Cornersville fell in its region opener on Friday night at Frog Bottom. (Post File Photo by Chris Siers)
STAFF REPORT
CORNERSVILLE — The Cornersville Bulldogs struggled to match pace on the offensive side of the ball against Fayetteville City on Friday night as the Tigers dealt the ‘Dawgs their first loss of the season with the 52-15 win.
The Tigers pounced on the Bulldogs in the first frame and jumped out to a 16-0 lead following a two-yard run by Zyon Nnaji and a 35-yard fumble recovery by Jayden Thomas.
Cornersville got on the board in the closing minutes of the first frame thanks to a 26-yard pass from Easton Lombardi to Laughlin Baker, but the conversion attempt failed.
Still, the ‘Dawgs trimmed the Tiger lead to a single possession by the end of the first period.
The second quarter slowed dramatically with the two squads trading 30-yard field goals.
But as time expired, Fayetteville added a key score that helped the Tigers pull away.
Quarterback Trez Brown hit Fernando Leslie on a 3-yard touchdown pass as the clock hit zeroes and Fayetteville led 25-9.
Things continued to skew in favor of the Tigers into the second half when Nnaji notched his second score of the night on a 13-yard run with 8:55 left in the third.
Although Hunter Uland struck back with a one-yard run with 5:48 left in the third, Fayetteville responded by scoring 21 unanswered points to close the game, including a 68-yard touchdown pass and touchdown runs of one and nine yards.
While Friday night’s region opener fell to the Tigers, Cornersville gets a chance to right the ship on Friday night at Eagleville.
Fayetteville 16 9 20 7 — 52
Cornersville 6 3 6 0 — 15
First Quarter
F — Zyon Nnaji 2 run, (Quasean Black 2 pt. run), 6:15.
F — Jayden Thomas 35 fumble recovery, (Thomas 2 pt. run), 6:21.
C — Laughlin Baker 26 pass from Easton Lombardi 26 (conversion failed) 2:34.
Second Quarter
F — Anthony Eslick 33-yard Field Goal, 7:45.
C — Jackson Smith 30-yard Field Goal, 2:09.
F — Fernando Leslie 3 pass from Trez Brown, (kick failed), 0:00.
Third Quarter
F — Nnaji 13 run, (Eslick kick), 8:55.
C — Hunter Uland 1 run (2 pt. run failed) 5:48.
F — Black 68 yard pass from Brown (kick failed) 5:25.
F — Kinyun Ford 1 run (Eslick kick) 2:40.
Fourth Quarter
F — Leslie 9 run (Eslick kick) 5:00.