West Greene saved its best performance of the year for the final game of the regular season as the Buffaloes took down Cumberland Gap 40-6 and improved its playoff seeding in the process.
West Greene coach Evan Monroe said “I challenged our offensive line this week and said it’s time to grow up. We lined up in our heavy set and everyone ran the ball hard tonight. When I told them it’s time to grow up they answered the call and I’m proud of them. It’s a great way to end our regular season and carry a little bit of momentum into the playoffs.”
In a four-team region West Greene was guaranteed to make the playoff despite coming into Thursday’s action 0-9, but after taking down the Panthers the Buffaloes will get the No.3 seed from Region 1-2A and head to Oneida next week in the first round of the playoffs.
After a lackluster first quarter it was looking like the fan gathered on a chilly night in Mosheim might in for one of those boring defensive games. With the score tied at 0-0 at the start of the second West Greene caught fire and warmed up on a cold rainy night.
The Panthers faked a punt that the Buffs were all over and took over on downs, then with just over one minute gone in the second quarter Austin Brown scored on the quarterback sneak. Kendal Caldwell added the point after touchdown and the Buffaloes had a 7-0 lead.
West Greene went with the onside kick and Kyler Patterson recovered the ball at the Panther 34-yard line. Shawn Bailey went for 10 yards for a first down. The Buffs went back to well and called Bailey’s number again, this time he found an opening on the left side of the line and broke loose for a 24-yard touchdown. Caldwells kick made the score 14-0 and the Buffs had two touchdowns in just 39 seconds.
The Panther laid the ball on the ground on the first play of the ensuing drive and Leland Payne corralled it to set West Greene up in plus territory at the Panther 34-yard line.
Bailey did most of the damage on the drive, but it was Ethan White finding the end zone with just over five minutes to play in the first half. Caldwell’s kick split the uprights, and the Buffs were up three scores at 21-0.
Cumberland Gap went three and out to start the third quarter thanks to a big quarterback sack by Kenneth Debord, that forced a punt. The Buffs quickly went 45 yards for another score, aided by two Panther penalties. Big Damion Sentelle muscled his way into the end zone from one yard out, the kick was off the mark, but the Buffs were up 27-0 at the 5:55 point of the third period.
The Panthers turned the ball over on downs as the Buff defense was not fooled, and Tristan Banks broke up a pass to end the drive. The Buffs took over in plus territory at the Panther 42-yard line. Banks went for seven yards and Sentelle had back-to-back runs of seven yards each. Bailey then covered the final 21 yards for the touchdown. The kick was wide, but the Buffs were up 33-0 and evoked the running clock rule with three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Panthers opened the fourth quarter with a turnover on downs, and the Buffs took over at the Gap 35-yard line. Peyton Hilton got his hands on the ball for a five-yard run and Brown picked up the first down. Then it was the big man again, Sentelle rumbled 22 yards almost untouched for his second touchdown of the night. Caldwell’s kick made the score 40-0.
Shane Wilhoit came up with an interception to stop a Panther drive but the Buffs mishandled a snap and gave the Panthers one last chance to get on the board.
Noah Myers finally got Cumberland Gap on the scoreboard, but it was much too little too late and the Buffs were in in the win column.
Bailey led the Buffs ground attack with 81 yards on eight carries a found the end zones twice. Banks ran the ball 14 time for 54 yards while Sentelle gained 41 yards on six carries and crossed the goal line twice.
West Greene got the win they were searching for in a 40-6 win on senior night over Cumberland Gap. Heat the excitement from Buffaloes Head Coach Evan Monroe after the victory. pic.twitter.com/xjmuhwwqk8
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) October 31, 2025
West Greene got a rewarding win last night over Cumberland Gap on Senior Night and senior Damion Sentelle was given the opportunity to carry the rock into the end zone twice in Thursday night’s 40-6 win over Cumberland Gap. Hear his excitement after the win. pic.twitter.com/1b5y8Cr9ht
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) October 31, 2025
