Senior quarterback Stone Riner made sure that Cornersville football fans had a happy Homecoming, as he accounted for all four CHS touchdowns to help lead the Bulldogs to a hard fought 27-21 win over the McEwen Warriors on Friday night.

Cornersville (4-4) came flying out of the gates and held a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Warriors (1-6) came storming back and narrowed the gap to 14-13 at halftime prior to tying the game at 21-21 midway through the third period.

Grasping control

The Bulldogs managed to stem McEwen's momentum and seized a 27-21 advantage on a six-yard TD run by Riner early in the fourth quarter before holding the Warriors scoreless on their final two possessions to claim their fourth win of the season.

With Friday's triumph, the Bulldogs greatly improved their chances of grabbing an at large spot in the Class A playoffs.

"This was huge. They're all big wins now. Anytime you put the work in and see the results you want it's a great night," said Cornersville coach John Denton.

The Bulldogs moved the ball the entire night and rolled up 391 yards of total offense, which included 253 yards rushing on 43 carries, but were penalized nine times for 85 yards and committed three turnovers.

Committed to win

"I thought we handled the adversity well. The guys never got down. They got upset, but they handled it well and played like we've taught them to," said Denton.

After recording 358 all-purpose yards against Columbia Academy in his previous outing, Riner posted eye popping numbers for the second straight week, as he rushed for 258 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, while also completing 12-of-17 passes for 138 yards and two TDs to go along with one interception.

"As a senior, I feel I need to step up and carry my team. This was a big win. It was a must have game and we stepped up and got it done," said Riner. "Playing quarterback has grown on me. I used to hate it, but now I've started to like it."

Cornersville tailback Chance Dyer also toted the ball 15 times for 29 yards and senior wide out Tyler Lowery hauled in four passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Black tallied five receptions for 55 yards as well, while Jesse Phillips had two catches for 10 yards. Zack Welch also added one reception for 12 yards.

McEwen stats

McEwen took advantage of their superior size up front and rushed for 204 yards on 46 carries en route to finishing with 305 yards of total offense, but did commit two turnovers.

Fullback Chase Tate and tailback Trevor Rachford provided the Warriors with an effective one-two punch, as Tate rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, while Rachford toted the ball 24 times for 104 yards and a TD.

McEwen quarterback Mitchell Sanker completed 8-of-15 passes for 101 yards and a TD, but also threw one interception and was sacked three times. Tate was the Warriors leading receiver and snared five passes for 51 yards, while Bryce Crowell had two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown. Isaiah Jackson also added one reception for 15 yards.

Bulldogs take off

Linebackers Black and Dyer paced Cornersville's defense with 10 and nine tackles respectively. Jody Sullivan and Levi Henry both tallied eight tackles and a sack as well with Sullivan recording an interception, while Devante Spencer and Welch each had six tackles. Kyle Dickson also recovered a fumble for Cornersville and Dillard Hatchett registered a sack.

The Bulldogs looked sharp at the start of the game and put together a methodical 13-play, 66-yard touchdown drive on their opening possession that was punctuated by an 11-yard TD catch by Lowery on 4th and 5. Ivan Gutierrez then tacked on an extra point to give CHS a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

After forcing the Warriors to punt on their first offensive series, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 14-0 with 2:21 left in the first quarter when Riner found Lowery in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown strike to cap a six-play, 68-yard drive.

Following a favorable exchange of punts, the Warriors got their offense in gear and marched 49 yards to pay dirt in 10 plays, highlighted by a Rachford 16-yard touchdown jaunt, to cut the deficit to 14-7 with 7:30 left in the second quarter.

Warriors threaten

Cornersville picked up three first downs on their next offensive series to advance to the McEwen 33, but lost 27 yards due to a bad snap and were forced to punt.

Staring their ensuing possession at their own 32, the Warriors found the end zone six plays later when Crowell hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Crowell with 1:12 left in the first half to narrow the gap to 14-13. Warrior placekicker Matt Durham missed the extra point to keep the deficit at one.

The Bulldogs advanced to the McEwen 48 on their final drive of the half with the help of a 15-yard reception by Lowery, but Durham intercepted a pass by Riner two plays later to snuff out the threat after the ball bounced off the hands of a CHS receiver.

The Warriors received the opening kickoff in the second half, but Rachford had the ball jarred loose by Spencer on the second play of the drive before Dickson pounced on the pigskin at the McEwen 46.

Back-to-back scores

Riner then broke loose for a 38-yard touchdown run a few moments later to stretch Cornersville's lead to 21-13 early in the third quarter.

McEwen quickly counterpunched and engineered an 11-play, 71-yard TD drive that was topped off by a 12-yard touchdown run from Tate. Sanker then hooked up with Austin Mayberry on the two-point conversion attempt to knot the game at 21-21 with 5:10 left in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs advanced down to the Warrior 6 on their ensuing possession with the help of a 16-yard run by Riner, a Black 10-yard reception, and a 23-yard catch by Lowery, but Riner had the ball knocked loose on a 3rd and 3 run and McEwen defensive lineman Daniel George recovered the fumble at the two-yard line.

Back in front

After forcing the Warriors to punt, the Bulldogs began their ensuing drive at the McEwen 33 before Riner scored on a six-yard touchdown scamper five plays later to stake CHS to a 27-21 lead with 9:30 left in the fourth quarter. Rachford then blocked Gutierrez's extra point attempt to keep the margin at six.

Aided by a 27-yard kickoff return by Rachford and a Cornersville personal foul penalty, the Warriors started their next drive at the Bulldog 43, but Sullivan picked off a pass by Sanker three plays later and returned it into McEwen territory.

After the Warriors were called for a personal foul on Sullivan's interception return to move the ball to the McEwen 29, the Bulldogs appeared to be on the verge of scoring the game clinching touchdown by advancing to the 16 on three straight runs.

Final threat

Unfortunately, the turnover bug bit Cornersville once again on the next play, as Jackson recovered a Dyer fumble at the 12-yard line with 6:20 remaining.

The Warriors advanced to their own 46 with the help of a 16-yard run by Tate and a Crowell 17-yard reception, but faced a 3rd and 17 situation a few moments later when Sanker was sacked for an eight-yard loss by Hatchett.

After McEwen picked up 15 yards on a hook and ladder play, Dyer and Dickson stopped Tate inches short of the first down marker on a 4th and 2 run to give Cornersville the ball at their own 44 with 1:47 left.

The Bulldogs then picked up a first down thanks to a 25-yard run by Riner before running out the clock.