Chuckey Doak hosted Cumberland Gap on Thursday evening, looking to bounce back in conference play after a setback against Gatlinburg-Pittman earlier in the week. The Black Knights experimented with several new formations and came away with an 8-2 victory over the Panthers, improving to 6-5 overall and 2-2 in District 1-1A play.
“It was a great game,” said Black Knights head coach Steve Neesen. “Compliments to Cumberland Gap—they played really well, too.”
Chuckey Doak struck early, as Eduard Cedillo put the Knights on the board in the fourth minute. Off a corner kick from Jesus Rojas, Cedillo found the back of the net to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Neesen noted the impact of the team’s tactical adjustments and Cedillo’s early goal. “We normally play a four-flat, but we tried a different defensive formation, moving Eduard up top,” he said. “It resulted in him scoring his first goal of the year—and maybe his first in four years.”
The Knights pressed to extend their lead, but Cumberland Gap goalkeeper Aiden Hall turned away several early chances. Chuckey Doak broke through again in the 13th minute when Ryland Grindstaff connected with Dominic Hahnlen just outside the box, and Hahnlen slipped the ball past Hall for a 2-0 advantage.
Hahnlen remained a key force offensively, scoring again in the 38th minute and adding another just three minutes later to give the Knights a commanding 4-0 lead at halftime.
Chuckey Doak carried that momentum into the second half. In the 47th minute, Kaleo Tuscano-Dulato capitalized on a rebound off the crossbar, driving it into the net to push the lead to 5-0.
Cumberland Gap responded quickly, as Will Compton scored just 30 seconds later and added another in the 51st minute to trim the deficit to 5-2.
“It was important to get out to that big lead,” Neesen said. “We got a little lackadaisical after going up 5-0, but we were able to pick it back up.”
The Knights regained control down the stretch. Hahnlen capped off his standout performance with his fourth goal of the night in the 73rd minute, winning a one-on-one opportunity to extend the lead to 6-2.
Rojas added two late goals to seal the win—first converting a pass from Grindstaff in the 75th minute, then dribbling through the defense for another score just two minutes later, putting the final seal on the 8-2 margin.
Chuckey Doak will travel to University High next Tuesday for its final district matchup before closing the regular season against Crockett and Elizabethton.
