Rockets rally past ‘Dawgs in Battle of North and South By Kacy Kincaid-Sports Writer
Chapel Hill — Last week, Forrest head coach Eli Stephenson said the Rockets would be ready for the Cornersville Bulldogs Friday night, and he wasn’t kidding.
Forrest answered the bell and the the Rockets took a 15-14 win in their home opener at “The Rock.”
The first half for the Rockets wasn’t much to write home about, with the Bulldogs carrying a comfortable 14-3 lead into halftime.
“I told them (the team), ‘Forrest isn’t just going to let you come in here and win,’” said Cornersville head coach Eliot Cook.
“They’re proud of stuff around here and they’re going to fight for it.”
Forrest punted the ball away after six plays in the first quarter, not making it into Cornersville territory, setting the Bulldogs up for good position on their first drive of the game.
Not gaining the ground they’d like thanks to the Forrest defense, led by Liam Bell and Ben Villazon, it was Jesse Lindeman with the big stop on third down to force the punt.
A bad snap on the punt landed Forrest on the Bulldog 23-yard line.
Shortly after, freshman Fletcher Fields found the end zone, giving the Rockets the first touchdown of the game, but a penalty on the Rockets scooted the home team back to the 31-yard line, Gavin Grissom ultimately splitting the uprights with a 33-yard field goal, putting the Rockets up 3-0 with 4:08 left in the first.
The Bulldogs heated up in the second quarter.
An interception by Bulldog freshman Jackson Smith kicked off the best quarter Cornersville had.
Senior and Navy-commit Ben Franklin took only two plays to find the end zone on a 31-yard touchdown run to put the Bulldogs on the board.
Joseth Palma cleared the uprights, Cornersville to give the visitors a 7-3 lead with 8:45 left in the half.
Three plays later, Cornersville took advantage of another Rocket miscue by recovering a fumble at the Rocket 49-yard line.
The Bulldogs took their time making their way upfield, digging their way out of fourth down holes and expounding on Rocket mishaps.
With 2:40 left in the half, quarterback Blaine Woodard took an 8-yard sprint across the goal line, with Palma tacking on the extra point.
The Bulldogs had a bit of a cushion with a 14-3 lead going into halftime.
But the Rockets weren’t ready to throw in the towel just yet.
“What I really like is they responded at halftime,” said Stephenson.
“They came out and knew they had to do it, and they took it into their own hands. Cornersville came ready to play, and we just answered the bell in the second half.”
On the first play of the second half, the Bulldogs fumbled at their own 20-yard line, giving Forrest prime field advantage.
Bell carried on the next drive picking up another five yards, and it was Fields again darting into the end zone, this time the touchdown sticking.
The extra point attempt failed, and the Cornersville Bulldogs had loosened their grip on the lead, 14-9.
After punts, mishaps, and big hits for both squads, Forrest revved up the engine for the fourth quarter, starting with recovering a Bulldog fumble.
Bell and Cohen Grissom worked the field from the 19-yard line, and quarterback Aiden Cantrell and Bryce Tankersley chipped in on by completing an 8-yard pass.
After 11 plays, it was Bell scampering into the end zone from the one to give the Rockets a one-point advantage, 15-14. The two-point attempt was no good.
“I was very proud of Liam Bell,” said Stephenson. “He came in and put the game on his shoulders. Cohen came in, he’s been working this offseason, and he got his number called and he answered.”
The Rocket defense was also ready to answer the call, big stops coming from all angles in Reggie Pearson, Ayden Hinrichs, and Gavin Grissom.
“It was a hard-hitting ballgame all night long,” said Stephenson.
“Our defense responded in the second half by forcing a couple turnovers, and our offense was able to put two scores in. They came together tonight in the second half and bonded, and they
finished the ballgame. The kids played their tails off.”
“We had too many mistakes, too many mental mistakes because it was hot, we were tired,” Cook said.
“We settled in, but just too many mistakes, too many guys going out with cramps. I’m proud. They fought to the last. They’re tough.”
Franklin led both teams with 121 rushing yards on the night, and Bell leading the Rockets with 87.
The Rockets will travel to Community on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Bulldogs will host the Collinwood Trojans in a region matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
“Everybody wants to win every game, but next week is a region game, so that’s the big one,” said Cook.
“Nothing is ever as bad as it seems, nothing is ever as good as it seems. After Week 1, we were the greatest thing ever, and after Forrest it’s all doom and gloom. Reality is somewhere in between,” Cook said.
“We’re both good football teams. We’ll just settle in.”
Cornersville 0 14 0 0 — 14
Forrest 3 0 6 6 — 15
First Quarter
F — Gavin Grissom 33-yard FG 4:08.
Second Quarter
C — Benjamin Franklin 31 run (Joseth Palma kick) 8:45.
C — Blaine Woodard 8 run (Palma kick) 2:40.
Third Quarter
F — Fletcher Fields 12 run (kick failed) 11:46.
Fourth Quarter
F — Liam Bell 1 run (2pt. pass failed) 6:07.
Forrest answered the bell and the the Rockets took a 15-14 win in their home opener at “The Rock.”
The first half for the Rockets wasn’t much to write home about, with the Bulldogs carrying a comfortable 14-3 lead into halftime.
“I told them (the team), ‘Forrest isn’t just going to let you come in here and win,’” said Cornersville head coach Eliot Cook.
“They’re proud of stuff around here and they’re going to fight for it.”
Forrest punted the ball away after six plays in the first quarter, not making it into Cornersville territory, setting the Bulldogs up for good position on their first drive of the game.
Not gaining the ground they’d like thanks to the Forrest defense, led by Liam Bell and Ben Villazon, it was Jesse Lindeman with the big stop on third down to force the punt.
A bad snap on the punt landed Forrest on the Bulldog 23-yard line.
Shortly after, freshman Fletcher Fields found the end zone, giving the Rockets the first touchdown of the game, but a penalty on the Rockets scooted the home team back to the 31-yard line, Gavin Grissom ultimately splitting the uprights with a 33-yard field goal, putting the Rockets up 3-0 with 4:08 left in the first.
The Bulldogs heated up in the second quarter.
An interception by Bulldog freshman Jackson Smith kicked off the best quarter Cornersville had.
Senior and Navy-commit Ben Franklin took only two plays to find the end zone on a 31-yard touchdown run to put the Bulldogs on the board.
Joseth Palma cleared the uprights, Cornersville to give the visitors a 7-3 lead with 8:45 left in the half.
Three plays later, Cornersville took advantage of another Rocket miscue by recovering a fumble at the Rocket 49-yard line.
The Bulldogs took their time making their way upfield, digging their way out of fourth down holes and expounding on Rocket mishaps.
With 2:40 left in the half, quarterback Blaine Woodard took an 8-yard sprint across the goal line, with Palma tacking on the extra point.
The Bulldogs had a bit of a cushion with a 14-3 lead going into halftime.
But the Rockets weren’t ready to throw in the towel just yet.
“What I really like is they responded at halftime,” said Stephenson.“They came out and knew they had to do it, and they took it into their own hands. Cornersville came ready to play, and we just answered the bell in the second half.”
On the first play of the second half, the Bulldogs fumbled at their own 20-yard line, giving Forrest prime field advantage.
Bell carried on the next drive picking up another five yards, and it was Fields again darting into the end zone, this time the touchdown sticking.
The extra point attempt failed, and the Cornersville Bulldogs had loosened their grip on the lead, 14-9.
After punts, mishaps, and big hits for both squads, Forrest revved up the engine for the fourth quarter, starting with recovering a Bulldog fumble.
Bell and Cohen Grissom worked the field from the 19-yard line, and quarterback Aiden Cantrell and Bryce Tankersley chipped in on by completing an 8-yard pass.
After 11 plays, it was Bell scampering into the end zone from the one to give the Rockets a one-point advantage, 15-14. The two-point attempt was no good.
“I was very proud of Liam Bell,” said Stephenson. “He came in and put the game on his shoulders. Cohen came in, he’s been working this offseason, and he got his number called and he answered.”
The Rocket defense was also ready to answer the call, big stops coming from all angles in Reggie Pearson, Ayden Hinrichs, and Gavin Grissom.
“It was a hard-hitting ballgame all night long,” said Stephenson.
“Our defense responded in the second half by forcing a couple turnovers, and our offense was able to put two scores in. They came together tonight in the second half and bonded, and they
finished the ballgame. The kids played their tails off.”“We had too many mistakes, too many mental mistakes because it was hot, we were tired,” Cook said.
“We settled in, but just too many mistakes, too many guys going out with cramps. I’m proud. They fought to the last. They’re tough.”
Franklin led both teams with 121 rushing yards on the night, and Bell leading the Rockets with 87.
The Rockets will travel to Community on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Bulldogs will host the Collinwood Trojans in a region matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
“Everybody wants to win every game, but next week is a region game, so that’s the big one,” said Cook.
“Nothing is ever as bad as it seems, nothing is ever as good as it seems. After Week 1, we were the greatest thing ever, and after Forrest it’s all doom and gloom. Reality is somewhere in between,” Cook said.
“We’re both good football teams. We’ll just settle in.”Cornersville 0 14 0 0 — 14
Forrest 3 0 6 6 — 15
First Quarter
F — Gavin Grissom 33-yard FG 4:08.
Second Quarter
C — Benjamin Franklin 31 run (Joseth Palma kick) 8:45.
C — Blaine Woodard 8 run (Palma kick) 2:40.
Third Quarter
F — Fletcher Fields 12 run (kick failed) 11:46.
Fourth Quarter
F — Liam Bell 1 run (2pt. pass failed) 6:07.
