The New Harlan Patriots lived up to their reputation as one of the top CVC middle school teams Thursday in the season opener at Harlan.

The Patriots took a 24-0 advantage after one quarter and rolled to a 46-6 win over the Green Dragons.

New Harlan gained 298 yards on the ground while holding the Green Dragons to 60 total yards.

"Defensively, we just stopped them," said New Harlan coach Robert Simpson. "They're getting there reads down and know what's going on. We had an overall good ball game tonight."

T.J. Green powered the Patriots with 114 yards on three carries and scored two touchdowns. Chase Niday followed with 53 yards and Mikey Hamlin added 52 yards.

Larry Williamson opened the scoring for New Harlan with a 27-yard touchdown run with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter. Green scored on the two-point conversion.

The Dragons were backed up to their own 2-yard line and were forced to punt, but the kick sailed out of bounds for a safety.

It took the Patriots to score again as Green raced 55 yards for a touchdown. Jeff Burkhart kicked the extra point to make it 17-0 at the two-minute mark of the first quarter.

New Harlan recovered an onside kick on the Harlan 45 and Niday scored on the next play. Burkhart's kick was good.

The Patriots opened the second quarter and needed three plays to find the end zone as Green scored on a 52-yard run at the 7:23 mark. Williamson added the two-point conversion to make it 32-0.

With 4:24 remaining in the first half, Hamlin scored on a 3-yard run and Burkhart's kick was good.

As time expired in the first half, Dylon Smith added a 43-yard touchdown run. The kick by Burkhart made it 46-0.

Harlan avoided the shutout with 5:14 left in the third quarter as Raven Ison raced 89 yards for a touchdown.

Ison gained 85 yards on 11 carries for the Green Dragons.

"I told the kids before the game that this was going to be a tough task," said Harlan coach Kyle Jones. "I've been coaching four years, and that's the most physical junior high football team I've ever seen.

"I'm proud of my kids. They didn't give up. We've just going to have to go back to the drawing board and keep improving."

Niday and Tyler Stewart led the New Harlan defense with seven tackles each. Green and Tim Engle added four each.

New Harlan returns to action Thursday at Lynn Camp. Harlan (0-1) travels to Evarts next week.

Cody Taylor rushed for 187 yards on five carries and scored four touchdowns as New Harlan claimed a 36-8 win in the fifth- and sixth-grade game.

Taylor scored on an 8-yard run with 4:29 left in the first quarter. Stephen Dozier added the two-point conversion for New Harlan (1-0).

Following a Harlan fumble, Marcus McMillian races 45 yards for a touchdown at the 2:29 mark.

Taylor had touchdowns runs of 61, 53 and 50 yards. Austin Maggard connected with Dozier on one two-point conversion and found Chris Southerland for another conversion pass.

Dustin Hensley added a 51-yard touchdown run in the final quarter for Harlan (0-1). Jesse Napier caught the two-point conversion pass from Ty Saragas.

McMillian had 65 yards on five carries for the Patriots. Maggard completed two passes for 18 yards.

Tucker Lewis powered the Patriots defense with five tackles. Dozier and Austin Vannatter each had four tackles.

Justin Morrisett led the Dragons with five tackles. Vince Bianchi added three tackles and an interception.

Bell County 52

Evarts 8

Dominic Carlton scored three touchdowns and Jake Slusher added two to lead Bell in seventh- and eighth-grade action Thursday.

James Ball scored a touchdown late in the final quarter for the Wildcats. He added the two-point conversion.

Bell County (1-0) play host to Middlesboro on Thursday, while Evarts (0-1) entertains Harlan.

Bell County defeated the Wildcats 22-6 in the fifth- and sixth-grade game.

Richard Pace had a 60-yard touchdown run for the Wildcats on the last play of the game.