win Thursday at Cumberland in seventh- and eighth-grade football action.

Caleb Johnson ran for 120 yards on seven carries and Samuel Henson added 78 yards on 12 carries as the 5-3 Patriots collected over 200 yards on the ground. Ethan Rhymer teamed with Jared Rhymer for 65 yards on two pass plays.

Darren Alred went in from the 2 on the Patriots’ opening drive to cap a 62-yard, five-play drive. Henson added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead with 2:53 left in the opening quarter.

Brian Howard’s tackle on fourth down helped stop the first Cumberland drive. A Carter Howard sack on third down ended the second drive.

Henson and Rhymer each picked up first downs on the Patriots’ second drive, which ended with a Rhymer-to-Rhymer pass that covered 29 yards. Johnson dropped a Rhymer pass on the two-point conversion try, but New Harlan led 14-0 with 6:45 to play in the first half.

Henson and Alred each picked up first downs on the Patriots’ third possession, which ended when Henson went in from the 5 with 23.5 seconds left. Akal broke up the two-point conversion pass for a 20-0 score at the break.

Johnson closed the scoring for the Patriots when he broke loose for a 48-run on the second play of the second half. Akal intercepted a pass on the two-point attempt and would have brought it all the way back for the Skins if Henson hadn’t brought him down near midfield.

Cameron Anderson had a 38-yard run late in the third quarter, but a jarring hit by Will Cassim on the next play forced a fumble recovered by Jacob Shoemaker

New Harlan drove into Cumberland territory before Dakota Keith recovered a fumble to end the threat.

Akal broke free down the sideline on third down after taking a pitch from Josh Duckworth and raced 77 yards for a touchdown with 4:35 left in the game.

Cumberland (3-8) returns to action Oct. 10 at home against Leslie County. New Harlan plays host to Letcher Central on Oct. 10 and closes the regular season on Oct. 15 at home against Knox Central.

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New Harlan (5-2) downed Cumberland 40-8 in fifth- and sixth-grade action.

Jace Brown returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring. Landon Brock added the two-point conversion. Jake Brewer connected with Brown for a 50-yard TD later in the quarter and Gunner Burkhart went in for two points and a 16-0 lead.

Brock ran 15 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and Brody Hensley went in for the two-point conversion. Brewer went 10 yards for a TD and added the conversion for a 32-0 halftime lead

Donald Sharp ran 32 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Brock threw to Colby Shepherd for a two-point conversion.

Sedrick Washington ran 38 yards for a Cumberland (0-10) touchdown. Gavvin Lloyd added the two-point conversion.

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Cumberland dropped a pair of games on Tuesday at Jenkins, falling 32-0 in the fifth- and sixth-grade and 34-16 in the seventh- and eighth-grade game.

Anderson scored on a 50-yard run and added the two-point conversion. Shawn Carroll scored on a 20-yard run and added the conversion.

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Reggie Cottrell scored two touchdowns as Evarts (4-3) defeated visiting Letcher Central 14-8 on Thursday in fifth- and sixth-grade action.

Cottrell scored in the second quarter and Evarts led 6-0 at halftime.

Letcher took the lead with a touchdown and two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.

Cottrell answered for Evarts, then Dylan Lambert added the two-point conversion.

Evarts travels to Cumberland on Oct.10