The Harlan offense produced an early touchdown and the Harlan defense made it stand up as the Green Dragons won for the fourth time in five games with an 8-6 victory Friday at Pineville in seventh- and eighth-grade football action.

Harlan drove 65 yards for a touchdown on its opening possession as Tristan West had several nice runs before Tayquan Vick went in from the 2 early in the second quarter. Will Cassim connected with Donovan Montanaro for the two-point conversion.

Pineville drove for its only touchdown late in the half but failed on the two-point conversion as the Dragons maintained a two-point lead.

Harlan ran out the clock with a drive in the fourth quarter that included three first downs, forcing the Lions to use their timeouts.

“I was proud of our defensive effort tonight,” Harlan coach Jonathan Lee said. “We stopped several drives on a short field, which put the ball into our hands and allowed us to dominate in time of possession. Coach Colby Goss did a wonderful job getting the kids ready to play this week defensively and the hard work paid off. We were able to keep the ball out of their hands for most of the first half and denied their attempt at a two-point conversion on their only touchdown of the night. In spite of several costly penalties, our defense did not break. The kids showed grit and determination. We needed several to step up who had to play out of position. Tristan Burgan comes to mind, having to play center with little prep time.”

West ran for over 100 yards to lead the Harlan offense. Cassim completed four of five passes, two each to Vick and Donovan Montanaro.

West, Noah Kirby, Vick and Kyler McLendon led the Dragons’ defense. Montanaro had a late interception to help seal the win.

There was no fifth- and sixth-grade game.

Harlan (4-4) will play at Jackson County on Sept. 29.

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A new position produced much the same results for New Harlan’s Thomas Jordan, who ran for 140 yards and three touchdowns and added 34 yards passing in the Patriots’ 36-0 win Thursday at Cumberland in seventh- and eighth-grade football action. Jordan played quarterback with Ethan Rhymer out due to illness.

Jordan scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, then added the two-point conversion. He added a 6-yard TD run later in the period for a 14-0 lead.

Tanner Griffin went in from the 1 in the second quarter and Jordan went in for the two-point conversion. Jordan scored on a 27-yard run late in the half and Samuel Henson added the two-point conversion for a 30-0 halftime lead.

After a scoreless third quarter, Darren Alred ran 27 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

New Harlan produced 338 yards of total offense.

The Patriots were led on defense by Dakota Turner with 12 tackles. Griffin added six. Rhymer and Samuel Henson had five tackles each.

New Harlan (6-3) will travel to Knox Central on Thursday. Cumberland (2-7) will play host to Jenkins on Thursday.

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Jayce Brown ran for three touchdowns as New Harlan (5-3) pulled away late for a 40-22 win in the fifth- and sixth-grade game.

Jake Brewer broke a scoreless tie in the second quarter with an 85-yard touchdown run. Dustin Jones went in for the two-point conversion.

Landon McLain teamed with Aiden Craig for a 60-yard touchdown. Craig’s two-point conversion tied the game at 8-8.

Brown’s first touchdown covered 11 yards. Connor Daniels teamed with Travis Burkhart for a two-point conversion and a 16-8 lead.

Brown ran 50 yards and Hunter Napier went in for two points and a 24-8 lead.

Cumberland (1-8) recovered an onside kick to start the second half and marched 50 yards for a touchdown, led by several nice runs from Ashton Adams. Craig went in from the 20 and Adams added the two-point conversion to make the score 24-16.

Another onside kick recovery put the Cumberland offense back in business. Craig and Adams ripped off long runs to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Liam Garland that cut the deficit to two points.

Brennan Blevins put New Harlan back in control with a 43-yard touchdown run by Brennan Blevins. Michael Torres added the two-point conversion for a 32-22 lead late in the third quarter.

Brown scored on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter. Daniels teamed with James Ryan Howard for the two-point conversion.