Separated by approximately 11 miles and 13 minutes on opposite sides of Bell County, the rivalry of Middlesboro and Pineville has a long and well-played history of games.
The Jackets, ranked No. 4 in the weekly Class A poll, jumped out to an early 22-0 lead and never looked back, defeating the homestanding Mountain Lions 50-0 Friday night.
Junior quarterback Deakon Partin threw three touchdown passes for the 6-0 Jackets as the Middlesboro offense scored three times in their first nine plays.
The fireworks got going quickly for Middlesboro as Partin found receiver Amari Houston for a 56-yard touchdown on the game’s opening play.  Jacob Tinnel added the conversion run and the Jackets led 8-0.
After a Pineville punt, MHS scored again on a Colby Lawson 65-yard touchdown run on their next play to increase the lead to 14-0.
After a long punt by Landon Robbins, the Jackets were backed up deep in their territory.  After a couple of runs by Colby and Caden Lawson moved the Jackets within striking distance, the Lions’ David Bargo came up with an interception of Partin inside the Lions five-yard line.
Unfortunately for the Lions, Robbins went out of the game with an apparent foot injury around this time.  He did not return to action.
After a Pineville series, the Jackets scored again on a 55-yard run by Jacob Tinnel.  Malaki Coots added the conversion to increase the Jacket advantage to 22-0.
Behind runs by Trevor West and a run and reception by Landon Abner, the Lions mounted a seven-play drive.  Unfortunately, the drive ended with a Tate Slone punt.
The Jackets made the Lions pay on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Partin to Mehki Young.  Coots added his second conversion run to move the Jacket advantage to 30-0.
A promising Lion drive got nixed when Houston intercepted a Bargo pass around midfield.  Middlesboro scored three plays later on a 20-yard reception by Joseph Killion from Partin.  Coots’ third run staked the Jackets to a 38-0 lead at the half.
Killion took a Pineville punt 60 yards for the score to start the third quarter to increase the MHS lead to 44-0.
The Jackets closed the scoring on a 1-yard plunge from Caden Lawson at the end of the quarter to set the margin at 50-0.
Middlesboro (6-0) plays Williamsburg next week to determine the top seed in District 7 Class A at Middlesboro.  Pineville (3-5) has a bye this week before closing their schedule with Lynn Camp and Jackson County.
Middlesboro — 22 16 12 0 — 50
Pineville — 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring-
M- Houston 56 pass from Partin (Tinnel run)
M- Co. Lawson 65 run (run failed)
M- Tinnel 55 run (Coots run)
M- Young 15 pass from Partin (Coots run)
M- Killion 20 pass from Partin (Coots run)
M- Killion 60 punt return (run failed)
M- Ca. Lawson 1 run (run failed)