BY BRIAN HAMILTON AFTON – Gatlinburg-Pittman built an 28-0 lead early in the game and nearly watched the lead slip through its fingers, as the Highlanders hung on for a 40-35 win. Brady Hammonds found Carlos Orr for an early touchdown to put Gatlinburg-Pittman ahead 7-0 with 9:30 left in the first quarter. Orr then broke free for a 49-yard touchdown on the next drive, giving the Highlanders a 14-0 lead with 7:34 left in the first. Tom Hickman thwarted another possible Highlander scoring drive, as he intercepted Hammonds with 16 seconds left in the quarter. Gatlinburg-Pittman led 14-0 at …

BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – Coosa Christian made the five hour trek from Gadsden, Alabama to Gatlinburg on Friday and got sent back south with a 56-7 loss to the Highlanders on homecoming. Gatlinburg-Pittman jumped on the Conquerors early with touchdown runs by Levi Hill and freshman Teagan Avera, whose 41-yard score gave the Highlanders a 14-0 lead. Avera ran for 178 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries, averaging over 20 yards per carry in the game. The Highlanders led 21-0 after the first quarter and went ahead 28-0 midway through the second quarter on a 43-yard touchdown …

BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – Gatlinburg-Pittman had no trouble with Union County on Friday night, taking down the Patriots 49-6 to improve to 2-1 in region play. Gatlinburg rolled up 409 yards of total offense, averaging over 12 yards per play. “We have gotten better every single week,” Gatlinburg-Pittman head coach Brad Waggoner said. “I thought we took another step in the right direction this week.” The Highlanders scored two early touchdowns to go ahead 14-0 with 8:10 still remaining in the first quarter when quarterback Brady Hammonds tossed a touchdown to Whittman Whaley for the two score lead. Hammonds …