On a night when their passing game wasn’t at it’s best, the Cumberland Gap Panthers found they could win with a dominating defensive effort and effective running game.

Cumberland Gap outgained Cuckey-Doak 176-21 on the ground and went on to a 29-7 win.

“We have been getting better defensively since the South Greene game,” said coach Neal Pucciarelli. “The kids have played with more pride, they’ve pursued better and we’re getting to the football.

“We’re starting to execute much better and we’re starting to get some key kids healthy. If we can get Jamie Richardson back from his foot injury I think we’re really going to be good.”

The Panthers have relied heavily on the pass early in the season, but completed just two passes for 42 yards in the first half Friday.

Given those numbers, one might think Chuckey-Doak had themselves a lead. Instead Cumberland Gap was up 22-0 thanks to a couple of turnovers and a surprising 112 to minus-19 advantage in rushing yards.

“I was real pleased with that. Our line stepped up and our running backs stepped up and did a real good job of carrying us,” Pucciarelli said. “Our passing game wasn’t clicking on all cylinders. We made a couple bad reads, threw a couple of interceptions, dropped some balls.”

After the teams traded possesions, Cumberland Gap got on the board first midway through the first quarter.

Junior quarterback Ryan Shipley gained 12-yards on a keeper, then Whitt Willis drew a 15-yard penalty when a Chuckey-Doak player speared him after an incomplete pass.

Seth Sharp ran for 14 yards, coming up just short of the end zone, then Shipley ran it in from one yard out. Gustavo Barros added the extra point and the Panthers had a 7-0 lead.

Cumberland Gap’s next drive ended in an interception deep in Black Knight territory.

Whitt Willis came on a blitz and stripped the ball and Jeremy Jones recovered for the Panthers at the Chuckey-Doak 34.

Cumberland Gap needed just two plays to score and they were both runs by Jones of 18 and then 16 yards to the end zone. Sharp picked up a bad snap on the PAT and alertly rolled to his right and passed to Willis for the two point conversion and a 15-0 lead with 8:53 to play in the half.

Chuckey-Doak’s next drive ended with consecutive sacks by Byron Johnson and Adam Smith. After a short punt, the Panthers took over at the Knight 39.

Sean Frost got free around the left side, turned the corner and picked up 33 yards. Frost ran it again for a five-yard gain and Shipley punched his second 1-yard sneak to make it 22-0.

“I can’t say enough about the play of our running backs Jeremy Jones and Sean Frost and of course our offensive line,” Pucciarelli said. “Coming in I thought (Chuckey-Doak) was pretty good up front and we thought we’d have a difficult time running the ball.”

Frost’s interception at the goal line ended the Knight’s following possession and the score remained 22-0 at the half.

Frost added a 23-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Chuckey Doak finally scored on a six-yard pass late in the fourth to set the final at 29-7.

Jones led the Panthers wih 79 rushing yards on nine carries while Frost ran five times for 63 yards. Shipley completed 8-of-21 passes for 112 yards and finished with eleven net rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Byron Johnson led Cumberland Gap receivers with two catches for 37 yards, including a spectacular one-handed grab over the middle in the third quarter.

Willis had two catches for 16 yards and ran the ball twice for eleven more while Sharp had 12 rushing yards and a 20-yard catch. Ryan Warren also had two catches for 11 yards.

Cumberland Gap (2-2, 1-1) hosts county rival Claiborne next Friday.

“It’s a big rivalry game for us and I think it means more to the kids and the fans at both schools than it does to anybody else because we’re trying to win a regional championship,” Pucciarelli said. “But you can bet your bottom dollar we’re going to do our best to be prepared and try to beat Claiborne. I know they’ll be ready for us.”

Photo: Cumberland Gap senior linebacker Hunter Hassler (52) celebrates after tackling a Chuckey-Doak runner behind the line of scrimmage. Seth Sharp was also in on the play as teammates Patrick Francisco (79), Jon Shipley (72) and Byron Jonson (34) were also in the Knight backfield. The Panthers held Chuckey-Doak to 157 total yards in a 29-7 win Friday night. (JAY COMPTON/Daily News)