The Cornersville Bulldogs, seeking their first win of the 2019 season, invaded Eagleville for a matchup with the 2A Eagles.

The Bulldogs showed improvement on defense, but sputtered on offense with four fumbles – two returned for scores and fell to the Eagles 27-15.

“They are a well-coached team that plays hard,” Cornersville coach Gerard Randolph said before the game. “They have a really good player in Trevor Griffin. I know some of the coaches personally and we will have to do things right if we are to have success against them.”

His words would echo the game as turnovers stopped their effort to come away with a win.

The Bulldogs kicked off to Eagleville’s Kaden Snitzer, who ran the ball to the Bulldog 39-yard line and a pass interference penalty against Bulldogs on second down gave the Eagles a first down.

The Eagles running game kicked in as they moved the ball down field and Marcus Collins ran it in from the two-yard line.

Extra point was wide left, but Eagleville led 6-0.

The Bulldogs received the kickoff and began to get their running game going and gained a first down on third-and-1.

Disaster appeared to strike the Dawgs when the ball popped out and Trevor Griffin scooped it up and rambled 62 yards for the score, but a defensive chop block by the Eagles resulted in the ball going back to the Bulldogs.

Taking advantage of another chance, the Bulldogs pushed the ball down field as behind the tough running of quarterback Jackson Farlar as time ran out in the first quarter.

Jackson Williams nailed a 25-yard field goal to begin the second quarter to make it 6-3.

The Eagles took the kickoff and again attacked with their running game, gaining ground to the 37-yard line of the Bulldogs where Eagle running back Wyatt McLemore got loose off the right side and out ran the Bulldog defenders to score.

The extra point clanged off the left upright and fell back on the field – no good. Eagles now led 12-3.

Brady Callahan received the kickoff and ran the ball to midfield.

Cornersville now had their turn and churned the ball downfield where Alex Hillard ran it in from the six-yard line.

The point after was blocked and the Bulldogs trailed 12-9.

The Bulldogs had a shot to take the lead, but a holding penalty stalled the drive at the Eagleville 32-yard line as time ran out in the half with Eagleville leading 12-9.

The Eagles kicked off the second half with a squib kick to the Bulldogs’ 32-yard line.

Callahan ran for five yards, but on fourth down Farlar had the ball knocked loose and the Eagles recovered.

Aided by a third down off-sides penalty against the Dawgs, the Eagles struck pay-dirt on a 25-yard touchdown throw from Marcus Collins to running back Trevor Griffin.

The Eagles ran in the two-point conversion to make it with 7:20 left in the third quarter.

Again, the Eagles tried a squib kick but the Dawgs were ready and started the possession on their own 46-yard line.

The Bulldogs’ drive stalled when on a third and four when Farlar’s pass fell incomplete, but on fourth down punter Bulldog Cameron Estes nailed a kick to the Eagles’ one-yard line.

The Dawg defense hunkered down and stopped the Eagles, forcing a punt and a short one put Cornersville in business on the Eagles’ 31-yard line.

With Callahan and Farlar running hard the Bulldogs began to push the ball on the Eagleville defense.

On third down from the five, Farlar ran through a huge hole on the right side for a touchdown to make it a 20-15 contest after a failed two-point conversion try.

The fourth quarter began with an Eagleville possession, but they began to stumble.

After a long over-thrown pass and a loss on second down was created when a host of Dawgs trapped the Eagles’ runner in the backfield.

The Bulldogs’ Jackson Mitchell intercepted a pass and ran it to the Bulldog 49.

The Bulldogs seemed on the verge of claiming the lead as Hillard caught a pass, moving the ball into Eagle territory.

It was not to be as the fumble bug struck again and Trevor Griffin scooped it up and ran to pay dirt from 53 yards out to make the score 26-15.

The Eagle extra point once again clanged off the left upright, but this time fell over the crossbar and was good and Eagleville led 27-15 with 5:21 left in the game.

The Bulldogs received the kickoff and attempt a comeback, but another fumble ended the drive and Eagleville took a knee and the game was over.

“We cannot turn the ball over and expect to win, we are young but moved the ball on them,” Randolph said. “We cannot turn the ball over against a good team like Eagleville.”

Cornersville 0 9 6 0 15

Eagleville 6 6 8 7 27

Scoring

First quarter

Eagleville-Marcus Collins 3-yard run, PAT NG, 8:03.

Second quarter

Cornersville-Jackson Williams 27-yard FG, 10:47.

Eagleville- Wyatt McLemore 37-yard run, PAT NG, 9:16.

Cornersville-Alex Hillard 6-yard run, PAT blocked, 5:16.

Third quarter

Eagleville- Kaden Snitzer 25-yard pass from Collins, Collins 2-pt. run, 7:20.

Cornersville-Jackson Farler 6-yard run, 2-pt. run NG, 2:28.

Fourth quarter

Eagleville- Trevor Griffin 47-yard fumble return, Collins PAT, 5:21.

Total Offense: Cornersville 276, Eagleville 222.

Rushing; Cornersville 218, Eagleville 174.

Passing: Cornersville 58, Eagleville 48.

First Downs: Cornersville 20, Eagleville 11.

Penalties: Cornersville 7-70, Eagleville 6-65.

Turnovers: Cornersville 4, Eagleville 2.

Cornersville Offense

Rushing (49-218): Brady Calahan 20-79, Rhett Woodard 11-58, Jackson Farler 8-35-TD, Alex Hillard 6-23-TD, Cason Warner 4-23.

Passing (9-12-58-0-0): Jackson Farler 9-12-58.

Receiving: Brady Calahan 3-49, Alex Hillard 2-20, Tanner Edwards 1-6, Mason Calahan 2-1, Jackson Mitchell 1-(18).

Returns

Kickoffs: Cason Warner 1-19, Riley Qualls 1-11, Devon Massengill 1-6, Brady Calahan 1-0, Rhett Woodard 1-0.

Punts: Brady Calahan 1-0.

Kicking

Field Goals: Jackson Williams 1-1-27.

Defense

Tackles: Rhett Woodard 8, Trenton Posey 4.5 (2 TFL, SACK), Blake Jones 4, Devon Massengill 4 (.5 TFL), Jackson Mitchell 3.5 (INT), Dylan Baus 3.5 (1.5 TFL), Wes Calahan 2 (INT), Alex Hillard 1, Mason Calahan 1, Michael Bungay 1, Tracy Wood .5.